Assessing the Accuracy of Low-cost Surgical Guides Generated Using Ridge Mapping by Means of Cone Beam Computerized Tomography

AIM: Assessing the accuracy of surgical guides generated with the help of a simple chair side ridge mapping technique by comparing the planned implant position with the achieved implant position on post-op computerized tomography scans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 20 implant sites in patients were selected. Ridge mapping was done through a vacuum press template at three buccal (B1, B2, B3), three lingual (L1, L2, L3), and one crestal (C) points for each implant site. Readings were transferred onto the cast, and surgical guides were fabricated for implant placement. Postoperative cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) was done to assess planned and achieved implant position. Comparison was done between soft tissue depths and implant distance from the crest of alveolar bone determined by the ridge mapping technique with measurements done on CBCT. The points used for ridge mapping were used as the reference for measurements. The data were analyzed using paired t test. p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: On comparing the mean values of soft tissue depths from the ridge mapping and CBCT data, insignificant differences were found at B1, B2, L1, L2, L3, and C, but significant differences were found at B3. On comparing the implant distances from alveolar bone from both the data, insignificant differences were found at B, B2, B3, L1, L2, and L3 and significant difference was found at the crest in the mean values.

CONCLUSION: Under the limitations of the above study, it can be concluded that a simple chairside procedure like ridge mapping can be used as an effective way for guided implant placement in sufficient available alveolar bone.