Reducing errors in guided implant surgery to optimize treatment outcomes

• Published in: Periodontology 2000 2022-02, Vol.88 (1), p.64-72
• Main Authors: Chackartchi, Tali, Romanos, Georgios E., Parkanyi, Laszlo, Schwarz, Frank, Sculean, Anton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer-Aided Design; computer‐supported implant planning; Dental Implantation, Endosseous - methods; Dental Implants; guided implant; guided surgery; Humans; Surgery, Computer-Assisted - methods; Treatment Outcome; Workflow
• ISSN: 0906-6713; 1600-0757
• DOI: 10.1111/prd.12411

Clinical considerations and treatment criteria in implant placement are constantly evolving. Prosthetically driven implant surgery has become the standard of care to improve short and long‐term functional and esthetic outcomes. Therefore, implant position and angulation are planned according to the available bone, anatomical structures, and the requirements of the future prosthetic superstructure. In parallel with these developments, significant progress has been made in data imaging and different software technologies to allow the integration of data within a digital file format. Digitalization in implant surgery enables optimal planning of implant position, as well as the ability to transfer this planning to the surgical field—a process defined as “computer‐supported implant planning and guided surgery.” The aims of the present review are as follows: (a) to critically appraise the indications and potential “added value” of guided implant surgery, elaborating the main differences between dynamic and static guidance; and (b) to discuss the most important clinical considerations relevant for the different steps of the workflow that might influence the surgical outcome and to offer recommendations on how to avoid or reduce process errors in order to optimize treatment outcomes.