Dental Implant Planning Services by GoDigital Dental
Dental implant planning is becoming an increasingly important part of modern implant dentistry.
GoDigital Dental Laboratory offers a professional implant planning service designed to give clinicians greater confidence, accuracy and predictability. From straightforward single implant cases to full-mouth rehabilitation, we can provide planning as a standalone service or manage the complete digital workflow through to the final restoration, helping you save time while delivering exceptional outcomes for your patients.
The Dental Implant Planning Process
Phase 1
Surgery: Primary scan
Initial records are captured using Intra Oral Scanner to create an STL.
This produces the soft tissue and dentition STL that forms the foundation for all subsequent planning.
Surgery: CBCT scan acquisition
A CBCT scan is taken to assess bone volume and identify key anatomical structures including nerves and sinuses. Where possible, a radiographic guide is used in situ so that bone and tooth position are already co-registered from the outset.
Lab: GoDigital planning session
The DICOM data from the CBCT and the STL from the scan are overlaid to create a fully integrated 3D representation of the patient. Implants are positioned virtually against available bone volume, anatomical hazards are identified and avoided, and the prosthetic envelope tooth position, occlusal plane, and smile design is defined simultaneously.
This stage produces two parallel outputs: a prosthetic design file for the temporary restoration, and a surgical guide STL for manufacture.
Phase 2
3D printed surgical stent
Before the surgical guide is printed, the designs are sent to the dentist for verification and must be checked and signed off before production will begin. The design then has guide sleeves inserted for each drilling sequence, and the stent is printed before being sterilised and ready for clinical use.
Same-day temporary manufacture
Running concurrently with stent production – not as an afterthought – the temporary prosthesis is fabricated directly from the prosthetic design file, either milled from a PMMA disc or 3D printed. It arrives already shaped, sized and ready to fit.
Phase 3
Lab: Digital model creation
The STL from the scan is processed into a clean digital model, ready for overlay with the CBCT data in the planning stage.
Lab: Prosthetic & surgical design
The final tooth position, occlusion, and smile design are locked in digitally to ensure a prosthetically driven outcome. The completed design file is sent directly to production.
Lab: Surgical guide printing
A surgical guide is designed based on the planned implant positions, incorporating the correct angulation and drilling depth for each site, then exported as an STL file ready for printing.
Phase 4
ArchTracer ™
We recommend using ArchTracer™ as a Fiducial marker for alignment and accuracy of bite, soft tissue and implants during same day/full arch scanning. It gives clinicians an accurate, distortion‑free reference for implant positioning.
Guided surgery
The surgical stent is fully seated over the ridge or on remaining reference points. Drilling follows the sleeve sequence, pilot, widening, and depth-controlled, with no freehand deviation.
Implant placement
Implants are placed to the planned torque. Multi-unit abutments or healing components are fitted immediately following placement.
Phase 5
Fit verification & adjustment
Same-day temporary fitted
The patient leaves with a functioning, screw-retained full arch restoration on the day of surgery.
Dental implant planning FAQs
How is the CBCT scan matched with the intraoral scan?
The CBCT scan is matched with the intraoral scan using special dental planning software. The lab brings both scans into the same program and lines them up using the teeth as reference points. This helps combine the bone view with the surface teeth for accurate implant planning with precise alignment.
It is then carefully checked by overlaying the two scans to make sure everything matches properly, at which point the technician is able to adjust the position, if needed, until the teeth and bone line up correctly. This ensures the implant is placed in the right position for safe, predictable treatment outcomes, which, in turn, improves accuracy and confidence.
Who is responsible for approving the implant plan?
The implant plan is approved by the dentist or oral surgeon who will carry out the treatment. The dental lab creates the digital plan and sends it over for review. The clinician checks the implant position, bone support and how the final tooth will look before giving approval for the next step.
It is a shared process, but the final decision is always made by the clinician. The lab may suggest changes to improve accuracy, but nothing is confirmed until the dentist is happy. This helps ensure the plan is safe, practical and tailored to the patient before surgery begins.
Can we make changes to the implant position before they are made?
Changes to the implant position can be made during the planning stage before anything is produced. The dentist reviews the digital plan using the scans and can ask for adjustments if something needs improving. This might include moving or angling the implant to make sure it fits safely and works well.
Once the plan is agreed, it is then finalised and used to create guides or parts for treatment. After this point, changes cannot be made without starting the process again. This careful review step helps ensure the implant is placed accurately and gives a predictable result for the patient.
Is the implant planning process different if a patient is having All-on-X implants?
The implant planning process for All-on-X cases uses the same digital workflow, but it is more detailed because multiple implants support a full arch of teeth. The dentist reviews CBCT and intraoral scans together to plan implant positions that give the best support, balance and long-term stability for the restoration carefully.
More attention is given to bone levels, bite position and the final smile design. The lab and clinician work closely to decide the number and angle of implants needed. Although the steps are similar, All-on-X planning requires extra precision to ensure comfort, function and predictable full-arch results overall.
Are temporary teeth strong enough, or do they break easily?
Temporary teeth are made to be strong enough for normal daily use, but they are not as tough as the final teeth. They let patients eat soft foods, speak comfortably and smile while the gums and implants heal. It is still important to be a bit careful with what you eat.
However, temporary teeth can break if they are put under too much pressure, especially from hard or sticky foods, but most patients manage them well by simply following the advice their dentist gave them during fitting. If something does chip or loosen, it can usually be fixed quickly at this stage of the healing phase without much disruption to the overall treatment plan.
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Complete our simple request form to receive pricing tailored to your requirements. Our simple approach ensures you have all the information you need to plan cases efficiently, while partnering with a reliable dental laboratory you can trust.
Awards Finalists in the Private Dentistry Awards 2025
We are proud to share that two of our talented dental technicians at GoDigital Dental have been shortlisted as finalists in the Technician Team Member category at the Private Dentistry Awards 2025. This achievement recognises their outstanding skill, dedication, and commitment to excellence in digital dentistry.
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GoDigital Dental | Dental Lab
6 Millennium Way West
Nottingham
NG8 6AS