C.E. Credit. Effect of Steam Sterilization on Accuracy of 3D Printed Implant Surgical Guides: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

Background

3D printed implant surgical guides are designed to improve implant placement accuracy. However, they are a potential source of contamination during implant surgery and therefore require sterilization to prevent post-surgical infection. This study evaluated the effect that steam sterilizing 3D printed implant surgical guides has on the accuracy of fully guided implant placement.

Methods

3D printed models were prepared with an edentulous site at the right maxillary central incisor. A surgical guide was designed and fabricated to place a bone level implant at this edentulous site. Ten implants were placed with surgical guides, followed by ten placed with the same guides after autoclave sterilization at 134°C for 6 minutes. Implants were scanned and analyzed using three-dimensional analysis software. The implant platform position, apex position, and angulation were evaluated before and after sterilization of the surgical guides.

Results

There were statistically significant deviations of implant platform and apex in the x-axis (bucco-lingual), y-axis (mesio-distal), and implant angulation (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < .05). There was no statistically significant deviation in the occluso-gingival height of the implant.

Conclusions

Steam sterilization has a statistically significant effect on the accuracy of fully guided implant placement using 3D printed surgical guides. The buccolingual deviation of the implant apex is clinically significant (mean = 1.22 mm).

Practical Implications

Dentists should exercise caution when using steam heat (i.e. autoclaving) to sterilize 3D printed implant surgical guides. Alternative options such as cold sterilization may be more appropriate.

Continuing Education Credit Available

The practice worksheet is available online in the supplemental material tab for this article. A CDA Continuing Education quiz is online for this article: https://www.cdapresents360.com/learn/catalog/view/20.

KEYWORDS:

• Implant accuracy
• implant surgery
• fully guided surgery
• surgical guide
• 3D printing
• sterilization
• autoclave

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary Data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2023.2284931.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel Rexin

Daniel Rexin, BS, is a dental student at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Daniela Avila

Daniela Avila, BS, is a dental student at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Alexander Castillo

Alexander Castillo, BS, is a dental student at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Kevin Moreno

Kevin Moreno, BS, is a dental student at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Emily Tan

Emily Tan, BS, is a dental student at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Sunee Limmeechokchai

Sunee Limmeechokchai, DDS, MSD, is an associate professor at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Joseph Lee

Joseph Lee, DDS, is a fellow at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry.

Udochukwu Oyoyo

Udochukwu Oyoyo, MPH, is an assistant professor at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

So Ran Kwon

So Ran Kwon, DDS, MS, PhD, MS, is a professor and director of the Student Research Program at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Joseph Y. Kan

Joseph Y. Kan, DDS, MS, is a professor at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Jaime L. Lozada

Jaime L. Lozada, DDS, is a professor at the Loma Linda School of Dentistry and director of the Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry.

Robert A. Handysides

Robert A. Handysides, DDS, is the dean of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Ahmad Alkanderi

Ahmad Alkanderi, DDS, MSD, is a recent graduate of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry.