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Table of Contents
Standard turnaround for a surgical guide design is 2-3 business days from the moment we receive your files. Express 24-hour delivery is available for every case type. Here's what that timeline actually means and how to make sure your case doesn't hit delays.
A 3D-printed template that fits over the patient's teeth or tissue and directs drill placement during implant surgery. It transfers the digital treatment plan into precise physical drill positions.
What Does "2-3 Business Days" Actually Mean?
The clock starts when we have everything we need — CBCT, intraoral scan, and implant specifications. Here's the breakdown:
A 3D surface mesh file format used in dental CAD/CAM. Intraoral scanners produce STL files that capture tooth and gingival surfaces for surgical guide fitting.
A 3D imaging technique that captures the jaw, teeth, and bone structure in a single rotational scan. It produces DICOM files used for implant planning, nerve mapping, and surgical guide design.
| Phase | Duration | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| File upload + validation | Hours 0-4 | We verify file quality and completeness |
| CBCT analysis + anatomy mapping | Hours 4-12 | Bone density, nerve mapping, sinus evaluation |
| Implant planning + guide design | Hours 12-36 | Virtual placement, guide body engineering |
| Quality check + 3D review link | Hours 36-48 | Internal QA, interactive 3D viewer generated |
| Your review + revisions | Your pace | No time pressure on your end |
| Final STL delivery | Immediate | After your approval |
The 2-3 day turnaround covers Steps 1-4. Your review time doesn't count against the turnaround — take as long as you need to evaluate and request revisions.
Express 24-Hour: How It Works
| Case Type | Standard | Express (+$20-30) |
|---|---|---|
| Single implant (1-2) | 2-3 days | 24 hours |
| Multi-implant (3-5) | 2-3 days | 24 hours |
| All-on-X | 3-5 days | 48 hours |
| Zygomatic / complex | 5-7 days | 72 hours |
Express cases are prioritized immediately upon upload. The surcharge covers the rush handling and dedicated designer assignment — not reduced quality.
Need predictable scheduling for your implant cases? See how our turnaround fits your practice workflow.
What Causes Delays?
Most delays are on the submission side, not the design side. Here are the common blockers:
| Delay Cause | Time Added | How to Prevent |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete CBCT (missing slices) | +1-2 days | Export full DICOM folder, verify before upload |
| No intraoral scan provided | +1-2 days | Upload STL with the CBCT, or order segmentation |
| Unclear implant specification | +1 day | Specify brand, size, and position in case notes |
| Large CBCT file upload timeout | +4-6 hours | Use cloud link (Google Drive) for files >200MB |
| Revision requests | +4-12 hours each | Normal — doesn't affect turnaround quality |
Digital-Only vs. Physical Guide Delivery
We deliver digital STL files — not physical printed guides. This is intentional and faster:
| Delivery Type | Turnaround | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Digital (STL files) — our service | 2-3 days design | $80 for single implant |
| Physical (printed guide) — traditional lab | 5-10 days total | $200-500 |
You receive the STL files instantly after approval. Local printing at your lab adds 1-2 days and $30-60 for the physical guide.
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