Anthony Ponzio I feel the integration of cone beam CT and the CEREC technology is one of the most amazing things available in dentistry...there is very little that enhances the patient experience more than getting to see the level of detail we go to in order to ensure that they receive the best possible treatment. I had the pleasure of presenting at Patterson's Technology Summit in December to demonstrate the integration and workflow we go through when planning implants, so their TA's could have a better understanding of the process when helping out the dental offices they support. I have noticed lately that several people have asked for a reference about the process, so I thought I would share it here in the hope it answers some basic questions for our community.
So, what do we need? Well, a BlueCam or OmniCam, the Galileos, XG3D, or SL 3D, the Galaxis software, and an SSI export license. If you are planning to mill your own guides, you need to ensure that you have the most current versions of the software.
We begin with the CEREC...we will designate the edentulous area as a crown(the material is irrelevant):
We will then want to take a nice scan to the contralateral canine(note that we do not need an opposing or a bite):
We will then design an ideal crown-contact strength is not important, and obviously we have no opposing so we aren't concerned with occlusion. Simply design the crown where you would like it and ensure it is appropriate in the arch form:
We will then advance to the mill screen, where we will export the file onto a usb drive:
These are my USB drives of choice:
The key to this is that we are exporting the SSI file, NOT the RST-this is only possible if you have the SSI license:
Next we, will open up our cone beam scan and start working through the software:
Once we have identified our nerves, we will click on the CAD/CAM tab and import the SSI file into the software:
We verify that we have the proper file and then go about the process of stitching it to our scan:
Now, it is time to plan our implant:
And here is our final plan, with the implant planned safely away from the nerve and centered under our desired final restorative outcome:
And at this point, we are ready to order(or mill) our guide:
This process allows us to place the implant easily and predictably, which also helps make the restorative phase very smooth:
Hopefully this helps some users out there as they are working through the integration process...time to gear up for the Super Bowl tomorrow!
