Are Navigation Implants Accurate? What Matters More Than the Surgery

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I am the director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

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| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information, in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act regarding medical advertisements. We recommend using the information provided for reference only. For an assessment of your symptoms and accurate guidance on treatment, please visit a medical institution and consult with a medical professional. All procedures and surgeries performed at dental clinics may involve risks depending on the individual, such as inflammation, bleeding, and swelling. Please make your decision after having a thorough consultation with a medical professional in advance. To help with understanding, all images were created using AI. |

When looking into dental implants,

you may come across the term

“navigation implants.”

Just from the name, it sounds as though,

like a car navigation system, they will

guide the way precisely.

In practice, they help make surgery faster and more accurate,

while avoiding the need to open the gums extensively.

However, there is a fact that is not widely known.

This accuracy is determined almost entirely

not on the day of surgery,

but during the “preparation process” beforehand.

Today, I will explain what navigation implants are,

why the preparation process determines the outcome,

and why they are not a universal solution,

along with the supporting evidence.

| Chapter 1. What Are Navigation Implants? A Method of Planning in Advance and Placing the Implant Accordingly |

Navigation implants are a method in which

surgery is simulated in advance using

CT and intraoral scan data,

and a “surgical guide”

is created and used to guide implant placement

according to that plan.

The benefits are clear.

Computer-guided surgery is reported to provide

more accurate implant placement by reducing

deviations in placement position and angle

compared with a freehand approach that relies solely on tactile sensation.

(PMC, research on guided-surgery accuracy)

The nerves and bone positions are identified in advance,

so surgery can also be performed more quickly

without extensively opening the gums.

| Chapter 2. The Real Key to Accuracy |

This is the key point.

The accuracy of navigation implants comes

from the “preparation” more than from the equipment itself.

Two types of data are needed for navigation-guided surgery:

three-dimensional CT images showing the inside of the bone,

and a precise intraoral scan of the gum and tooth surfaces.

These two different datasets must be accurately aligned

using common reference points.

This process is called “merging.”

And this merging process

essentially determines the accuracy of the surgery.

According to research,

if the merging is inaccurate,

errors between the CT data and the scan

are transferred directly to the surgical site,

creating a difference between the planned position

and the actual implant position.

(PMC, research on merging accuracy)

In other words, even if the starting point is slightly misaligned,

that error remains throughout the process.

More importantly,

merging accuracy is not automatic.

Research reports that the results can vary considerably

depending on how the data is preprocessed

and who performs the process.

(PMC, 5599947)

That is why expertise in merging

can be considered the core expertise

behind navigation implants.

| Chapter 3. The “Preparation” Takes More Time and Hands-On Work Than You Might Expect ​ |

This is why, contrary to the impression

that navigation implants involve “simple surgery,”

the preparation process is actually longer and more meticulous.

The two datasets must be merged,

the implant position, angle, and depth must be planned,

a surgical guide must be designed according to that plan,

then printed with a 3D printer,

followed by curing and post-processing.

Even with skilled hands, this work takes several hours.

The surgery itself is merely the stage

where the finished product of this preparation is “executed.”

That is why it is fair to say that accurate navigation implant treatment

is largely completed outside the treatment room,

at the design stage.

| Chapter 4. Even So, It Is Not a “Universal Solution”: Errors and Limitations |

I will also explain the limitations honestly.

Even when a guide is used,

errors do not become zero.

Digital guided surgery has also been reported to show,

on average, a deviation of around 1 mm

at the implant apex,

and approximately 3–5 degrees in angle.

(PMC, research on guided-surgery accuracy)

This means it is a tool that greatly improves accuracy,

not a magic solution that guarantees perfection.

Ultimately, the question is not “It must be accurate because it uses navigation.”

The outcome depends on how precisely the merging is performed

and what your individual oral conditions are.

Today, I explained where the accuracy

of navigation implants comes from.

To summarize,

navigation implants are more accurate than a freehand approach

and are advantageous for flapless procedures,

but their accuracy is determined not by the equipment itself,

but by the preparation involved in precisely merging

the CT and intraoral scan data.

If the preparation is inadequate,

those errors are transferred directly to the implant surgery,

and using a guide does not eliminate errors completely.

Therefore, when considering implants,

you should look not only at whether a clinic has navigation equipment,

but also at how precisely the treatment planning and design are carried out.

If you are curious, I recommend first checking

what conditions apply to your individual case.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.

I will explain the preparation process honestly as well.

Appointment Information
https://blog.naver.com/implant_master/224278289886
Phone: 02-481-4278

[References]

PMC (12703900) — Static computer-guided surgery (sCAIS) provides greater placement accuracy than freehand surgery; integration of CBCT, intraoral scans, and prosthetically driven planning

PMC (8466254) — Merging CBCT and intraoral scans is fundamental to guided treatment planning