Glossary

A guide drill is a round-shaped or pointed drill used to mark the site of an osteotomy by making an initial entry into cortical bone. An osteotomy is a procedure that involves the removal and/or reshaping of existing bone. Osteotomies can be performed at many locations throughout the body, but in dentistry, it is often used to correct bone issues in the mandible. An osteotomy can also be performed to correct the placement of an ill-fitting implant or prosthesis. Prior to the reshaping or removal of bone, a guide drill is used to create a small hole in the bone at the surgical site. This serves to identify the location of the procedure but also prevents the splitting of the bone due to a more aggressive drilling or cutting approach. Without the use of guide drills, bone cracking and splitting has been frequently reported resulting in damage to the bone that would have held the implant.

A guide pin can refer to one of two things:

1. A device placed within a dental implant osteotomy to assist in determining the location and angulation of the site relative to adjacent teeth, implants, or other landmarks
2. Extended occlusal or abutment screws used during prosthesis fabrication in the laboratory

For use in an osteotomy, the guide pin will show the surgeon if the alignment of the pilot hole is correct for the implant that will be placed. Using it correctly will prevent incorrect angulation and the need to re-drill the hole. The guide pin will also help to ensure blood vessels, nerves, or other oral structures are not damaged in the implant preparation stages as it will show the trajectory of the hole being drilled. In prosthesis fabrication, a guide pin is used to attach the prosthesis to the implant fixture. These types of guide pins are threaded and are made to work with specific implant systems.