Relationship of drilling depth to implant insertion depth by manufacturer

Osteotomy depths are designed to be up to 1.5 mm longer than the corresponding implant insertion depth. We call this difference the “v-factor”. Not only does it vary by manufacturer, but it can also vary within any one manufacturer’s drill kits – tapered or straight, guided or non-guided, hub or no hub – all drill kits are built differently. Below is a table of V-factors taken from various manufacturer surgical manuals.

When drilling freehand, one must be aware that the depth marks correspond to implant insertion depth, even though in many cases the osteotomy depth will be deeper. When using a surgical guide, it is important to note that the virtual implant placed in the planning software may be short of the full osteotomy depth. And the manufacturer of the drill guide must account for the additional depth of the drill. If this is not accounted for, the drill will go only to the implant insertion depth, stopping short of the desired osteotomy depth.

Table 1: V-factors (drilling depth minus implant insertion depth)

Relationship of Drilling Depth to Implant Insertion Depth by Manufacturer Table

Please visit the original article to view Exhibit A and also our Resources page for further information on related topics.

About Guided Surgery Solutions, LLC
Guided Surgery Solutions, LLC designs, manufactures, and sells 3D image-based surgical guides for dental implant surgery. The ThinLayer® Drill Guide System was developed in the founder’s clinical practice, in response to design limitations found in existing products. The solution makes guided surgery technically and economically feasible for all implant surgeons, allowing them to provide better treatment to more patients. Please visit www.guidedsurgerysolutions.com for more information.