Simple Implant Surgical Guides and Implant Mapping

Implant surgical guides

Implant surgical guides are necessary tools to communicate the desired position of the implant to the implant surgeon. The goal of the implant guide is to allow proper placement of the implant platform in the position that best allows for ideal emergence profile and for long-term peri-implant hard and soft tissue support.

There are many different types of guides that may be fabricated and utilized. In today’s implant world, many guides are three-dimensional, CAD/CAM guides designed from cone beam radiologic imaging. These guides are fabricated with specific guide holes that direct position and depth of the implant drill for a very calculated placement of the implant.

Although these guides are very precise, to within hundredths of millimeters, there are some limitations. These guides do not allow for intra-surgical visualization of the apical gingival contour of the proposed restoration.

“Collaborative communication is key to successful implant placement and restorative outcome.”

In reality, these guides create a “blind” placement of implants. Fabrication of a simple surgical guide that allows for intra-operative visualization of the proposed tooth outline and implant angulation can be an effective addition to a successful outcome. It also provides an effective means of communication between the implant surgeon and the restorative dentist.

Good templates should have the following features:

• They need to be easy to place and remove.
• They should be rigid and stabilized on hard surrounding teeth.
• They must not interfere with tissue reflection.
• They must allow for proper cooling of the surgical drills.
• Most important, they must allow for visualization of the depth and position of the implant.

Additionally, the guide must be able to be used for diagnostic radiology by casting a shadow on the X-ray film of the relationship of the guide and the underlying bone. The key feature of the surgical guide is the designation of the apico-coronal, mesio-distal and oro-facial positioning of the implant. A tremendous amount of information is transferred from these surgical guides to the implant surgeon.

The most critical component of the guide is indicating the accurate gingival contour of the proposed final restoration. The surgeon uses this contour to visualize and measure implant-placement depth. The contouring is accomplished from fabrication of a diagnostic wax-up.

The completed diagnostic wax-up must outline, with precision, the final gingival margin position, the position of the incisal edge and facial contour, the embrasure form of the proposed restoration. Accuracy of these dimensions is important for providing predictability to the final outcome.

Without the “vision” of the final restoration, it becomes challenging for the surgeon to correctly position the implant. Collaborative communication is key to successful implant placement and restorative outcome.

Once the diagnostic wax up is designed, a duplicate model is fabricated. The simple surgical guide may be fabricated from a “suck down” technique using a rigid, clear acrylic. The acrylic must be rigid enough to remain accurate for measurement during surgery. It also must be cold serializable. An ideal thickness to provide this accuracy is 1.5 mm. I commonly utilize 1.5 mm biocryl with Ministar vacuum machine from Great Lakes Orthodontics. 

Once fabricated, the acrylic guide may be trimmed with acrylic burs and discs to the desired gingival outline and contour.

Because the guide is clear, the surgeon may easily visualize the twist drill through the guide to accommodate for positioning. And, because the guide is supported by the surrounding teeth, there is no interference to surgical flap design or reflection.

Implant depth is the crucial determinant for adequate “running room” and emergence profile. Ideally the implant should be placed 3 mm apical to the gingival extent of the proposed restoration. Placing implants too shallow creates emergence contour limitations that create un-esthetic gingival scallops. If the implant is placed too deep, the tissue support and papilla formation may be compromised.

Tarnow has shown that if the distance of the implant platform and gingival tissue is greater than 5 mm, the interproximal papilla will be created less than 50 percent of the time. These surgical guides provide an unobtrusive visualization of the restoration margin and the implant platform at the time of placement.

The surgeon can easily alternate between the cone beam scan guide and the “analog” tooth visualization guide.  Each guide provides the necessary information to ideally place implants for restoration predictability and longevity. Cone beam scan guides are “state of the art” for surgeons in today’s world for accuracy of implant placement. “Simple” surgical guides, fabricated from the diagnostic wax-up, and the expertise of the restorative dentist, provides the precision and detail required for a successful “crown down” implant restoration.

Implant mapping

Implant mapping is a concept that creates ideal separation between dental implants and teeth. In today’s digital world, “mapping” is performed by computer programs, such as “Simplant” or “Anamage.”

Through these software programs, the implant placement is directed and planned from the detailed information provided by the cone beam X-ray. The implants may be “digitally” placed with a high degree of accuracy. Surgeons are very reliant on these software tools.

From our discussion above, it is important for the restorative dentist to understand and apply the mapping concepts in fabricating surgical guides. Mapping the implant on the model aides the restorative dentist in creating an accurate “pilot hole” in the surgical guide provided to the surgeon.

Implant position is critical depending upon whether the implant restoration will be cement or screw retained. This retention information must be determined by the restorative dentist and forwarded to the implant surgeon, prior to placement. Mapping is the key to analyzing, precisely, the implant position.

The distance between an implant platform and an adjacent tooth is an important dimension. Place it too close, and the blood supply to the bone and root may be compromised.

Additionally, the gingival tissue contours may be altered. Bone loss and altered papillae are likely sequelae. The common implant/tooth distance should be no less than 1.5 mm.

The distance between two dental implants is crucial to establishing a healthy biological dimension. If there is less than 3 mm between two implants, the interproximal bone will flatten and papilla formation is not likely to occur. Normal bone healing and remodeling create a detrimental “crossover” effect with implants too close to one another. Progressive bone loss may occur.

Facial/lingual implant positioning is just as critical. Placing an implant less than 3 mm from the facial tissue is likely to result in gingival recession and facial bone loss. An implant placed too palatal will create an emergence profile “overhang” and result in dental hygiene limitations and difficulty. Mapping the implant placement on a stone cast will provide a “visual reference” of predictability for both the restorative dentist and the surgeon.

The following is the mapping technique for a partially edentulous presentation:

1. Obtain diagnostic casts of the edentulous space.
2. Measure (with mm calipers) 1.5 mm from each cervical aspect of the adjacent teeth and mark the cast. (Overall space available must be 6.5 mm minimum.)
3. Mark the center of the ridge between the adjacent teeth on the cast.
4. Duplicate the model.
5. Create a diagnostic wax-up for the edentulous space.
6. Fabricate a clear acrylic implant placement guide from the wax-up model.
7. Place guide on the mapped model and drill a hole through the guide into the stone at the center mark (2-mm diameter hole ideal for the surgeon’s initial twist drill).
8. Provide the surgeon with the implant guide prior to implant placement appointment.

Implant mapping and simple implant surgical guides are tools for interdisciplinary communication. Although technology is advancing implant placement knowledge and ability, understanding and applying “analog” concepts and procedures are crucial for verification and assurance.

In interdisciplinary treatment, the expertise and knowledge of both the surgeon and the restorative dentist is paramount for a successful result. Communication is key. These tools help open the door for predictability and success in implant treatment.

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Jeff Bonk, D.D.S., P.C., Spear Visiting Faculty and Contributing Author - http://jeffreybonkdds.com