NobelGuide vs. SurgiGuide
posted in Simplant, Dental Software, Nobel Biocare, Computer Guided Implant Surgery, What's New, Dental Implants
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Print This PostDr. W asks:
The use of surgical guides for dental implant treatment planning and placement represents one of the most exciting and innovative developments in implant dentistry.
I’m wondering if someone could comment on the advantages of one surgical guide system over another. I am going to purchase one system to help me place implants more accurately.
Specifically, I’d like to get some feedback on NobelGuide from NobelBiocare vs. SurgiGuide from Materialise (Simplant)?
What are the pros and cons of each system? What are the most important factors to consider when deciding on which system to use in my practice?


12 Responses to “ NobelGuide vs. SurgiGuide ”
Well considering nobel has a patent infringement suit they have to fight because they copied simplant, I’d go with simplant. I’ve worked with both, simplant is far more robust.
Consider VIP Implant Logic there are no fees attched for processing Dicom Data and it is virtually the same as the others. The guides are also competatively priced. Great techsupport. I am familiar with all and find it very user friendly.
NobelGuide continues where Simplant stopped the development. The NobelGuide software is much more user friendly and there is an interesting connection with procera. You are able to produce your provisional restorations in advance, place them immediately after you finished your operation. Thanks to the adjustable abutments. So far we have done a lot of cases with Nobelguide and we are very enthusiastic about the results.
Nobelguide is propriority and Simplant is versitile. Are you wanting to buy a beta machine. Simplant is the innovator and has new updates to advance its versitility.
NobelGuide is extremely difficult to learn and can only by used with Nobel implants. It takes the average clinician 21 hours of training to be proficient with the software. Simplant provides better diagnostic imaging and is a little more user friendly than NobelGuide but still is very difficult to learn how to use the software. Simplant also has long processing times for the guides.I am waiting for the EasyGuide software that will be launched in Sept. by Keystone Dental. I have seen the software and it is very user friendly and will be much more efficient to use than either Simplant or NobelGuide.
Nobelguide, as most of their products, has a great marketing strategy behind. Other than that, Simplant has been around much longer, has actually developed the whole concept. Surgiguides can be either Mucosa retained, osseoretained or dental reained. Nobel´s is far mo0re expensive. Simplant can be used with any system, not nobel´s. It is false that provisional restorations can´t be done in advance. Properly used it can be done. I know 3i will be launching soon a kit that will allow you to have a cast with analog properly and exactly positioned that will let you have not only an inmediate provisional but the final one madse in advance. That is the trend. i wouldn´t waste my money with Nobel. Simplant is by far your best option. By the way I do not work for XSimplant or any other company.
I have used both Surgiguides and Nobelguides and own and use both Simplant and Procera software. I use Simplant on average 3-4 times per day and Procera software 2 times a month!!! From a planning standpoint I find Simplant much easier to use and much more versatile.It is also a much better educational tool for patients. All around it is a much better piece of software but has its limitations as far as surgical guide design is concerned. The Nobelbiocare Procera software is less intuitive and has a few nasty bugs that still have not been fixed in 2 years after it’s introduction. I personally always use Simplant first to look at the patient data and do an initial quick analysis prior to using the Procera software only if there is a specific need to use it (i.e the need for the fabrication of a surgical template). Having said all this, Procera software has the distinct advange that it allows for the pre-fabrication of a (semi-final or provisional)prosthesis ONLY if the implants are fairly parallel so that one can use the “Guided abutments”. There is currently no “angled guided” abutment available and therefore if angulations exceed a certain treshold only a provisional restoration can be made in advance and will need in the mouth connection of the angled abutments to the restoration. This is still a big limitation of the system. Because of unique Nobelguide scanning protocol, their soft tissue supported guides fit very well. This is a great advantage as this allows for minimally invasive implant placement without flap reflection. In my experience this has not been the case with the Simplant derived Surgiguides. The sequential bone supported and tooth supported (implant=Materialise) Surgiguide drill guides fit well. The procera software does not allow for bone supported surgical templates. I have no financial interest with either of the companies.
I have used both and Nobelguide for Replace is the winner in the upper maxilla.
I am using Replant tapered implants instead Replace so I save 150 euros per implant used. In a 6 implant case you will save the price of the stent (540 euros) and you still have money to go out for dinner with some friends.
Specially dedicated to a friend in Italy.
Dr. P.P.
We have a Brazilian FREEWARE planning software.
Download it on www.dentalslice.com.br (english version)
The Dicom converter is paid, but the viewer is distributed by the Diagnostic Imaging office.
For those of you who didnt know the history , Simplant (Materialisse) and Nobel Guide original Oralim (Medicim) started at the same point in Leuven Belgium, its like Apple and Microsoft, the creators were the same so its impossible to say right know who copied whom, both are excellent “tools” with some light differences that a make a lot….of course that NobelGuide its better and you can end in final not only in provisional prosthesis, its very easy to learn and handle even to you (if you are baby boomer)….you have to be trained of course!!! you can convert the Ct files by your own with no cost charge, another important thing Procera support….reduce chair time,security, accuracy, effective etc etc etc etc…..
whats the cost of both systems ?
The Nobel software is really crap. SimPlant is built on a proper CAD/CAM platform & produces superior guides, especially for tooth supported cases. The guides from Simplant can be ordered with Nobel sleeves for use with the Nobel GS drill kits. Anyone who has actually used both systems equally will agree Simplant is the best software for producing implant surgical guides.
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