Technology and implants
Guided implant surgery
Guided implant surgery uses a digital treatment plan and a custom surgical guide to place dental implants in the positions that were planned before surgery.
Guided surgery starts with a digital plan, often built from a CBCT scan and an intraoral scanner file. A guide made from that plan directs the drill and the implant. A 2026 paper notes that static fully guided systems improve the accuracy of implant placement.
The guide may be printed or milled. See 3D printing in dentistry.
A guide does not remove the need for judgment. Bone shape, mouth opening and guide fit can affect results. The same paper points out that most studies have focused on flat bone surfaces. Training and the right planning software matter.