Virtual Implant Surgery: The Next Frontier

Tuesday Session, 10:15–11:45 a.m.

Program Track: Imaging and Emerging Technologies

Moderator: Wai S. Cheung

Speaker: Jeffrey Ganeles

Since implant dentistry became a mainstream treatment approach, there has been an emphasis on accurate planning and placement to enhance outcomes and minimize complications. Recently, there have been several technological improvements for surgery adapted from medical technology that were added to sophisticated planning tools. Navigation permits the surgeon to virtually “see” site preparation and implant placement on a computer monitor displaying patient anatomy and drill or implant position in real time, and visually manipulate them into pre-planned positions. Robotics additionally adds haptic guidance to navigation, assuring accurate duplication of pre-planned surgical positioning. These technologies are all FDA approved and commercially available in the U.S. This presentation will provide an overview for these technologies including case reports

Educational Objectives:

• Review the current methods of guided implant surgery.

• Present emerging technology in the field, including navigation and robotic surgery.

• Discuss the applicability and potential benefits of these new methods.