DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjds.2026.v13i03.002

Pages: 36-39

Background: Computer-guided implant surgery integrates CBCT-based planning with digital impressions and 3D-printed surgical guides to control implant position compared with conventional freehand placement. Objective: To compare guided implant placement with freehand implant placement by quantifying the deviation between planned and final implant positions. Materials and Methods: This comparative clinical study included implant cases treated between February 2024 and May 2024 in private clinics in Baghdad and Hilla. Guided cases were planned by matching CBCT (DICOM) and intraoral scans (STL) in implant-planning software and fabricated using 3D-printed surgical guides with compatible sleeves. Freehand cases were placed conventionally without a guide. Deviation (“misplacement”, mm) between planned and final implant position was measured in coronal and sagittal views in the buccolingual direction. Deviation values were analyzed per implant. Results: A total of 55 implants were evaluated (freehand: n = 28; guided: n = 27). Mean deviation was 1.221 ± 0.546 mm in the freehand group and 0.170 ± 0.230 mm in the guided group. The maximum deviation was 2.44 mm (freehand) versus 1.00 mm (guided). The between-group difference was statistically significant (Welch’s t-test, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Guided implant surgery demonstrated significantly lower deviation from the planned position compared with freehand implant placement, supporting the value of digitally planned, prosthetically driven implant positioning.