What are "Guided" Dental Implants?

Getting dental implants is a big decision. As most patients know, dental implants are far from the “cheaper alternative” to things like bridges or dentures. Depending on the amount and the placement, dental implants can be expensive so before deciding, it’s best to fully understand what exactly you’re getting done. Here at Stanley Dentistry, I use the Omega Teeth method of dental implants. This means that, unlike most other implant methods, Omega Teeth uses a fully-guided system that ensures that every implant is correctly and precisely placed.

That sounds fancy but what does “fully-guided” really mean? And is it really necessary for all dental implant surgeries?

What are fully-guided dental implants?

If you decide to get Omega Teeth dental implants at Stanley Dentistry, the first thing I will do is take a full 3D scan of your mouth. The scan shows me exactly where the implants can and should go. Getting the angle and placement perfect is the key to keeping an implant from failing. The vast majority of the time, failed implants stem from poor placement and/or poor maintenance.

Using the 3D scan, I then create a plastic surgical guide. During the surgery, I’ll place the guide inside the patient’s mouth and use it to ensure maximum efficiency and quality. The surgeries I perform are always quick because the guide tells me exactly where to place the implants. With the Omega Teeth method, there’s absolutely no guesswork.

Why do patients need fully-guided dental implants?

Doctors who don’t use this guided system go into every dental implant surgery effectively blind. Because doctors place dental implants into the jawbone (which is hidden behind gums and teeth), there is no way to know, just by looking, where to place an implant.

Without 3D scans and a surgical guide, doctors could place a dental implant at a wrong angle or in a place that isn’t stable enough to hold it. If the bone doesn’t properly bond with the implant during the healing period, it will fail.

Placing a dental implant isn’t like placing a crown or filling a cavity. It’s a surgery that requires a lot of planning and precision to get right. Dental implants are supposed to last forever but if your doctor isn’t using a fully-guided system, you should expect the implant to fail within a few years.

Quality care above all else

Dental implants are for those who want to invest in a long-lasting, natural smile. They are not for people who want a low-priced answer to their missing teeth. Out of all the other tooth replacement options, dental implants are the best which typically (and unfortunately) means they’re also the most expensive.

If you’re looking for cheap dental implants, beware of doctors who use subpar materials and perform their surgeries blind (aka without a guided system). They may be cheaper upfront, but in the long run, you’ll most likely have placement-related complications. Get the best care and quality the first time around by scheduling an appointment at Stanley Dentistry’s Omega Teeth clinic.

‍