Guided-welded approach planning using a computer-aided designed prosthetic shell for immediately loaded complete-arch rehabilitations supported by conometric abutments

In guided surgery, implants can be planned from radiographic guide information according to a restoratively driven treatment plan. Unfortunately, the palatal or lingual surface of teeth cannot be easily identified. The present article describes the use of a digitally designed prosthetic shell to improve the accuracy of guided-welded approach planning for immediate restorations supported by conometric abutments. Importing the virtual shell into the planning software provides an effective protocol for using the definitive prosthetic space information to plan the framework shape and position predictably. This method increases the accuracy of virtual planning and reduces the time needed to reline the prosthetic shell.