What is Precision Dental Implant Placement?
Although dental implants have become popular, they have been around for awhile. The technique of actually placing dental implants has stayed the same for a long time. A skilled surgeon would place the implants where he felt they would work best, “by eye”. Measurements were estimates. If the implant position was too far off, the implant was a failure. The surgeon either removed the implant, or left it buried as a “sleeper”.
Today, we can take an extremely accurate 3 dimensional x-ray, and use it to determine the best implant placement.
The ability to take a three dimensional x-ray in the office is a recent development. This x-ray is called a Cone Beam Tomogram.
The implants are virtually placed in the x-ray
How do we transfer this implant placement to the patient?
An impression of the mouth is taken and a plaster model is made.
The model is then digitally scanned into specialized software.
The x-ray and model are now “Put Together”
Here’s the Cone Beam x-ray, with the implants virtually placed.
The image of the model of the mouth is superimposed over the x-ray image.
The implant positions have now been transferred to the model.
A precision surgical guide is then designed.
Often dental offices contract with a dental laboratory to design and manufacture the surgical guide. We manufacture in house and maintain complete control. The guide is 3D printed, using FDA approved materials. Our current 3D printer is a Form 2
