How it works
- 3D scan. A CBCT scan shows the bone in three dimensions: its height and width, the nerve in the lower jaw and the sinus above the upper back teeth.
- Digital scan of your teeth. An intraoral scan or impression records your teeth and gums, and is lined up with the CBCT.
- Plan the tooth first. Dr. Adish designs the final tooth or bridge on screen, then places the implant where it best supports that tooth while keeping a safe distance from nerves, roots and the sinus.
- The guide is made. A rigid template is 3D-printed from the plan, with sleeves that set the position, angle and depth of each implant.
- Surgery. Under local anaesthetic, the guide is seated in your mouth and the implants are placed through it, often through a small opening in the gum.
When guided surgery helps most
- Front teeth, where a fraction of a millimetre affects how the gum and crown look.
- Implants near the nerve or sinus, where the safe zone is narrow.
- Several implants or a full arch, so that the implants line up with the planned bridge, as in All-on-4 and All-on-6.
- Immediate implants and same-day teeth, where a temporary tooth or bridge made in advance needs the implants exactly where they were planned. See immediate implants.
- People who want a shorter, gentler procedure, since flapless placement often means less swelling.
What the evidence says
The International Team for Implantology’s 2018 consensus found that static computer-aided implant surgery is beneficial compared with conventional surgery in terms of pain and discomfort, cost and intraoperative complications, and that accuracy is higher in people who still have some teeth than in fully toothless jaws. It also stressed that guided surgery is an additional tool for diagnosis, planning and surgery, which depends on careful scans and an experienced surgeon. That’s how we use it.
Risks
Guided surgery carries the same risks as any implant procedure, including infection, an implant that doesn’t integrate, and nerve or sinus irritation. A guide reduces the chance of a misplaced implant but doesn’t remove it entirely, so the surgeon still checks every step. Limited mouth opening can make a guide difficult to use at the back of the mouth.
What affects the fee
The number of implants, the scans, the guide and the type of crown or bridge. All of it is itemised in your written estimate. See the implant cost guide.
Questions patients ask us
What is guided implant surgery?
The implant's exact position, angle and depth are planned on a 3D scan. A surgical guide, a custom template, is then made to fit your mouth, and the implant is placed through it so it goes where it was planned.
Is guided implant surgery better?
The ITI, an international implant organisation, found that guided surgery reduces pain and discomfort and intraoperative complications compared with conventional placement, and is more accurate when some teeth remain. It is a tool that works alongside the surgeon's experience, not a replacement for it.
Is guided surgery less painful?
Often, yes. Because the plan is precise, implants can frequently be placed through a small opening in the gum instead of a larger flap, which usually means less swelling and fewer stitches.
Does every implant need guided surgery?
No. A straightforward implant in a wide healed site can be placed accurately without a guide. We recommend guided surgery where the extra precision makes a difference.
Does guided surgery cost more?
Making the guide adds a step, which is reflected in the estimate. Whether a guide is used, and why, is shown on your written plan before you decide.
Sources
Wismeijer et al., Group 5 ITI Consensus Report: Digital technologies, Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2018 ↗ADA MouthHealthy: dental implants ↗Last updated 14 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.