Implant guides: A literature review

Abstract

In spite of significant developments in technologies and techniques, the correct positioning of dental implants remains an arduous task. Diagnostic casts and orthopantomogram do not provide the three-dimensional radiographic information essential for proper placing and orientation of the dental implant, which might lead to unforeseen results. Prosthetically guided implantology became the need for successful outcomes. In this concept, the ideal placement of an implant is determined by the final restoration and its correlation with adjoining structures. Three-dimensional radiography, considered to be the gold standard in implant planning in terms of accuracy, fails in meeting its objectives unless the data acquired are transferred with any guide or template. Various designs and sorts of implant guides have been described, ranging from basic designs that just indicate the appropriate implant site to extremely complicated designs that, while requiring a significant amount of time and money, guide the entire surgical procedure. This review article seeks to discuss the recent advancements in implant guides.

Keywords

• accuracy
• dental implant
• dynamic navigation
• freehand approach
• ideal placement
• static navigation