In Vitro Experimental Study of the Effect of Adjusting the Guide Sleeve Height and Using a Visual Direction-Indicating Guide on Implantation Accuracy

Purpose We used a single-variable method to analyze the influence of the guide sleeve height of a conventional template on implantation accuracy in vitro and improve the function of short-sleeve templates by adding a visual direction-indicating guide (VDING). Materials and Methods We created 100 copies of a volunteer's dentition plaster model. The normal template (NT) and the VDING template (VT) were made with guide sleeves 2, 5, 8, and 10 mm in height. Additionally, a freehand (FH) group and a group with an FH-based visual guide were used. Simulated implantation in an emulated head model was performed in each group. After surgery, cone-beam computed tomography images of the plaster were used for registration, and the accuracy was compared among the groups. Results When the NT sleeve height was 5 mm or less, increased deviation was found, and the results for some of the accuracy indicators were not different from those in the FH group. The accuracy of sleeves 5 mm or less in height was better in the VT group than in the NT or FH group. Conclusions Use of the NT with a guide sleeve height of 5 mm or less can introduce large deviations in implantation, which can be prevented by the VT. However, the use of the VDING alone was not sufficient. We used a single-variable method to analyze the influence of the guide sleeve height of a conventional template on implantation accuracy in vitro and improve the function of short-sleeve templates by adding a visual direction-indicating guide (VDING). We created 100 copies of a volunteer's dentition plaster model. The normal template (NT) and the VDING template (VT) were made with guide sleeves 2, 5, 8, and 10 mm in height. Additionally, a freehand (FH) group and a group with an FH-based visual guide were used. Simulated implantation in an emulated head model was performed in each group. After surgery, cone-beam computed tomography images of the plaster were used for registration, and the accuracy was compared among the groups. When the NT sleeve height was 5 mm or less, increased deviation was found, and the results for some of the accuracy indicators were not different from those in the FH group. The accuracy of sleeves 5 mm or less in height was better in the VT group than in the NT or FH group. Use of the NT with a guide sleeve height of 5 mm or less can introduce large deviations in implantation, which can be prevented by the VT. However, the use of the VDING alone was not sufficient.