What is guided implant surgery?

Printed and milled guides perform within clinically equivalent ranges when the print is properly post-cured and sleeve-fitted. The 2020 Clinical Oral Implants Research review found no statistically significant deviation difference between high-resolution DLP-printed guides and milled PMMA guides at the implant apex. The variable that actually moves accuracy is the merge quality between the CBCT and intraoral scan, not the manufacturing method. A poorly registered scan produces a poorly fitting guide regardless of how it was made.

Yes, and it's the standard of care for full-arch immediate-load protocols. For All-on-X, the guide controls the angulation of the tilted distal implants (typically 30 to 45 degrees) so the multi-unit abutments emerge parallel to the prosthetic plane. Without a guide, parallel emergence on four to six implants is nearly impossible to freehand. Dani Dental's Implants and All-on-X workflow includes the surgical guide, the verified prosthetic plan, and the immediate-load provisional designed before the surgery date.

Three files: a CBCT scan in DICOM format (typically a folder of 200 to 400 slices), an intraoral scan in STL or PLY, and a treatment note specifying tooth position, implant system, and timeline. If the case is edentulous, a duplicate denture scan or a radiographic guide replaces the intraoral scan. Dani Dental's case coordinator confirms file integrity within four business hours and routes the case to the technician handling the planning conversation.