RealGUIDE Guide Export: Formats, Report, Legal

Surgical guide export from RealGUIDE is the final step of digital planning, after which the file goes to 3D printing or milling. A mistake here costs more than at any other stage: a wrong format, lost sleeves or a missing drilling protocol can derail the surgery right in the chair.

Below we cover which formats RealGUIDE outputs, what goes into the planning surgical report, and which legal points to keep in mind when sending an STL to print.

Which formats does RealGUIDE guide export support

The main format for a surgical guide is STL. RealGUIDE generates a polygonal mesh of the guide that you export for 3D printing or milling. Besides the guide itself, the software can export original and reformatted DICOM data, STL models of the dental arches and segmented structures, as well as the implant plan in a proprietary project for transfer between workstations.

For the clinical part, a separate PDF report is generated — it can be printed or attached to the patient record. This set (guide STL + report) is what actually moves from planning into production and documentation.

Planning report: what the surgical report contains

The RealGUIDE report is not a formality but a working document for the surgeon. It links the virtual plan to the physical guide and the instruments on the table. Typical protocol contents:

• a list of implants with brand, platform and position by tooth notation;
• the diameter and length of each implant, insertion depth and angulation;
• the type and offset of the sleeve relative to bone level;
• the drilling sequence and the compatible surgical kit;
• plan screenshots and cross-sections for visual control.

The report is convenient to print in advance: it serves as navigation through the drilling protocol and removes any doubt about which sleeve and which kit correspond to a specific position.

Sleeves and implant positions in the exported file

The geometry of the sleeve holes in the STL guide is calculated from the selected manufacturer library. It is what defines the diameter of the seating socket, the height and the offset of the guide channel. If the library is matched to a different system, the guide will print but the sleeve won't seat correctly.

For RealGUIDE, the DentalLibs catalog contains components from major systems — for example, Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Dentsply Sirona and Osstem. Before exporting, make sure the plan uses the library for the protocol (fully guided, pilot, keyless) you will actually use.

Legal aspects of exporting a surgical guide

A surgical guide is a medical device, not just a printed part. In regulated jurisdictions (CE/MDR, local requirements) it is subject to requirements for material and traceability. A guide that contacts the mucosa and directs the drill should be printed from a certified biocompatible resin of the appropriate class.

Responsibility for the clinical correctness of the plan and verification of the guide's fit lies with the clinician, not the software: RealGUIDE is a planning tool. Checking on the model before surgery, controlling stability and fixation remain with the surgeon.

The exported plan and report should reasonably be kept as part of the medical documentation together with the patient's informed consent. This protects both the clinic and the technician when reviewing disputed cases.

Checklist before exporting a guide from RealGUIDE

A short run through the points saves a reprint and a plan redo:

• the implant and sleeve library matches the actual system and protocol;
• depth, angulation and offset checked for each position;
• the guide mesh is closed, without holes or segmentation artifacts;
• a PDF report generated for the surgeon and documentation;
• a certified printing material selected.

Frequently asked questions about exporting a guide from RealGUIDE