Image-guided dentistry has proven a cost-effective and easily applicable technology that adapts to several treatments. Currently, image-guided techniques are moving toward the so-called dynamic navigation which relies on CT, CBCT or MRI images to improve the accuracy of dental procedures. Dynamic navigation can help in restorative dentistry; for example, it allows to locate root canals in endodontic therapy and to prefabricate dental restorations from 3D images.

Navigation dentistry is the clear future of dental implant surgical procedures. It allows preparation of the implant site with great precision and confidence although the surgery is done freehand. It provides real-time visual feedback based on CT or MRI images superimposition to represent the dimension, angulation and positioning of the implant drill to create virtual guide. Navigation allows for the calibration the drill to check the accuracy before drilling.

In implant dentistry, dynamic navigation has a variety of applications ranging from bone expansion to sinus lifting. For the time being, navigation companies produce reusable stents to guide the dentists in first cases till they possess more understanding about navigation work process to prevent failure. However, the stent restricts the access to osteotomy site but provides some flexibility for manual placement.

Early case reports about navigation have shown favorable results: the system was capable of producing circular ostetomy with even angulation. These early results encouraged many dentists to start working with navigation for more complex cases such as All-on-4 implant surgery with posterior angulated implants.

In addition, navigation systems allow dentists to avoid long concerned issues such as the perforation of buccal concavity when implants are aligned more palatally in the esthetic zone. They also offered better option when used in narrow interdental spaces. The surgeon can verify or confirm the accuracy of osteotomy and even change the plan anytime during surgery with onscreen feedback. Drilling can be done through sleeved or non-sleeved drilling paths and the technology can be applied even for short osteotomy drills.

The use of 3D imaging and motion tracking can secure safe procedure and help minimizing postoperative morbidity and soft tissue manipulation. The on-screen feed back is instant, has no lag and works through integrated LED technology. Navigation systems usually comprise a camera and light emitting diodes arrays on the handpiece and on the patient-tracker in order to track at the speed of light and motion.

Navigation has comparable learning curve to implant 3D planning programs, the design plans the implant site firstly and then determines the guide for osteotomy. Navigation systems appreciate individual tolerance of dentists toward adjacent teeth, implants or other vital structures. The key feature of navigation is the fast, cost-effective treatment as it eliminates 3D printing and fabrication of physical surgical guides and subsequent delay and errors that might arise non-fitting guides.

The technology aims to provide minimally invasive surgery with least trauma, short healing time and flapless surgery if needed. Navigation has the option to import 3D intraoral scans from CBCT DICOM data to allow for fabricating temporary prosthesis in advance.