Factors affecting accuracy of implant placement with mucosa-supported stereolithographic surgical guides in edentulous mandibles

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of implant placement with mucosa-supported surgical guides in edentulous mandibles and to determine the factors affecting accuracy. Implant placement was simulated on the preoperative CT image and mucosa-supported surgical guides were fabricated for six edentulous mandible models and 15 patients with edentulous mandibles, using CAD/CAM technology. Deviations of the actual implant position from the planned position were calculated by comparing the planned image and the postoperative image. Based on the results, it was concluded that mucosa-supported surgical guides have high accuracy and that bone density and mucosal thickness could affect accuracy.