Restoring the partially edentulous patient in the aesthetic zone: computer-guided implant surgery.

option in clinical dentistry, requiring proper diagnosis and case selection. Patients present with variable osseous anatomy at the proposed implant location, often making it difficult for the dentist to determine if sufficient bone is present in which to place an implant. Using 2-dimensional radiography (including panoramic, periapical, and bitewing radiographs), which may not allow the dentist to adequately assess the form and density of bone at the recipient site, the dentist typically fabricates a surgical guide using a mounted cast and the radiographs. Several techniques for fabricating a surgical guide have been proposed, including the use of acrylic resin and vacuum-formed guides, among others.1-6 The use of surgical guides aides in the correct placement of implants. The intent is to ensure proper implant placement so prosthodontic complications can be minimized. Recently, implant surgery has incorporated computer-guided technology that enables the dentist to evaluate fully the osseous morphol-