Computer-assisted implant placement: scan template, simplant, surgiguide, and SAFE system.

Computer-driven implant dentistry uses the latest technology to coordinate every aspect of implant treatment. It provides a means with which to control the placement of implants with a high degree of accuracy. This is important, since accuracy has a direct bearing on the safety, esthetics, invasiveness, and cost of implant treatment. Computer-driven implant dentistry must be conceived as a chain in which every link is related to the others. Within this chain, there are elements that can be employed to maximize the benefits realized by computer-guided implant dentistry. A scan template is a radiologic template that permits visualization of the prosthetic plan prior to treatment and determines the course of implant treatment from the perspective of esthetics. The SimPlant software program (Materialise) allows implants to be planned in two and three dimensions using data received from a computerized tomographic scan. The resulting implant plan can be transferred to the mouth and implemented by means of a stereolithographic surgical guide (SurgiGuide, Materialise). Finally, the SAFE System (Materialise) is used for guided implant placement. It is associated with dedicated drilling devices and can be used in combination with SurgiGuides or with traditional acrylic resin guides manufactured by the dental lab on a synthetic plaster cast.