Current opinion on guided implant surgery

Implant dentistry has been evolving with various new technologies, materials and techniques of placement. Conventionally, determination of implant position, size and placement depend on pre-surgical diagnostic imaging, which is limited to two-dimensional radiographs and on the guiding acrylic stent which will be usually prepared over the duplicated casts. Guided implant surgery using cone beam computed tomography, virtual treatment planning software and stereolithographic surgical templates has undoubtedly been a major step toward achieving optimal 3-D implant positioning with respect to both anatomical and prosthetic parameters. This article discusses about the indications, advantages and the concept of guided implant surgery in the successful outcome of the implant placement.