Today dental implants can be placed using computer-guided surgery, a newer technique that allows precise planning of the procedure based on the patient’s 3D CT scan. Using advanced software, the dentist virtually positions the implant or implants of the appropriate length and size. In this way the entire procedure can be planned in advance, taking every aspect into account and reducing the possibility of errors. With this technique, complex cases – even with little bone – can be managed safely and precisely. In addition, in the days after surgery, side effects such as pain, swelling or bruising tend to be more limited than with traditional implant surgery.
The advantages of computer-guided surgery
This type of surgery has many advantages for both patient and dentist. For the patient, guided surgery makes treatment less invasive, which means less stress, less time in the chair, a shorter recovery period and, not least, a predictable aesthetic result. For the clinician, one of the great advantages of this workflow is that surgery can be made very precise, considerably reducing work-related stress and therefore the possibility of errors.
During surgery, to make implant placement easier, the dentist uses a surgical guide made specifically for the individual case. The surgical guide is a medical device: a clear template made of a resin structure with metal sleeves. For each case, the dentist designs the guide that will lead them precisely during implant placement. Every guide is unique, because it is made using advanced technology such as computed tomography (CT) or intraoral scanning, so it fits the patient’s anatomy precisely.
Features of the surgical guide:
- Precision: the accuracy with which the guide is made minimises the risk of clinician error during surgery, for more precise and safer treatment for the patient.
- Efficiency: overall, the process – from planning the surgical case to placing the implants in the mouth – is more efficient, quicker and more accurate.
- Personalisation: each guide is personalised to the specific features of the patient’s mouth. This allows the clinician to manage the anatomical variations that arise in each case as effectively as possible, aiming for an optimal result.
Today many dental laboratories are equipped to support computer-guided surgery and produce surgical guides. The in-house Dental laboratory at Tommaso Grandi Dental Clinic is equipped with advanced tools (such as specialised software, 3D printers and titanium and zirconia milling machines) and handles a large volume of work.
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