The efficacy of freehand, pilot drilled and fully guided implant surgery in partially edentulous patients: A randomized control trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Partial edentulism poses challenges to oral function, aesthetics, and quality of life. Implant placement techniques-freehand, pilot-drilled, and fully guided-differ in accuracy, surgical time, and outcomes. In this study, only one predefined index implant per patient was analyzed to avoid confounding from multi-implant cases, and template fabrication for the pilot-drilled group was performed using diagnostic wax-up and thermoplastic material. This study evaluated these techniques in partially edentulous patients.

Methods

Ninety patients were randomly assigned to three groups: freehand (n = 30), pilot- drilled (n = 30), and fully guided (n = 30). Surgery duration, implant placement accuracy, post- operative complications, early implant failure rates, and patient sa

SUBMITTER: Alshadidi AAF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12843514 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature