Guided surgery

The very great advantage of the guided surgery techniques is that treatment is mostly minimally invasive. This means that even when there is little bone available and it is a struggle to find sufficient support for bridgework, the implants can be placed with little impact on the patient.

There are three main types of surgical guides - gum-supported, bone-supported and tooth-supported. The type used will depend on the individual case as well as the dentist’s preferences, but all folllow the same basic principle.

Whatever the type of guided surgical technique used, a CT scan is required in order to plan the surgery preoperatively. Usually dentists use a new form of CT scanning called Cone Beam CT scanning. This provides more accurate results with a reduced radiation dose to the patient. In addition to this, the scan is taken with the patient upright rather than in a ‘tunnel’ scanner, making the experience as comfortable as it can be.

The CT scan data is then converted to a three-dimensional virtual model in sophisticated software where your dentist will be able to virtually place implants. A drill guide is then fabricated based on this virtual implant placement.

There are a few different specialist providers of surgical drill guides and associated software; NobelBiocare, Materialise (software called SimPlant), iDent, Facilitate and SICAT.