Digital Implant Planning and Surgical Guides: Tools for Clinical Success

Digital technologies have fundamentally changed treatment planning, surgical placement, and restoration of dental implants, improving clinical success while saving valuable chairtime. Intraoral scanners (IOS), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), 3D implant planning software, and CAD/CAM systems that fabricate surgical guides and provisional and definitive restorations have become standard tools for precise implant placement and ideal restoration design, which are essential for optimal and long-term esthetic and functional success. This article summarizes clinical guidelines for integration of digital technologies in implant dentistry.