Your Guide to Guided Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of a titanium screw which is fixed into or on top of the bone of the jaw to provide support to a dental prosthesis, such as a crown, bridge, or denture. Traditionally, the dental surgeon depended on an x-ray of the jawbone and his own imagination to determine where to place the implant, how deep to drill, and how to make other important decisions but guided dental implant surgery has changed all that.
What is guided implant surgery?
Guided implant surgery is the use of computer-generated 3D imaging to visualize the shape of the implant site (which is on your jawbone) so that the dentist knows exactly where to place the implant, how long the implant should be, where to make an incision, and all other aspects of the surgery. The reason guided implant surgery has become so popular is that it greatly simplifies the process as well as ensuring precision and safety.
To perform a guided implant surgery, the dental surgeon uses a cone beam scanner, which is very similar to a CAT scan. Using the scanner, he creates a 3D computer model of the patient’s jawbone showing the exact dimensions of the implant site, the angulation, and other important details. The surgeon then virtually places an implant on the 3D computer model. He may try more than once to get an exact fit.
Once the surgeon has gotten an exact fit, he prints a 3D implant surgical guide. This guide fits exactly over the patient’s teeth. To place the implant, he drills a small hole of no more than a quarter of an inch (5 mm) wide on the jawbone. The hole is so small that it doesn’t even require any suture. The implant goes right through the hole.
The entire procedure lasts from fifteen to twenty minutes. This is because most of the prep work is done prior to the patient coming to the dentist’s office.
What are the advantages of guided implants?
Using a surgical guide for dental implant placement has three main advantages: safety, precision, and speed.
- Safety: Unlike an x-ray image, which is a 2D representation of a 3D object, the 3D surgical implant guide doesn’t require guesswork. It fits exactly on the patient’s teeth and shows the exact position of the nerve, the density of the bone, size of the implant required, the optimal placement of the implant relative to the boney crest, and where to make an incision and how deep to drill. All this information ensures the highest level of safety.
- Predictability: By providing all the information that the dental surgeon needs to place the implant in the ideal position on the jawbone, it makes the entire procedure predictable for him. Predictability is one of the most desirable things in surgery because it ensures that the job will be done quickly and with precision.
- Efficiency: Guided implants surgery is the most efficient method of placing dental implants. Since all surgery details are figured out, and the planning is done before the patient walks in for surgery, the surgeon knows exactly what to do. Thus, most guided implant surgeries take no more than half an hour to complete for a single tooth.
For these reasons, if you would like to get dental implants, you should only go to a dentist who specializes in dental implant guided surgery.
Why Choose Suburban Essex Dental
At Suburban Essex Dental, we specialize in dental implant guided surgery. Providing you with incredible customer service, a high-quality level of treatment and a pleasant experience during your dental implant guided surgery are our primary goals.
Our staff is always eager to assist you. We are here to keep your smile bright & healthy.
Contact Suburban Essex Dental by phone or send an email for more information regarding guided implants or any other dental services.
Suburban Essex Dental, West Orange, NJ