Purpose: To make a comparative estimation of the positional accuracy of dental implants inserted using selective laser melting and computerised stackable surgical guides produced through digital light processing for patients with maxillary terminal dentition.
Materials and methods: Twenty-four dental implants were inserted in partially edentulous patients who were treated for tooth loss and required fixed prosthodontic rehabilitation. Virtually designed prosthetically driven fixation bases with stackable surgical osteotomy guides were used for bone reduction after tooth extraction and osteotomy preparation, respectively. The inserted implants were divided into two equal groups according to the type of surgical guide used, either cobalt-chromium guides fabricated through selective laser melting or resin guides produced by digital light processing. The final actual implant position was compared to the preoperative planned position and the coronal and apical deviations were calculated in millimetres, and angular deviation measurements in degrees.
Results: A t test was used for comparison (P < 0.05). The mean coronal, apical and angular deviation for the implants positioned using a stackable guide made by digital light processing were greater than those for implants positioned using cobalt-chromium guides fabricated through selective laser melting. Highly significant differences were found between both groups for all the measurements.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, cobalt-chromium stackable surgical guides produced by selective laser melting are more accurate than resin guides produced through digital light processing.