Computer-aided dental implant planning.

Computer-aided dental implant planning increases the predictability of replacing missing teeth in partially and fully edentulous cases. This article describes how Nobel Biocare's Procera surgical planning software converts a patient's double CT scan data into a virtual three-dimensional model of the alveolar bone and overlying prosthesis. Using these images, the practitioner virtually places implants in the bone in precise relation to their position in the final prosthesis. Procera uses this virtual plan to fabricate a customized surgical template that guides the placement of the implants safely, precisely, and accurately. Then the dental laboratory can construct the master cast and provisional restoration before surgery, allowing the restoration to be inserted immediately after placement of the implants. Furthermore, computer-based guided implant surgery is minimally invasive and requires a shorter chair time and fewer appointments than traditional methods.