Using Surgical Guide Resin for Implant Placement In a Partial Edentulism Case

Before you read, meet the authors:

Dr. Christian Adler, M.Sc., born in Germany, began his residency in his father's practice after completing his dental studies in 2008. In 2011, he founded the joint practice Dr. C. Adler and Dr. H. Adler with Dr. Herbert Adler. Between 2015 and 2016, he completed a master's degree in oral implantology and periodontology, graduating with the international academic degree "Master of Science". He has been digitizing the practice since 2021 and has been using the Blenderfordental software in patient care since 2022.

Jens Neubarth completed his training as a dental technician in 1985 and passed the master technician's examination at the Lübeck Chamber of Crafts in 1996. Since 1998 he has been managing director of Agens Zahntechnik GmbH in Worpswede. Since 2014 he has been a 3D printing expert at the Dental 3D Agency and since 2021 an accredited trainer for the Blenderfordental software.

The introduction of digital technologies in the dental field, such as 3D printing, are setting new standards of care. Clinicians have more autonomy on the processes and instruments they use and the communication with dental laboratories becomes faster and more efficient. Digital independence is supported by truly open standardized user interfaces. Accurate surgical planning and simulation are complemented by in-house 3D printing, which enables a predictable and exact end result.

Moreover, 3D printing technology and materials provide highly customizable treatment options for complex cases. Surgical drill guides can be effectively fabricated via 3D printing for guided implantology. Surgical Guide Resin is an autoclavable, biocompatible material (Class I) that exceeds dental demands in accuracy, part quality, and performance for applications including 3D printing dental surgical guides for implant placement.

This clinical case shows the restoration process of a patient with partial edentulism using CAD/CAM workflows. The plaster models were digitized and integrated directly into an open-source CAD software where it was superimposed on the radiographic images. The surgical drill guide was planned and designed at the laboratory by close collaboration with the clinician and manufactured at the dental practice on a Form 3B with Surgical Guide Resin.

Treatment Plan:

The rehabilitation process consisted of two main phases, shown blow.

Phase one: Surgical Phase

• Impressions

• Teeth cleaning

• Digital planning of the implant placement and fabrication of the surgical guide

• Placement of the implants (24, 27) using a drilling template/surgical guide

Phase two: Prosthetic Phase

• Impressions (of the implants) 

• Fabrication of the full-ceramic bridge

• Fixing the bridge on the implants 

Execution of Treatment Plan:

After the healing phase, a CBCT was taken to plan the implant placement and surgical technique. Due to the poor remaining bone volume and quality, it was decided to place the implants using a surgical guide to guarantee their accurate position in the areas where the bone quality was sufficient. Bone augmentation was discarded as a solution due to the complexity of this procedure for this specific clinical case. Alginate impressions were taken of both arches and sent to the dental laboratory, alongside the instructions for the implant positions, for design and fabrication of the surgical guide . A professional tooth cleaning was performed to prepare the oral cavity in a good hygienic condition for the operation.

Design Stage:

The plaster models were made from the impressions and digitized in Mr. Neubarth´s laboratory using a desktop scanner (Sirona InEos X5). The digital models could be superimposed with the CBCT (3D Accuitomo 170) in the software (Blender for dental). Artificial teeth were set up in the software and two implants of the appropriate length and diameter (Twinfit from Dentaurum) were imported. 

After the final position of the implants was achieved and confirmed, the full arch surgical guide was designed considering the compatible guide sleeves.

Manufacturing Stage:

The surgical guide file was exported as an STL and imported in PreForm. The surgical guide was oriented following the manufacturer’s instructions with the intaglio surface facing away from the build platform.  Support structures were automatically generated and controlled so that no supports were added in undesired areas (intaglio surface of the guide and around the drill sleeve slot).

The file is sent to print to the SLA Form 3B using Surgical Guide Resin and a 50 microns layer height setting. After printing is completed, the part is post-processed via washing, dry, and curing following manufacturer’s  (in this case, Formlabs) instructions. The support structures were removed and the surgical guide was fitted to the printed model, ground, smoothed, polished, and then delivered to the office where it was sterilized. The surgical guide was tested intraorally in the patient’s mouth prior to surgery to ensure proper fit and adaptation.

Surgical Procedure:

A flapless surgical technique was chosen due to the fact that it is a minimal invasive procedure and there were appropriate clinical conditions to carry it out. After anesthesia was given, the surgical guide was positioned upon the supporting teeth and used to do the punch to remove the mucosa. A sequence of burs and their respective additional sleeves are used to gradually widen the bone (with a total of three drills, starting with the thinnest diameter). The implants were placed through the surgical guide and screwed into the bone holes up to the definitive bone height (this is a marking on the screw-in aid). The implants are fitted with a healing cap. Finally, a radiographic panoramic view control is done.

The implants were left to heal for three months. No control was necessary during this healing period.