Guided implant surgery is a digital planning format, utilizing 3D imaging and 3D printed surgical guides. This technique plans out the entire case including the final prosthetic beforehand, allowing the dentist to place the implants in the ideal position with precision and accuracy.  

The Process

• Digital Mapping: Your dentist takes a CBCT scan and a digital 3D impression of your mouth.

• Digital Planning: The Dentist, sometimes in conjunction with a lab, merges all the digital information to create a digital model and plan the final prosthetic and surgical guides ahead or the actual surgery.

• Guide Fabrication: A custom surgical guide is created to allow for optimal implant placement.

• Placement: On surgery day, the guide is fixed to the jaw, allowing for the implants to replaced according to the initial plan.

Benefits

• Precision: Allows for ideal implant placement and prosthetic design.

• Controlled Surgery : Decreases surgery time and avoids damaging anatomical structures.

• Less Invasive: Smaller cases sometimes do not require a flap placement or sutures. Allows minimal flap design for larger cases.

Surgery

• Anesthesia: An anestheologist administeres local anesthesia and IV sedation for maximum comfort. 
• Flap Reflection & Extractions: All remaining teeth are extracted and the gum tissue is gently folded back to expose the jawbone. 
• Bone Reduction: The guide base is seated and fixed to the jawbone with anchor pins. The bone reduction guide is then placed onto the base and the jawbone is leveled. 
• Implant Placement: The placement guide is seated to the guide, osteotomy drills prepare the sites for the implants, and the implants are then placed in the ideal perfect position. 
• Provisional Scan: Scan bodies are placed and a photometric scan is taken for provisional fabrication which will be delivered the day after all implants have been placed.

• Provisional 1: This is delivered the day after surgery with the patient on a restricted soft diet over the next 3 to 4 months, 
• Provisional 2: This is delivered, if necessary, usually 3 months after the initial surgery. It’s purpose is to improve the initial design and make any necessary adjustments.
• Final Prosthesis: Once fully healed, and after making any final adjustments to the bite, teeth shape and color, a full Zirconia prosthetic is fabricated and delivered.