Why Use CT-based surgical guides?

Drilling an Osteotomy poses two challenges for the surgeon:

1. Surgical: the hole must be positioned in sufficient bone to hold the implant
2. Prosthetic: the hole must be correctly aligned with the position of the future tooth to restore it correctly

To meet these challenges, doctors can obtain 3D data of a patient’s jawbone (typically through CT scan), import the data into implant planning software, and virtually place the implant in the correct position. The CT scan-based surgical plan is then used to make a surgical guide for that specific patient/case.

Literature has shown that CBCT-based implant planning and software guides offer advantages to the surgeon, restorative dentist, and patient. Implants are placed where planned, in the ideal location, leading to improved surgical confidence, outcomes and esthetic results. Many doctors have adopted guided surgery for all of their cases.

Benefits of CT-based guided surgery include, but are not limited to:

  • Restorative-driven surgery: Implant placement is pre-operatively agreed to by the surgeon and restorative dentist
  • Accurate placement: Implants are placed where planned, in the ideal location, leading to improved surgical outcomes and esthetic results.
  • Lower liability: costly surgical mistakes (i.e., perforating the side of the jawbone or sinus, or damaging the mandibular nerve) are minimized because patient anatomy is known
  • Sub-gingival knowledge and planned placement provide a better, more predictable, surgical experience
      • Enter surgery with less stress and more confidence, knowing fewer anatomical “surprises” await
      • More trust in a flapless protocol, which provides a more painless patient experience and recovery
      • Spend less time in surgery
      • Minimize intraoperative radiography (“check films”)

    However, guided surgery still requires experience and good judgement. No matter how confident a doctor is in their treatment plan, they must still assess the placement of the surgical guide and implant in vivo.

    Research has shown that 3-D treatment planning provides the clinician with a greater depth of information than traditional models. Additionally, CT-based surgical guides are more accurate than free hand drilling as well as more accurate than conventional surgical guides.

    To learn more about our low-cost guided surgery system call (855) 484-3335, or email steve@guidedsurgerysolutions.com.