Objective: To investigate the time efficiency of prefabricated prostheses located by an anchor pin stereolithographic attachment system for immediate loading implant reconstruction of completely edentulous jaws and compare it with the conventional protocol.
Methods: Edentulous patients were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups: the full digital workflow group (digital group) and the conventional workflow group (conventional group). In the digital group, a provisional prosthesis was fabricated before surgery using a fully digital workflow and delivered immediately after implant placement. The positioning of the provisional prosthesis was guided precisely by the anchor pin attachment system. In the conventional group, the provisional prosthesis was fabricated after implant placement using a conventional procedure. Clinical and laboratory time efficiency were recorded, and clinician and patient satisfaction were evaluated.
Results: Six patients were enrolled in this pilot study and 57 implants were placed following the guided surgery protocol. Of these, 54 were immediately loaded. The total clinical chair time in the digital workflow group was significantly less than that in the conventional workflow group (digital 60.0 ± 13.2 minutes; conventional 106.7 ± 24.7 minutes) (P = 0.045). The total post-surgery procedure took significantly less time in the digital group than the conventional group (digital 202.5 ± 22.5 minutes; conventional 403.7 ± 55.4 minutes) (P = 0.004). The patients' and clinicians' satisfaction with the provisional prostheses was similar in both groups.
Conclusion: Time efficiency in immediate loading of implant-supported full-arch fixed restorations was improved with prefabricated prostheses located by the anchor-pin-attachment system. Less postoperative chair time was required in the digital group than in the conventional group.
Keywords: edentulous; guided implant surgery; immediate loading; time efficiency.