Computer-Guided Dental Implant Surgery
 Computer-guided dental implant surgery in Pullman, WA and Lewiston, ID lets the team at Oral & Facial Surgery plan the exact position of your implant in three dimensions before treatment ever begins.
Instead of relying on a flat image and judgment alone, our surgeons map your implant against a 3D model of your own jaw, then carry that plan into the procedure.
The result is placement that is precise, predictable, and tailored to your anatomy. For patients replacing one tooth or several, this kind of planning takes much of the guesswork out of dental implant treatment and helps protect the nerves, sinuses, and bone around the implant site.
If you have wondered whether technology like this is worth it, the honest answer is that the value lives in the planning. Knowing exactly where bone is dense, where a nerve runs, and how the final restoration should sit lets us place the implant with intention rather than estimation.
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What Is Computer-Guided Dental Implant Surgery?
 Computer-guided implant surgery is an approach in which we plan the implant digitally, in three dimensions, before placement day. The planning starts with a cone beam CT 3D scan of your jaw, which gives us an accurate model of your bone, nerves, and sinuses.
Working from that 3D model, we determine the ideal depth, angle, and position for your implant so it can support the final restoration and stay clear of the structures we need to protect. The plan we build before surgery then guides where we place the implant, which is what gives the technique its name.
Is Guided Implant Surgery Right for You?
Most patients who are candidates for dental implants can benefit from guided planning, and it is especially helpful when bone volume is limited or when a nerve or sinus sits close to the planned implant site. During your consultation, we determine whether you are a strong candidate for implants and whether any preparatory steps are needed first.
In some cases, the 3D scan shows that the bone needs reinforcement before an implant can succeed. When that happens, we may recommend bone grafting to build a stable foundation, and the guided plan accounts for that added bone once it has healed.
Your Implant Surgeons in Pullman and Lewiston
Precise planning still depends on an experienced surgeon at the controls. Dr. Stephen W. Holm is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery who served as chief resident during his residency at Carle Foundation Hospital, and together with our team our surgeons have placed more than 10,000 dental implants across the Lewiston/Clarkston and Moscow/Pullman regions – full background on Dr. Holm’s bio page.
Dr. Sherdon W. Cordova trained alongside Dr. Holm at Carle Foundation Hospital and served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the United States Air Force. Both doctors are board-certified, and both use 3D planning to translate the detail of your scan into accurate placement. More on Dr. Cordova’s bio.
The Guided Implant Process, Step by Step
Guided planning adds detail to the front end of treatment, not extra surgery to the back end. Here is how the process typically unfolds.
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Consultation and 3D imaging - We examine your mouth, review your goals, and capture a cone beam CT scan so we can see your bone, nerves, and sinuses in three dimensions.
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Digital planning - Working from your scan, we determine the ideal position, angle, and depth for each implant, planning around the structures we need to protect.
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Implant placement - On treatment day, we place the implant following the plan we mapped in advance, with the sedation option you and your surgeon chose for your comfort.
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Healing and restoration - Over the following months, the implant fuses with your bone, and once it is stable we complete your final restoration. |
Throughout treatment, we keep you informed about what to expect at each stage, and we discuss sedation options so your appointment is as comfortable as possible.
Benefits of Guided Implant Surgery
 The benefits of guided surgery flow from one thing: better information before we begin. When we have planned your implant against a 3D model of your own jaw, the surgery follows a roadmap rather than a best guess.
Accuracy is the clearest gain. Planning the position, angle, and depth in advance helps the implant sit where it will support your restoration best and stay clear of nerves and sinuses. Because our surgeons have planned thousands of implant cases, that accuracy reflects experience as much as technology, and it makes the outcome more predictable.
Confidence is the benefit patients tend to feel most. Many people are nervous about implant surgery, and it tends to settle the nerves to know that the same surgeon who maps your case in Pullman or Lewiston is the one who performs it. For full-arch cases such as All-on-4® treatment, detailed planning matters even more, because several implants must work together.
Why Choose Our Practice for Guided Implants
Technology does not replace a surgeon, and we would never suggest otherwise. What 3D planning does is give our experienced doctors more to work with. Our surgeons are board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons who trained together at a level-one trauma center, and they bring that judgment to every implant they plan.
Volume matters in surgery, and our team has placed more than 10,000 implants. That depth of experience is what lets us read a 3D scan quickly and decide how best to use it for your specific case rather than applying a one-size approach.
Keeping imaging and surgery under one roof also keeps your care consistent. The team that plans your implant in Pullman or Lewiston is the team that places it, with no handoff and no lost detail between providers.
Cost and Financing
Cost is one of the first questions patients ask, and it is a reasonable one. The cost of computer-guided implant surgery depends on factors such as the number of implants, whether any bone grafting is needed first, and the type of restoration that will sit on top.
Because every case is different, the most accurate way to understand your costs is a consultation, where we can review your scan and lay out your full treatment plan. Many patients also use CareCredit financing to spread the cost into manageable payments, and our team can walk you through your insurance and financing options and how we work with your coverage.
We will give you a clear estimate before treatment begins so you can make your decision with the full picture in front of you.
Schedule Your Implant Consultation
Take the next step toward a confident, well-planned implant. Call our Lewiston, ID office at 208-743-1640 or our Pullman, WA office at 509-330-5020. You can also request an appointment online. Our Lewiston office is at 444 Thain Rd, Lewiston, ID 83501. Our Pullman office is at 1256 Bishop Blvd Suite I, Pullman, WA 99163. Reach us through our Contact page with any questions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is guided implant surgery more accurate than standard placement?
The difference is timing. With guided surgery, we decide the position, angle, and depth in advance against a 3D model of your jaw rather than judging them entirely in the moment. That advance planning is especially valuable when a nerve or sinus sits close to the implant site, because we map the safe path before treatment day instead of navigating it live.
Does the technology replace the surgeon’s skill?
No. The 3D plan is a tool that an experienced surgeon interprets and executes, not a substitute for one. Reading the scan, deciding how to use it for your specific anatomy, and performing the placement all rely on surgical judgment. Our board-certified surgeons have placed more than 10,000 implants, and the planning makes that experience even more effective.
Does guided surgery add appointments or extra time?
The added work happens in planning rather than in extra surgical visits. We capture your 3D scan and build the plan before treatment day, often around your consultation, so placement itself follows the roadmap we prepared. For most patients the overall timeline is similar to conventional implant treatment.
Am I a candidate for computer-guided implants?
Most patients who qualify for dental implants are also good candidates for guided planning, and it is particularly helpful when bone is limited. The one thing a scan sometimes reveals is that the bone needs reinforcement first, in which case grafting comes before placement. A consultation and 3D scan give you a definite answer for your situation.
Is computer-guided implant surgery more expensive?
Cost depends on your individual case rather than on the planning method alone, including how many implants you need and whether grafting is required first. Many patients use CareCredit to spread payments over time, and we provide a clear estimate before treatment begins. Our financial team can review your coverage so you know your out-of-pocket portion in advance.
What does the 3D scan show before my implant?
The scan shows the height and width of your bone, the path of nearby nerves, and the position of your sinuses in three dimensions, all captured by the cone beam CT 3D scan we use to choose the right implant size and angle. Seeing those structures clearly is what lets us plan around them rather than discover them mid-procedure.
How long do dental implants last?
With good oral hygiene and regular checkups, dental implants are designed to be a long-term tooth replacement, and many last for decades. Accurate placement supports that longevity, because an implant positioned to handle your bite forces well tends to stay healthy longer, and steady dental implant maintenance keeps it that way.
Why choose Oral and Facial Surgery for guided implants?
The practical reason is the pairing of experience and continuity. Our surgeons trained together at a level-one trauma center, have placed more than 10,000 implants, and keep your imaging and surgery with the same team in Pullman or Lewiston. That continuity means the people who planned your implant are the people who place it. |
