Background: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to investigate differences between virtually planned and clinically achieved implant positions in completely template-guided implant placements as a function of the tooth area, the use of alveolar ridge preservation, the implant length and diameter, and the primary implant stability.
Methods: The accuracy of 48 implants was analyzed. The implants were placed in a completely template-guided manner. The data of the planned implant positions were superimposed on the actual clinical implant positions, followed by measurements of the 3D deviations in terms of the coronal (dc) and apical distance (da), height (h), angulation (ang), and statistical analysis.
Results: The mean dc was 0.7 mm (SD: 0.3), the mean da was 1.4 mm (SD: 0.6), the mean h was 0.3 mm (SD: 0.3), and the mean ang was 4.1° (SD: 2.1). The tooth area and the use of alveolar ridge preservation had no significant effect on the results in terms of the implant positions. The implant length had a significant influence on da (p = 0.02). The implant diameter had a significant influence on ang (p = 0.04), and the primary stability had a significant influence on h (p = 0.02).
Conclusion: Template-guided implant placement offers a high degree of accuracy independent of the tooth area, the use of measures for alveolar ridge preservation or the implant configuration. A clinical benefit is therefore present, especially from a prosthetic point of view.
Trial registration: German Clinical Trial Register and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform of the WHO: DRKS00005978 ; date of registration: 11/09/2015.
Keywords: Accuracy; Alveolar ridge preservation; CBCT; Computer-guided surgery; Dental implant; Surgical template.