A specialist's professional contact with a patient always begins with a clinical examination or consultation. Many patients do not know what guided surgery is or what its benefits are. At the same time, dentists must also be familiar with its drawbacks and limitations—many of which can be anticipated right during the clinical examination.

Benefits for the Patient and Specialist

• Greater Precision: In the vast majority of cases, guided surgery is significantly more accurate than non-guided (freehand) surgery.
• Prosthetically Driven Planning: Following the complete protocol allows for precise planning of the final prosthetic restoration and optimal centering of future implants.
• Minimally Invasive: Guided surgery results in a less invasive procedure, requiring smaller mucosal flaps and smaller osteotomies (e.g., during a sinus lift).
• Clear Visual Communication: The pre-designed treatment plan can be presented directly to the patient, giving them a clear visual understanding of the implant positions and the final prosthetic outcome.

Drawbacks and Limitations

• Cost: Guided surgery increases the overall cost of treatment.
• Time: Additional time is required to design and fabricate the surgical guides, particularly in complex cases.
• Limited Mouth Opening: One of the most challenging complications during surgery is the inability to seat the surgical guide alongside the osteotomy drills due to restricted opening. For this reason, the patient's mouth opening must be measured in advance—it should be at least 3.5 cm to 4 cm in the molar region. For patients with restricted mouth opening, our team has developed specialized guides with a buccal (vestibular) side-access window, which can compensate for reduced vertical clearance in many cases.

Do you have any further questions? Do not hesitate to contact us!