B-Guide System: Improving the Predictability of Complete-Arch Implant and Prosthetic Placement Using Fixed Prosthesis Guides

J Esthet Restor Dent. 2024 Nov 19. doi: 10.1111/jerd.13369. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: Computer-aided implant placement (CAIP) offers improved accuracy and reduced invasiveness. However, traditional static CAIP (sCAIP) protocols for complete-arch restorations often involve multiple guides and clinical steps, increasing the risk of soft tissue trauma and procedural complexity. This article introduces the B-guide technique, which integrates implant placement and interim prosthesis delivery into a single device to simplify the procedure and minimize tissue damage.

Clinical considerations: The B-guide combines the implant osteotomy and placement guide with an abutment placement and prosthesis pick-up mechanism. The guide remains in place post-implantation, allowing immediate prosthesis conversion. A 55-year-old female patient underwent complete-arch rehabilitation using the B-guide, enabling immediate implant placement and loading. The B-guide minimized soft tissue trauma and eliminated the need for multiple guides, significantly reducing treatment complexity and time.

Conclusions: The B-guide simplifies procedures and improves predictability compared with traditional systems by integrating prosthetic adaptation and implant placement, reducing cumulative errors. However, its success is heavily reliant on the operator's expertise, especially in preoperative planning and design.

Clinical significance: By integrating implant and prosthesis placement into a single guide, the B-guide reduces surgical complexity, minimizes trauma, and enhances prosthetic outcomes, improving clinical efficiency.

Keywords: computer‐aided implant placement; dental implants; dental prosthesis; digital dentistry; immediate dental implant loading; implant‐supported prosthesis.