Comparison between CBCT superimposition protocol and S.T.A.P. method to evaluate the accuracy in implant insertion in guided surgery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of implant placement using static guided surgery. Two methods of measuring accuracy were compared, the superimposition of CBCTand the non-radiological Superimposition Touch Absolute Precision (S.T.A.P.) method. METHODS: In this prospective clinical study 23 implants were placed with static surgical template using a flapless technique and postextractive procedure. Six months after surgery, a postoperative CBCTwas performed to assess the position of the implants and at the same time dental impressions were taken for the final prosthesis. The plaster models made at this stage have made it possible to obtain the position of the implants inserted using the probe technology. Preoperative and postoperative data were superimposed, deviations in the three dimensions of the space were calculated. The differences between the two measurement methods were assessed. RESULTS: The study showed no statistically significant differences between the two methods of measuring accuracy at the implant platform level, apex, or angles. The average real deviation detected at the implant platform level is 1.16±0.58 mm with CBCT, 1.22±0.55 mm with the S.T.A.P. method; at the apex level is 1.48±0.98 mm with CBCT, 1.47±0.72 mm with the S.T.A.P. method. The average difference between CBCTand S.T.A.P. method for real deviation is 0.06±0.75 mm at the platform level and 0.007±1.24 mm at the apex level. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that measuring accuracy by S.T.A.P. method was comparable to that obtained by CBCTsuperimposition.