CAD/CAM Surgical Guide for Virtual Implant Planning and Placement: A Review

A dental implant is a surgical fixture that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over the span of a few months. It acts as an alternative for a lacking teeth.The implant surgical guide comprises a teeth formed contour which stimulates natural teeth and prosthesis. Dental implants preserve the bone that results in loss of jaw height and appearance of aging.The prefabricated dental implant can be used to locate single implants or couple of implants in a continuous manner permitting verification of implant site, angulation and rotational positions prior to the implant placement and thereby allowing more esthetic, functional and stable prosthesis. CAD/CAM has been used for decades in restorative dentistry and have improved its software in implant dentistry. Surgical guide plays an important role in optimal positioning and angulation of implants. Surgical guides have not only reduced the chances of damage to anatomic landmarks but also increased the esthetic. Guided surgery is a complete treatment concept for diagnosis, treatment planning and placement of implants with high accuracy. The main aim of this review is to know the importance, accuracy and advantages of CAD/CAM surgical guide for virtual implant placement.