Guided implant surgery uses a computer plan, built from a 3D scan of your jaw, to help place a dental implant in a chosen position. Redondo Beach Dental Group offers computer-guided implant surgery in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
The system is also called a surgical navigation system. It does not replace the dentist’s judgment. It gives the dentist a map to work from. Call (310) 542-6988 to ask whether it suits your case.
What a Surgical Navigation System Does
Placing a dental implant means setting a post, usually titanium, into the jawbone at the right depth and angle, clear of nerves and the sinuses. A navigation system moves much of that decision-making to a computer screen before surgery starts. Software combines a computed tomography (CT) 3D scan, such as cone beam imaging, with a digital plan for where the implant and the final crown should sit. The plan is then carried into the mouth during the procedure.
Computer-guided systems come in two broad kinds. A static system uses a guide, a custom plastic template that fits over your teeth or gums and steers the drill along the planned path. A dynamic system tracks the drill with cameras and shows its position against the plan on a screen as the dentist works. Ask us which kind we use for your case and what it involves on the day. Both kinds depend on the same dental technology for planning: the 3D scan and the software that turns it into a map.
How Guided Implant Planning Works
- Exam and 3D scan. Your teeth, gums and health history are reviewed, and the scan shows the height and width of the bone and where nerves and sinuses sit.
- Digital plan. The software lets the dentist place a virtual implant in the scan and check its position against the bone and the neighboring teeth.
- Planning the crown first. Because the plan shows where the finished tooth should sit, the implant can be positioned with the final crown in mind.
- Surgery with the plan in hand. The plan is followed at the chair, by a guide, by on-screen tracking, or both, depending on the system and the case.
- Healing and crown. As with any implant, the bone usually needs months to bond with the post before the final crown is fitted.
The planning step is where a guided approach differs most from a freehand one, since the position is worked out on a screen before the post goes anywhere near the bone.
What the Research Says
A 2025 systematic review in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry pooled studies comparing computer-assisted implant placement with freehand and conventional-guide placement. Across 22 clinical studies, implants placed with computer assistance landed closer to the planned angle, by a mean difference of 3.87 degrees. The authors also noted that cost, the number of missing teeth and the dentist’s experience matter, and that conventional methods remain a suitable alternative in certain straightforward situations.
That review grouped several kinds of computer-assisted surgery together, so it does not tell you how any single system performs. It also measured how close implants landed to the plan, which is different from comfort, recovery time or how long an implant lasts.
What Guided Surgery Does Not Change
- You still need enough healthy bone and healthy gums, and some patients need bone grafting first
- The implant usually still needs months to bond with the jawbone before the final crown
- Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and untreated gum disease can still affect healing
- Candidacy, cost and aftercare stay the same as for any dental implant in Redondo Beach
When a Guided Approach May Help
Guided planning can be especially useful when the space is tight, when bone or nerves limit where a post can go, or when several implants must line up under one bridge. A person replacing a full arch of teeth with All-on-4 implants, where four posts carry a whole row of teeth, often has several of those factors at once.
For a single tooth in a straightforward spot, your dentist may find a conventional approach fits well. Whether a guide or navigation adds enough to justify a step in your case is a fair question to bring to a consultation.
Questions to Ask at Your Consultation
- Which kind of computer-guided system would be used for my case?
- What does the 3D scan show about my bone, nerves and sinuses?
- Would a guide or navigation change the number of visits or the total cost?
- Who will plan the surgery, and who will make the final crown?
Cost and Insurance
A single dental implant at Redondo Beach Dental Group typically costs $3,000 to $6,000, which includes the implant, the abutment and the final crown. We have not published a separate fee for computer guidance, so ask us whether it affects your estimate after your exam. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For the balance, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Who Leads Care
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations. Ask us who will be involved at each stage of your implant treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does guided implant surgery cost?
Guided implant surgery has no separate published price at Redondo Beach Dental Group. A single implant, with its abutment and crown, typically costs $3,000 to $6,000, and extractions, bone grafts or a 3D scan can add to that. Ask us after your exam whether computer guidance changes your estimate.
What is the newest procedure for dental implants?
There is no single newest procedure for dental implants, because the field has changed in several ways at once. Computer-guided planning from a 3D scan is one of those developments, and robot-assisted placement is another that research is still evaluating. Your dentist can explain which approaches are relevant to your case.
Is it worth getting dental implants at 70 years old?
Dental implants can be worth considering at 70 or older, because age alone is generally not a barrier. General health, bone quality and how well you heal usually matter more. A guided plan can help map the bone before surgery, and your dentist can compare an implant with a bridge or denture for your situation.
Is guided implant surgery more accurate than freehand surgery?
Guided implant surgery was closer to the planned position in a 2025 systematic review of clinical studies, though the review pooled several kinds of computer-assisted surgery. The same authors noted that conventional placement remains a suitable alternative in some straightforward cases, and that cost, the gap being filled and the dentist’s experience should be weighed.
Does computer-guided implant surgery mean a faster or easier recovery?
Closer placement to the plan is not the same thing as a proven faster or easier recovery. Healing still depends on the bone, your health and how closely you follow aftercare. Ask us what recovery to expect in your case.
What is the difference between a surgical guide and a navigation system?
A surgical guide is a custom template that sits over your teeth or gums and steers the drill along a planned path. A navigation system tracks the drill with cameras and shows its position against the plan on a screen. Both start from a 3D scan, and we can tell you which kind applies to your treatment.
Does computer planning take away the need for numbing or aftercare?
Computer planning does not remove the need for anesthesia or aftercare. Implant surgery is usually done with local anesthetic, and soreness and swelling for a few days afterward are common. If you feel nervous, ask about sedation options.
Book a Guided Implant Consultation in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, a short drive for patients searching for computer-guided dental implants near Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online.