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STL: Surgical guides

Surgical guides are physical pieces (3D printed) that rest on the patient's teeth and direct implant drills to the exact planned position. Before printing them, it is worth reviewing them digitally — and that is what MeshViewer is for.

NotaCBCTHub does not design surgical guides — it is a viewer. Design is done in dedicated software (BlueSkyBio, exocad guideCreator, Implant Studio, coDiagnostiX). What CBCTHub lets you do is review the guide STL before printing and share it with the surgeon.

Review a guide STL

  1. 1
    When the lab returns the designed STL, upload it to CBCTHub.
  2. 2
    Open the MeshViewer. Switch to a light color (ivory) and white background to inspect the geometry.
  3. 3
    Visually verify:
    • Dental supports: rests on stable teeth, not mobile ones.
    • Guide sleeves: in correct position and angulation.
    • Irrigation windows: space for saline outflow.
    • Visual inspection window: the surgeon can see the tissue during surgery.
    • Minimum thickness: very thin parts can break during printing or use.
  4. 4
    If you find problems, mark with annotations on the model and share the link with the lab to correct before printing.

Types of surgical guide

  • Tooth-supported: rests on remaining teeth. The most common and precise.
  • Mucosa-supported: rests on mucosa in edentulous patients. Less precise, requires intraoperative registration.
  • Bone-supported: rests on exposed bone (open surgery). For complex cases.
  • Pin-supported: fixed with pins anchored to bone. Hybrid of the above.
ImportanteBefore surgery, test the guide on a printed model of the patient (also STL). If it does not fit well on the physical model, it will not fit in the mouth.
CasoComplete workflow for a tooth-supported guide

1. CBCT + intraoral scan of the patient.

2. Upload both to CBCTHub. Share links with the lab.

3. Lab: aligns CBCT + scan in their software, plans implant position, designs the guide. Returns the guide STL.

4. Upload the guide STL to CBCTHub. Review it in MeshViewer.

5. If OK: print the guide + physical model. If adjustments needed: request changes from the lab.

6. Test the guide on the printed model before surgery.