Want to learn more about surgical guide planning?
Discover how digital workflows can improve your implant success rates.
Table of Contents
You've decided to use a surgical guide for your next implant case. Maybe a colleague recommended it, maybe you're tired of the stress of freehand placement, or maybe your patient's anatomy demands it. Whatever brought you here — the actual ordering process is simpler than you think.
A 3D-printed template that fits over the patient's teeth or tissue and directs drill placement during implant surgery. It transfers the digital treatment plan into precise physical drill positions.
Here's exactly what happens from the moment you decide to order until the guide is in your hands, ready for surgery.
Step 1: Gather Your Patient Files (5 Minutes)
You need two things. That's it.
CBCT scan (DICOM format). This is the 3D cone beam scan of your patient's jaw. Every modern CBCT unit exports DICOM files — you'll typically find them on a USB drive, CD, or in your imaging software's export menu. If you're not sure how to export, your CBCT manufacturer's support line can walk you through it in under 5 minutes.
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine — the universal file format for medical imaging. CBCT scanners produce DICOM files that are imported into planning software for 3D reconstruction.
A 3D imaging technique that captures the jaw, teeth, and bone structure in a single rotational scan. It produces DICOM files used for implant planning, nerve mapping, and surgical guide design.
Intraoral scan or impression scan (STL format). If you have an intraoral scanner (iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, Medit, Primescan), export the STL file of the arch where you're placing the implant. If you don't have a scanner, a desktop-scanned stone model works just as well.
A 3D surface mesh file format used in dental CAD/CAM. Intraoral scanners produce STL files that capture tooth and gingival surfaces for surgical guide fitting.
That's the complete file requirement. No special software, no proprietary formats, no planning on your end.
| What You Need | Format | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| CBCT scan | DICOM (.dcm) | Export from your CBCT software |
| Intraoral scan | STL or PLY | Export from your scanner software |
| Wax-up scan (optional) | STL | If prosthetically driven placement is needed |
What if you don't have an intraoral scanner? You can take a PVS impression, pour a stone model, and have it scanned at any dental lab with a desktop scanner. Many labs offer this for free or for a nominal fee ($10–20).
Step 2: Upload and Specify Your Case (5 Minutes)
Go to app.surgicalguide.pro and create an account (takes 30 seconds — name, email, password).
Upload your DICOM and STL files. Then fill in the case details:
- Which tooth/teeth are you replacing? (e.g., #19, or #3 and #4)
- What implant system are you using? (e.g., Straumann BLT, Nobel Active, Osstem TS III)
- Implant dimensions you're considering (e.g., 4.1 × 10mm)
- Any special requests (e.g., "avoid mental foramen," "angled abutment on #19," "bone reduction needed")
Don't worry about making perfect clinical decisions at this stage. The designer will evaluate your bone volume, proximity to vital structures, and prosthetic requirements — and may suggest adjustments. You're not locked into anything.
Not sure which implant size to choose? Upload your CBCT and we'll recommend options →
Step 3: Receive Your Digital Plan (2–3 Business Days)
This is where the value of outsourcing becomes obvious. Within 2–3 business days, you receive a complete digital implant plan including:
- 3D visualization of the implant in the jawbone with surrounding anatomy
- Cross-sectional views at the implant site showing bone width, height, and proximity to nerves/sinuses
- Measurements — implant depth, angulation, distance to adjacent teeth, buccal bone thickness
- Guide preview — how the surgical guide will sit on the teeth
You review this in your web browser. No software to install. Rotate the 3D model, zoom into cross-sections, check every detail.
What if you want changes? Just tell us. "Move the implant 1mm distally," "increase the angle by 5 degrees," "switch to a 4.8mm diameter." Unlimited revisions are included in the price. Most cases finalize in 1–2 rounds.
What if you decide not to proceed? No charge. "Design First, Pay Later" means you see the complete plan before any payment. If the anatomy isn't suitable, if the patient cancels, or if you simply change your mind — you owe nothing.
Step 4: Approve and Get Your Guide (1–2 Days After Approval)
Once you approve the final design, two things happen:
Option A: You print in-house. We send you a print-ready STL file optimized for your specific 3D printer (Formlabs, SprintRay, Asiga, or any SLA/DLP printer using biocompatible surgical guide resin). Print it, post-cure it, sterilize it, and you're ready for surgery.
Option B: Your lab prints it. Forward the STL to your dental lab and they handle the printing. Many labs charge $30–50 for printing a surgical guide from a provided STL.
Either way, the guide arrives or prints within 1–2 days after approval. For urgent cases, express 24-hour design turnaround is available for an additional $20–30.
What Does All of This Cost?
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Tooth-supported guide (1–2 implants) | $80 |
| Tooth-supported guide (3–5 implants) | $120 |
| CBCT segmentation (single jaw) | $20 |
| CBCT segmentation (with nerve mapping) | $40 |
| Express 24h design turnaround | +$20–30 |
No subscription. No software license. No per-case platform fees. No minimum case volume.
The total for a typical first case — single implant guide with basic CBCT segmentation — is $100. That's less than the cost of one failed implant restoration.
The process of separating bone, teeth, nerves, and sinuses in a CBCT scan into individual 3D structures. It enables precise anatomical visualization for treatment planning.
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