Background: A precise placement of dental implants is a crucial step to optimize both prosthetic aspects and\r\nfunctional constraints. In this context, the use of virtual guiding systems has been recognized as a fundamental\r\ntool to control the ideal implant position. In particular, complex periodontal surgeries can be performed using\r\npreoperative planning based on CT data. The critical point of the procedure relies on the lack of accuracy in\r\ntransferring CT planning information to surgical field through custom-made stereo-lithographic surgical guides.\r\nMethods: In this work, a novel methodology is proposed for monitoring loss of accuracy in transferring CT dental\r\ninformation into periodontal surgical field. The methodology is based on integrating 3D data of anatomical\r\n(impression and cast) and preoperative (radiographic template) models, obtained by both CT and optical scanning\r\nprocesses.\r\nResults: A clinical case, relative to a fully edentulous jaw patient, has been used as test case to assess the accuracy\r\nof the various steps concurring in manufacturing surgical guides. In particular, a surgical guide has been designed\r\nto place implants in the bone structure of the patient. The analysis of the results has allowed the clinician to\r\nmonitor all the errors, which have been occurring step by step manufacturing the physical templates.\r\nConclusions: The use of an optical scanner, which has a higher resolution and accuracy than CT scanning, has\r\ndemonstrated to be a valid support to control the precision of the various physical models adopted and to point\r\nout possible error sources. A case study regarding a fully edentulous patient has confirmed the feasibility of the\r\nproposed methodology.
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