---
title: "What Is Guided implant surgery? Dental Glossary"
description: "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."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/guided-implant-surgery
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

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](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cbct-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](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/3d-printing-in-dentistry), [dental implant](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-implant), and our [dental implant](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dental-implant) page.

[Town Center Dental can helpDental Implants](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dental-implant)

## Related terms

-   [CBCT (cone beam CT)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cbct-cone-beam-ct)
-   [3D printing in dentistry](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/3d-printing-in-dentistry)
-   [Dental implant](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-implant)
-   [Digital impression](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/digital-impression)
-   [Immediate implant](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/immediate-implant)

## Sources

1.  [NIH PubMed Central: Implant surgical guides: From the past to the present](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3722716/)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)