Dentist Jorge Giampietro explains how technology enables precise implant planning and reduces surgical invasiveness.
Dental implant placement has incorporated digital tools to plan the exact location and positioning of each implant. Guided surgery combines CT scans, intraoral scans, photographs, and X-rays to create a virtual plan, which is then implemented using 3D-printed guides.
Speaking to Salud & Bienestar, dentist Jorge Giampietro explained how this technique works and how it differs from conventional procedures. The goal, he noted, is to achieve a “completely precise, predictable” procedure while minimizing patient discomfort.
Pre-procedure planning
The surgical process begins before the patient even enters the dental office. The practitioner gathers diagnostic data and integrates it using specialized software to determine the optimal implant location.
“It is as if we were placing the implants on the computer,” Giampietro described. This planning phase identifies the insertion angle and the precise target location. Custom guides are then manufactured using 3D printing to direct the procedure during actual placement.
The technique aims to translate the digital design directly into clinical practice.
A less invasive procedure
One of the most significant changes lies in how the surgery is performed. According to Giampietro, in certain cases, there is no longer a need for extensive incisions with a scalpel or the use of sutures. The procedure can be completed in just a few minutes under local anesthesia.
