Implants
Guided implant surgery
Guided implant surgery uses a 3D scan and a custom template to steer the placement of a dental implant to a planned position and angle.
Before surgery, the dentist studies a 3D scan such as cone beam CT and plans where each implant should go. A lab or an in-office printer then makes a surgical guide that fits over the teeth or gums. During surgery, the guide steers the drill to the planned spot. A review in the NIH library says a computer-generated surgical guide links the treatment plan to the actual surgery by transferring the simulated plan to the surgical field. Guides can improve how closely the implant matches the plan, but the dentist still uses judgment during surgery. See 3D printing in dentistry, dental implant, and our dental implant page.