From Single Implants to Full-Arch Cases: Key Insights for Static Guided Surgeries

The lecture will emphasize that guided surgery is an adjunct to diagnosis and treatment planning, not a substitute for clinical judgment. Current consensus recommendations support prosthetically driven planning, CBCT-based assessment of vital structures, and an additional 2 mm safety margin when planning implant positions near critical anatomy or adjacent implants. The presentation will also highlight practical failure points such as guide misfit and inadequate support. By the end of the session, clinicians should be able to identify when static guided surgery is predictable, when additional verification or fixation is needed, and when the surgical plan should be modified or abandoned.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

•    Describe the essential components of a prosthetically driven static guided surgery workflow, from digital planning and CBCT interpretation to guide design, seating verification, and surgical execution

•    Identify key clinical factors that influence guide accuracy, including guide support, edentulous span length, inspection windows, fixation, sleeve access, mouth opening, irrigation, and proximity to vital structures.

•    Differentiate the major workflow considerations for single implants, multiple implants, distal-extension cases, and full-arch guided surgery, including when to trust, verify, modify, or abandon a static surgical guide.

CHIA-YU (JENNIFER) CHEN, DDS, DMSc received her dental degree from Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan and completed her periodontology training and Doctor of Medical Science in oral biology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). 

At HSDM, Chen was a presidential scholar and received both the James H. Shaw Award for excellence in biomedical research and the Joseph L. Henry Award for excellence in research and clinical training. 

Chen is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. She practices periodontology and implantology at the Faculty Group Practice at the Harvard Dental Center (HDC). 

Chen's clinical and research interests include using innovative concepts, technologies, and biomaterials to enhance treatment outcomes and patient experiences. She conducts preclinical and clinical research in soft and hard tissue regeneration, implant dentistry, and digital dentistry.