title: Computer-supported implant planning and guided surgery: a narrative review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To give an overview of the workflow from examination to planning and execution, including possible errors and pitfalls, in order to justify the indications for guided surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic literature search of the PubMed database was performed with the intention of collecting relevant information on computer-supported implant planning and guided surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Currently, different computer-supported systems are available to optimize and facilitate implant surgery. The transfer of the implant planning (in a software program) to the operative field remains however the most difficult part. Guided implant surgery clearly reduces the inaccuracy, defined as the deviation between the planned and the final position of the implant in the mouth. It might be recommended for the following clinical indications: need for minimal invasive surgery, optimization of implant planning and positioning (i.e. aesthetic cases), and immediate restoration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The digital technology rapidly evolves and new developments have resulted in further improvement of the accuracy. Future developments include the reduction of the number of steps needed from the preoperative examination of the patient to the actual execution of the guided surgery. The latter will become easier with the implementation of optical scans and 3D-printing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Sciences, Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vercruyssen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Sciences, Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Laleman
authors.affiliation: OMFS IMPATH research group, Department of Imaging & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Reinhilde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Sciences, Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quirynen
mesh_terms: D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012984:Software; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: accuracy; computer; guided surgery; implant; planning