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How does the CombiGuide work with photogrammetry (Grammetry)?

The CombiGuide is an ideal partner for dental photogrammetry. The metal fixation base functions as "the constant": a stable, highly scannable fixed fiducial that preserves the spatial relationship throughout the surgical and digital workflow.

Because the fixation base stays in place, it can be captured at multiple stages. It is scanned with the existing teeth to preserve the original bite, and then scanned again after extractions and implant placement. Those two captures merge during registration, so the pre-surgical bite is maintained without having to register the bite mid-surgery. The metal surface digitizes cleanly even in a challenging surgical field, which supports micron-level accuracy.

To register the bite before and after the teeth are removed, the case study demonstrates two accepted methods:

Method How it works
Pre-surgical reference tab or pin A pin, tab, or screw is placed in the patient before extraction, often in the palate, or in the labial or buccal areas, or sometimes posteriorly. It is scanned before and after surgery to register the bite. When the teeth are gone, this reference preserves the relationship.
Immediate denture reline An immediate denture is fabricated before surgery and then used as a reline to capture the scan body references after the implants are placed.

Scan flags vs. scan bodies: The photogrammetry scan flags (for example, an iCam or PIC system) are scanned first for the implant positions. After the patient is sutured, smaller scan bodies are placed and scanned. ROE recommends using the scan bodies that come with your photogrammetry system. When using the denture method, impression material is loaded around the scan bodies, not the flags.

Setup turnaround: Photogrammetry setups are uploaded to ROE through a dedicated portal. ROE targets a 30-minute to 1-hour turnaround on the setup and guarantees roughly 2 hours, depending on lab volume. Same-day seating is possible but adds print, clean, cure, and finishing time, so many clinicians choose to seat the next day. For more on the model-free workflow, see ROE's Dental Photogrammetry page.

 

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    Contact Information

    For immediate chairside support or troubleshooting assistance, contact ROE Dental Laboratory: