Implant dentistry is no longer defined solely by skill. It’s characterised by precision, predictability, and patient trust.
In this article, Nexus Dental Laboratory examines how digital implant planning solutions, SMOP and MGuide, serve as both surgical tools and business accelerators.
We’ll demonstrate how guided workflows not only reduce complications but also give surgeons greater confidence, ensure better implant placement in relation to planned restorations, and streamline time-consuming tasks.
All claims are supported by peer-reviewed evidence and industry data, ensuring this article delivers both clinical and commercial value for UK dental surgeons.
Static guided systems, like SMOP and MGuide, consistently outperform freehand placement, with angular deviations averaging 0.8°–3° compared to up to 6° freehand, and linear deviations typically 0.8–1 mm vs up to 4 mm freehand [1, 3, 5].
These differences are clinically significant, especially in aesthetic zones and tight spaces, where even a slight misalignment can lead to costly revisions.
However, beyond accuracy, guided planning eliminates the uncertainty and frustration associated with restorative complications, reassuring both the surgeon and the lab that everything has been planned for prosthetic success.
Practices that adopt guided workflows gain far more than just improved accuracy. Surgeons experience a smoother, less stressful workflow, thanks to precise pre-operative planning that leaves little to chance.
In particular, SMOP’s lab-driven process, where Nexus handles CT alignment, nerve tracking, and the initial base setup, means the surgeon only needs a few minutes to review and approve the setup.
This difference sets SMOP apart from planning systems that appear cheaper but demand significant time and manual effort from the surgeon, their most limited and valuable resource.
Guided implant planning delivers both clinical and commercial advantages that can transform a practice’s performance. Clinicians frequently report saving 30–45 minutes per implant case when using SMOP surgical planning. However, the real value lies in reducing uncertainty, preventing restorative challenges, and allowing surgeons to focus their time where it matters most: patient care and case growth.
Restorative predictability is another game-changer. Poor implant positioning is one of the biggest causes of stress between surgeons and labs, leading to complicated or even failed restorations. Guided planning prevents these issues before they happen, eliminating costly remakes and avoiding those awkward “we have a problem” calls from the lab.
Another significant benefit is the effect on case acceptance. With clear 3D visualisations and precise pre-planning, patients are more confident and more likely to say yes to treatment.
Finally, guided workflows free up your team. By minimising troubleshooting and post-op adjustments, your staff can spend more time delivering exceptional care and less time fixing preventable problems. This reliability builds a reputation that fuels word-of-mouth referrals and long-term growth.
Nexus is one of the few UK labs offering both SMOP and MGuide services, giving surgeons the freedom to choose what works best:
Both platforms are fully adaptable, and we ensure seamless integration into your existing workflow.
“I have worked with Nexus for nearly 10 years and find their work to be of high standards; they delivered from day one.
They are always looking to improve and develop. I recently started using SMOP for my guided implant surgery. This has been fantastic, as it allows me to access it from any PC and simply upload the required files, which has been really useful when I work at multiple sites.
The Nexus team will have the case ready within minutes, allowing me to plan and approve it. I can’t thank the team at Nexus enough for their hard work and dedication.”
Time is revenue, but in dentistry, time is also a measure of trust. Delays and unpredictable variables eat into both. Guided workflows streamline the entire implant process, from pre-op planning to final placement, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
With Nexus, your DICOM and STL files are quickly converted into a co-reviewed digital plan, reducing pre-surgical preparation to a matter of clicks instead of hours. This streamlined approach ensures surgeries stay on schedule and restorative phases remain problem-free.
High-precision guides are delivered within 5–7 working days, allowing you to schedule confidently without worrying about last-minute adjustments.
The benefits ripple into the patient experience. A well-planned, predictable procedure means fewer follow-ups, faster recovery, and less anxiety.
For patients, that feels like premium care.
For your practice, this translates into smoother schedules, fewer emergencies, and more room for growth, as every hour saved can be reinvested in new patients or higher-value procedures.
Sustainable practice growth isn’t built on luck. It’s built on repeatable success. Guided planning brings a level of consistency that freehand techniques simply can’t match. Implant survival rates with guided systems align with the highest industry benchmarks, averaging 95–98% over 10 years [3, 4].
Every complication avoided is more than a cost-saving; it’s a quiet endorsement of your expertise. Patients rarely understand technical margins of error, but they do notice smooth procedures, fast recoveries, and outcomes that exceed expectations.
Each flawless case becomes an unspoken testimonial, fueling word-of-mouth referrals and the kind of reputation that money can’t buy.
The practices that thrive aren’t the ones rushing through implants; they’re the ones placing them perfectly every time. Predictability creates trust, and trust is the real currency that keeps patients coming back.
Utilising Nexus’s guided planning services, you’re not just placing an implant, you’re quietly building a reputation for precision that no marketing budget can buy.
Choosing the Right Partner (Why Nexus Makes the Difference)
Here at Nexus, we never think of ourselves as just a service provider. We’re a partner trusted by surgeons across the UK because we deliver results that stand up in the real world.
We are the first official UK MGuide Centre and a leading SMOP service provider, but what truly sets us apart is the depth of expertise behind every case. Our technicians don’t just work with cutting-edge digital workflows; they help shape them.
We travel globally to train and educate other dental professionals, and we’re actively involved in some of the industry’s most avant-garde research and development. When you work with Nexus, you’re tapping into knowledge and innovation that’s ahead of the curve.
With a 5–7 day guide turnaround, full digital planning support, and a team experienced in managing complex implant workflows, we take the stress out of precision implant planning.
From your very first scan to the final restoration, we’re there with dedicated case support and practical expertise.
“SMOP and MGuide aren’t just about surgical precision, they’re about transforming how practices grow. By reducing planning time, increasing case acceptance, and preventing restorative headaches, we give surgeons a competitive edge that directly boosts their bottom line.”
– Steve Campbell, MD, Nexus Dental Lab
The true ROI of guided planning isn’t about shaving seconds off surgery; it’s about protecting the surgeon’s most valuable asset: time and confidence in the outcome.
The financial benefits follow naturally. Avoiding just one restorative remake can pay for multiple guides. By removing the risk of implant positioning issues, guided planning avoids the costly chain reactions that erode profit and chair availability.
Think of chair time as your most valuable currency. For a practice to remain healthy, every hour in the chair needs to cover overheads, team costs, and still generate profit.
SMOP and MGuide protect that value by eliminating preventable delays and ensuring restorative phases run smoothly, so every hour contributes to growth instead of troubleshooting.
Q: Are SMOP and MGuide workflows different?
A: Both platforms integrate seamlessly with standard CBCT and STL data, making them easy to incorporate into your existing digital workflow. Nexus tailors the planning and guide design process to your team’s preferences, so you can use the technology without changing how you operate.
Q: Is training required?
A: Very little. Our skilled technicians walk you through your first few cases, providing hands-on guidance until you’re fully confident. Most surgeons find they’re comfortable after just one or two cases.
Q: How does guided implant planning help prevent costly remakes?
A: Guided planning starts with the final restoration in mind. Using SMOP and MGuide, we create a prosthetically driven plan that ensures the implant is precisely positioned where the crown or bridge requires it, both in terms of angulation and depth. This precision prevents misalignment, occlusal errors, or insufficient space that often lead to crown or abutment remakes in freehand cases. By digitally verifying every step before surgery, you get predictable results that fit the first time.
Q: Can every case be guided?
A: Nearly all cases benefit from guided planning, from single implants to full-arch reconstructions. It’s particularly valuable in complex or aesthetic cases, where precision is critical to both function and appearance.
Q: How fast can I receive a guide?
A: Nexus delivers guides in 5–7 working days after plan approval, with express turnaround options available for time-sensitive cases.
Ready to grow your implant services, reduce stress, and see how digital planning can directly impact your bottom line?
Whether you’re interested in SMOP or MGuide, Nexus makes it easy to get started.
Our team is ready to help you take your first case from scan to surgery with precision, speed, and confidence.
Swissmeda. SMOP Guided Surgery – Clinical Applications and Case Studies. Swissmeda.com. 2024.
