For the Patient

Dentistry has come a long way from toothbrush and mouthwash commercials! Your doctor now has the most advanced technology at their fingertips. From computer aided design to the most precise machinery available world wide. Using the very same processes to make the aircraft and automobiles you trust your life with. Really…just ask your doctor.

So what does all this mean to dentistry and how does it relate to dental implants? You may have heard about dental implants through social media, friends, or ads. You may have had a consultation where your doctor suggested dental implants and how they would improve your life in many ways. Your doctor may have also suggested guided surgery to you during this brief time, leaving you with a basic understanding of the process and its benefits. Here we would like to touch on a few points and hopefully shed some light on this topic you might still have questions about.

Guided Surgery FAQ

What exactly is guided surgery?

• Guided surgery is the process of using computers to study CT scans and other X-Rays and then perform virtual surgery prior to your procedure. This process gives your doctor the opportunity to try different scenarios in order to avoid unforeseen complications. A physical guide, template, or jig is designed and created to be used by your doctor in order to prevent any guesswork during the procedure, allowing the doctor to focus on you, the patient, with all the confidence of delivering the implant successfully.
• At Coredent, our services greatly increase predictability for surgical success resulting in Precise™ placement of dental implants. Please consult with your doctor regarding possible risks and complications.

What exactly is a surgical guide?

• A surgical guide is the device that communicates position, angulation, and depth for the delivery of dental implants with respect to the overall restorative plan. This device rests on something in the mouth, either teeth, tissue, or bone in order to assist your doctor with the procedure.
• There are many different types of surgical guides that work best for a given situation. Some surgical guides are produced using CT data (digital 3D imaging) resulting in a more precise product. This digital information is key in the ability to create a 3D visual model of you, allowing your doctor to view your situation from every angle, giving them the opportunity to be their best at developing the right options for treatment.
• Non-CT data surgical guides, based on a stone model design, give the most basic direction and is therefore combined with multiple X-Rays during the procedure to verify everything is on track, so as to avoid any vital structures seen.

Questions to ask your doctor.

• Do you use guided surgery for placing dental implants?
• Is guided surgery worth the investment for my situation?
• Will using guided surgery make the procedure easier for you?
• Will guided surgery improve the long term health of my implant?
• What technology should be used for my situation?
• What company can best provide this service?
• Ask your doctor about Precise™.