Accuracy of Surgical Robot System Compared to Surgical Guide for Dental Implant Placement: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the tracking accuracy of a robot-guided implant surgery system and compare the spatial accuracy of robot-assisted implant surgery with that of static stentguided implant surgery for implant placement.

Materials and Methods: The tracking accuracy of the robot system was evaluated by measuring the discrepancy between the robot arm and actual programmed position. Dental implants were placed on 3D printed human phantom models using static stent-guided and robot-assisted surgeries. The top, apex, angular, and depth deviations of the placed implant positions were measured relative to the planned position, and the values were compared between the robot and surgical guide groups. The results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test (α = .05).

Results: The tracking accuracy of the robot system showed a linear deviation of 0.13 ± 0.04 mm and an angular deviation of 0.77 ± 0.02° at the drill tip. Deviations at the top and apex of the implants were 0.61 ± 0.29 mm and 0.50 ± 0.14 mm in the robot group and of 0.49 ± 0.39 mm and 0.72 ± 0.39 mm in the surgical guide group, respectively. Angular and depth deviations were of 2.38 ± 0.62° and 0.17 ± 0.12 mm, respectively, in the robot group, and of 3.16 ± 2.36° and 0.15 ± 0.11 mm, respectively, in the surgical guide group. No statistically significant differences were found between the robotic and surgical guide groups (p > .05).

Conclusion: The accuracy in implant placement using robot-assisted implant surgery was comparable to that of static-guided surgery. Robot-assisted implant surgery and static-guided surgery tended to result in minor deviations at the apex and top of the implants, respectively.