COMPUTER-GUIDED IMPLANTOLOGY
GENERAL INFORMATION
In recent years, the techniques of Cone Ray Tomography for the radiographic analysis of the jaws, Digital Scanning for the acquisition of 3D volumetric data of the mouth, and 3D Printing have been combined into a single process thanks to Artificial Intelligence software that allows for an easier planning and management of the insertion of titanium implants in patients.
DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING
After taking a 3D X-ray of the patient's jaws, the data is imported into software and combined with a digital scan of the patient's mouth. This way, we can manage a 3D model of the patient containing all the necessary information in a single location.
The implant design program contains libraries of all the most common implants available commercially and in clinical practice. The dentist selects the most appropriate implant and virtually inserts it into the patient's 3D model, positioning it in the most surgically and prosthetically correct and advantageous manner.
MANUFACTURING THE JIG
The dentist's report, containing all the information needed for surgery, is sent to the dental laboratory, which continues the process within the same software, designing a custom drilling template for that case. This is essentially a plastic plate with small metal rings or tubes positioned in the correct position that will guide the dentist's bone drills.
GUIDED SURGERY
During surgery, the dentist will place the template on the patient's teeth or gums (depending on the case) and drill the holes in the bone to accommodate the planned implants, using a very simple procedure, inserting the appropriate drills into the designated metal holes. The drills have depth stops that allow the drill to be adjusted to the correct length in a single stroke.
The implants are then inserted into the bone holes, as per the traditional technique.
