(403) Implant Placement Strategies: Guided vs. Freehand

This course offers a clear, clinically grounded comparison of guided and freehand implant placement across single-tooth and full-arch cases. Through lecture and hands-on exercises using typodont models, participants will learn how to plan, evaluate, and execute cases using both techniques. Discussion focuses on case selection, accuracy, time efficiency, and cost considerations to help clinicians make informed decisions about which method best fits their practice and patient needs. Attendees will perform guided placement exercises and analyze their outcomes against traditional freehand protocols, gaining firsthand insight into the strengths and limitations of each approach. By the   end of the course, participants will understand how to integrate guided surgery into their workflow strategically without losing the versatility and tactile awareness of freehand technique.

Learning Objectives:

- Compare the principles and workflows of guided and freehand implant placement.

- Evaluate patient-and case-specific factors (anatomy, bone volume, restorative plan) that influence the choice of technique.

- Perform guided placement exercises on typodont models using stackable guides and the keyless DIRECTguide kit.

-Perform freehanded simulated surgery on a model using a prosthetic window guide.

- Diagnose and treatment plan complex cases from scan to final prosthesis delivery utilizing both guided and freehand approaches.