Post Title

Aim: This in-vitro study aimed to compare the accuracy of the implant position inserted by surgical guides manufactured by three different 3D Printers (one SLA and two DLP printers) and subtractive technique for a free-end situation.Material and Methods: Surgical guides have been manufactured using three different 3D printing devices, one SLA (Form 2, Formlabs) and two DLP Printers (D20II, Rapidshape; Solflex 350, Voco). Surgical guides manufactured using the conventional CAD/CAM based subtractive method served as controls. In total 48 guides were printed and assessed for accuracy. The surgical guides were used for the placement of implants at tooth position no. 37. The postoperative implant position has been digitally scanned for metric comparison with the preoperatively planned implant position.Results: Significant differences have been found comparing the SLA and the DLP printers. While showing that SLA in comparison to DLP had a significant lower accuracy in implant displacement at crest (p = 0.032) and angular displacement (p = 0.049). DLP showed comparable values as the control group. The results were within an acceptable clinical range.Conclusion: DLP technology seems to be superior to conventional SLA technology, in terms of accuracy of 3D printed surgical guides when used for placement of implants in free-end situations.

Keywords: 3D printing, accuracy, dental materials, free-end situation, guided surgery, milling, oral implantology