What Is Guided Implant Surgery? And Why Is It Better?

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What Is Guided Implant Surgery? And Why Is It Better?

Hi, my name is Dr Warren Antonoff, I’m the principal dentist at Lifestyle Smiles here at Brighton in Melbourne. I just completed a guided implant surgery for our patient Sandra from Elsternwick, and afterward, she said, Wow Dr Warren, that was much faster and smoother than I expected! Thank you!

All of that is made possible because of computer-guided implant surgery, one of the most advanced technologies in dentistry that has helped me in my implant journey thus far. As a Master Clinician in Implantology, I’ve been placing dental implants for the better part of 10 years, and the evolution of computer-guided implant surgery has revolutionised my way of practising dentistry. So let’s get into it, what is guided implant surgery, and why is it better?

Computer guided implant enables better surgery planning, and this means reduce planning error. You see, in the past, if a patient wanted to have a dental implant, they would take a 3D scan of their mouth, and the images would be printed out in 2D slices, and using rulers and tape measures, the dentist would then estimate the size of the implant best suited to the area. With the advancement of 3D technology and software, we can now dynamically pre-plan the surgery so the procedure is as accurate and as predictable as possible. The chance of any miscalculation is dramatically decreased.

With a 3D implant guide, this reduces surgery time and error. In the past, implant surgery was done freehand. So based on the X Ray, the dentist will guess where the implant should go, and then start drilling. Often, this will result in unfavourable implant angulation, which can compromise on the long term success of the treatment. In addition, there are blood vessels and nerves in the jaw bone, you don’t want the dentist to accidentally drill into these structures. With the advancement of technology, we could now print out 3D implant guides. These guides can accurately control the angle and the depth of the implant placement, potentially avoiding any series of complications if your dentist is having a bad day.

A computer-guided implant can give you a faster and more comfortable surgery.
With the arrival of guided implant surgery, often the dentist has already done the surgery in their head 2-3 times prior to the actual surgery, the procedure can be done often at half of the time if the dentist has a surgical guide. Which means you are in the chair for less time, so there will be less swelling and discomfort when you get home. Sometimes we don’t even need to raise a flap to do the surgery, which means you don’t need to worry about any stitches.

LSS-What-Is-Guided-Implant-Surgery-And-Why-Is-It-Better-2

As you can see, a computer-guided implant can help you replace your missing tooth or teeth a lot faster and more comfortably. Here at Lifestyle Smiles, all our dental implant procedures are computer-guided. So If you have a missing tooth and want to explore a permanent and comfortable option, we would love to help. Simply complete the form on the website, give us a call, or send us a direct message on social media, and we will help you organise your appointment. See you in the next video.

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Disclaimer: The material posted is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary with each patient. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. If you have any specific questions about any dental and/or medical matter, you should consult your dentist, physician or other professional healthcare providers.