Volume 26, Issue S11 pp. 69-76
Report

Computer-supported implant planning and guided surgery: a narrative review

Marjolein Vercruyssen

Corresponding Author

Marjolein Vercruyssen

Department of Oral Health Sciences, Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Corresponding author:

Marjolein Vercruyssen

Department of Periodontology,

Catholic University Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33

Leuven, Belgium

Tel.: +003216332483

e-mail: [email protected]

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Isabelle Laleman

Isabelle Laleman

Department of Oral Health Sciences, Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

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Reinhilde Jacobs

Reinhilde Jacobs

OMFS IMPATH research group, Department of Imaging & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

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Marc Quirynen

Marc Quirynen

Department of Oral Health Sciences, Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

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First published: 09 September 2015
Citations: 158

Abstract

Aim

To give an overview of the workflow from examination to planning and execution, including possible errors and pitfalls, in order to justify the indications for guided surgery.

Material and methods

An electronic literature search of the PubMed database was performed with the intention of collecting relevant information on computer-supported implant planning and guided surgery.

Results

Currently, different computer-supported systems are available to optimize and facilitate implant surgery. The transfer of the implant planning (in a software program) to the operative field remains however the most difficult part. Guided implant surgery clearly reduces the inaccuracy, defined as the deviation between the planned and the final position of the implant in the mouth. It might be recommended for the following clinical indications: need for minimal invasive surgery, optimization of implant planning and positioning (i.e. aesthetic cases), and immediate restoration.

Conclusions

The digital technology rapidly evolves and new developments have resulted in further improvement of the accuracy. Future developments include the reduction of the number of steps needed from the preoperative examination of the patient to the actual execution of the guided surgery. The latter will become easier with the implementation of optical scans and 3D-printing.

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