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When talking with your dentist or oral surgeon about dental implants, you will notice the terms "surgical guide" or "surgical guides" are frequently used. But, what is a surgical guide and how do they help you to have a better experience with your dental care?
What is a Surgical Guide?
At first, when you hear the term "surgical guide" you might think it is some sort of guidebook, but that isn't the case. It is actually a tiny custom-made medical/dental device that is used during oral surgery. During surgical procedures, the surgical guide is placed on the jaw. Once in place, it acts as a guide and will show your surgeon exactly where to drill or where to place the implants.
How are Surgical Guides Created?
Before your scheduled surgery, your surgeons will take a series of 3D images, digital x-rays, and impressions. The information gathered from the images, x-rays, and impressions helps your surgeon know where he or she wishes to place the dental implants.Once your surgeon determines where they wish to place the implants, they will use specialized software to create a unique surgical guide for your specific oral anatomy. It will also show your surgeon exactly where any drilling should occur and where the dental implants will be placed.
Benefits of Using a Surgical Guide
Using surgical guides during dental implant surgery helps provide you with a better dental care experience in the following ways:
- Reduced surgery time – The overall surgery time is faster when a surgical guide is utilized.
- Faster healing time – Surgeons may be able to perform flapless surgery. Recovery time for flapless surgery is faster than surgeries that involve a flap.
- Less pain, swelling, and trauma – You will still experience post-surgery pain and discomfort, but you will experience less pain than with other surgeries.
- There is a better chance of having dental implants succeed.
- Improved results - Dental prosthetics, such as the dental crown or dental implants, can be custom-made to meet your needs.
Without a Surgical Guide, Accuracy is Not Guaranteed
If a surgeon does not use a surgical guide, the surgeon will be operating in a way known as freehand surgery. Freehand surgery can be used to place dental implants, but it can be risky.Surgeons who perform freehand surgery are more likely to improperly place the dental implants. Even though x-rays, digital imaging, specialized dental tools, and wax build-ups are used to help a freehand surgeon know where to place the dental implants, there is still a good chance of inaccuracy.A number of problems can occur if your dental implants are not properly placed, including:
- Dental implant failure – The bone may not properly fuse to the titanium rod of the dental implant. If this happens the dental implant could fail and fall out.
- Teeth could shift or move – If you are getting dental implants for a single tooth or small set of teeth and they are not properly placed, they could cause the surrounding teeth to shift or move.
- Additional surgery may be needed – Improperly-placed dental implants could need to be surgically removed if they are causing pain or discomfort. Surgery may need to be done again if drilling did not occur in the right place and the ordered dental implants don't fit properly.
Using a surgical guide helps surgeons know where to accurately drill or place the dental implants. Accurate placement of your dental implants will dramatically improve your overall dental care experience.
Schedule a Consultation to Learn More about Dental Implants and Surgical Guides
Want to learn more about dental implants and surgical guides? Call Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule an appointment for a consultation with our doctors. Our doctors will gladly answer any questions you have about the entire dental implant procedure.