Case DF 2930


Preoperative view of teeth #29 and 30 sites. The Blue Sky Plan software used provides 3D views of bone, teeth and soft tissue. In this case, there was insufficient vertical space at the #30 site for use of the tube guide; therefore, the case was done with a ThinLayer™ Guide from Guided Surgery Solutions.


Blue Sky Plan – implants placed in panoramic view using healing abutments as virtual teeth. By setting #29 implant abutment at 7 mm diameter and the #30 implant abutment at 10 mm diameter, the spacing between the implants is automatically set.


Scan of articulated models is merged into the Blue Sky Plan software, allowing visibility of the opposing teeth in the cross-sectional views.


The outline of the opposing tooth is visible in the cross-sectional view, allowing alignment of the #29 implant with the opposing lingual cusp.


The outline of the opposing tooth is visible in the cross-sectional view, allowing alignment of the #30 implant with the opposing lingual cusp.


3D model of arch allows precise spacing of “virtual teeth” relative to the distal of the 1st bicuspid and automatically sets the correct spacing between the teeth #29 and #30 implants.


3D model of arch shows where centerlines of implants are positioned on the soft tissue crest.


ThinLayer™ guide: guide hole replicates the top of a guide tube. Open buccal allows unobstructed view of surgical site and ease of flap reflection.


Tube guide.


ThinLayer™ guide


Tube guide.


Spear drill in insert in tube guide to create bleeding point at #29 site. Endo file through insert could also be used.


Spear drill insert in tube guide to create bleeding point at #30 site.


Bleeding points indicating implant positions.


ThinLayer™ guide


Bleeding points.


Spear drill used to create pilot hole by placing tip in bleeding point and drilling through gingiva.

Custom drill stops are made for each drill.


Angled entry allows access if minimal vertical space. Drill is placed through guide hole at an angle. Note unobstructed view of surgical site, and ease of flap reflection. Vertical space required is the same as required for free hand drilling.


Drill is uprighted. Once tip of drill is in pilot hole, drill is inserted to depth. This is repeated with drills of increasing diameter.


Final drill placed through guide hole at angle.


Drill uprighted and guided as it is placed to depth.


Cortical drill centered in guide hole.


Tap used through guide hole with stop to control depth.


Implant driver centered in guide hole to insert implant in #30 site.


Implant driver centered in guide hole to insert implant in #29 site.


Vertical position as planned. Subosseous position of #29 site implant due to higher lingual crestal bone as planned.


Subosseous vertical position as planned. Cross-sectional view of #29 site from Blue Sky Plan.


Implant position


Implant position.


Verification of implant position. Occlusal view of healing abutments through guide tubes in tube guide.


Verification of implant position. Radiograph of implants with tube guide in place.

Teeth #29, 30, with flap exposure, including treatment planning with Blue Sky Plan and the ThinLayer® Guide

In this case, there was insufficient vertical space at the #30 site for use of the tube guide; therefore, the case was done with a ThinLayer® Guide from Guided Surgery Solutions.

In Blue Sky Plan, implants were placed in the panoramic view using the abutments as virtual teeth. By setting the #29 implant abutment at 7 mm diameter and the #30 implant abutment at 10 mm diameter, the spacing between the implants is automatically set. A scan of the articulated model was merged into the Blue Sky Plan software, allowing visibility of the opposing teeth in the cross-sectional views. The outline of the opposing tooth is visible in the cross-sectional view, allowing alignment of the #29 implant with the opposing lingual cusp. The outline of the opposing tooth is visible in the cross-sectional view, allowing alignment of the #30 implant with the opposing lingual cusp. The 3D model of the arch allows precise spacing of “virtual teeth” relative to the distal of the first bicuspid and automatically sets the correct spacing between the teeth #29 and #30 implants. The 3D model of arch shows where centerlines of implants are positioned on the soft tissue crest.

The surgery was performed with the tube and ThinLayer® guides from Guided Surgery Solutions, who manufacture the guides from the 3D plan and provide custom drill stops for each drill in the sequence. The inner diameter of each drill stop holds it flush to the drill shaft and fluted area. The outer diameter of each stop is flush with the inner diameter of the tube (in the tube guide) and the diameter of the hole in the ThinLayer® Guide.

First the tube guide was placed, and a spear drill placed through the insert (drill stop) in the tube guide to create bleeding points in the implant positions. An endo file through the insert could also be used, if preferred. Next, a spear or lance drill was used through the insert/tube to create pilot hole by placing the tip into the bleeding point and drilling through gingiva to 4-5 mm bone depth.

The tube guide was removed and the ThinLayer® Guide placed. Its guide hole replicates the top of a guide tube. The open buccal window allows unobstructed view of surgical site and ease of flap reflection. The 2 mm drill is placed through guide hole at an angle, which requires no more vertical space than freehand drilling. The drill is uprighted until the tip of the drill is in the pilot hole, then the drill is inserted to depth.

This is repeated with drills of increasing diameter, until the final drill is placed through guide hole and used. The cortical drill, tap, and implant driver are also centered in the guide hole and use a drill stop to control depth.

Radiographs of the planned and final implant positions are included.

Please visit our Advantages page for more information for about the ThinLayer® Guide system.

Related Downloads

ThinLayer® Guide case, flap exposure Download

Related Presentation (from May 2013 webinar)