Static computer-assisted implant surgery (sCAIS) is a well-established digital approach that enables the prosthetically driven placement of dental implants using prefabricated surgical guides. In partially edentulous patients, guide stability is a critical determinant of accuracy and clinical safety. Full-arch-supported guides represent a specific design concept in which the surgical template is supported by multiple teeth and/or extended mucosal areas across the entire arch, with the aim of maximizing positional stability during surgery. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge on the indications, digital workflow, accuracy, advantages, limitations, and clinical management of full-arch-supported guides in sCAIS for partial edentulism as well as terminal dentition scenarios. Available evidence indicates that, when properly planned and executed, full-arch-supported guides provide accuracy comparable to conventional tooth-supported guides and allow predictable minimally invasive implant placement. Clear clinical recommendations and illustrative scenarios are provided to support evidence-based decision-making in daily practice.
Digital technologies have profoundly reshaped implant dentistry, shifting treatment planning from a primarily bone-driven approach toward a prosthetically driven, restoration-oriented philosophy. The widespread availability of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), intraoral scanners, and dedicated planning software has enabled three-dimensional (3D) visualization of patient anatomy and virtual simulation of implant placement prior to surgery. Within this context, computer-assisted implant surgery (CAIS) has emerged as a key clinical application of digital dentistry (Bathija et al. 2025; Tahmaseb et al. 2018; Vercruyssen et al. 2014; Nava et al. 2026; De Souza et al. 2022; Cassetta et al. 2016; Derksen et al. 2019; Papaspyridakos et al. 2020; Bornstein et al. 2014; Jorba-Garía et al. 2021; Smitkarn et al. 2019; Block & Emery 2016; Papaspyridakos et al. 2018; Marlière et al. 2022; ITI Consensus Conference 2019; Tattan et al. 2020).
CAIS can be divided into static and dynamic approaches. While dynamic navigation systems offer real-time intraoperative feedback, static computer-assisted implant surgery (sCAIS) remains the most frequently used modality due to its relative simplicity, lower equipment costs, and established clinical protocols. In sCAIS, a surgical guide fabricated based on a virtual implant plan constrains the position, angulation, and depth of osteotomy preparation and, in some systems, implant insertion (Bathija et al. 2025; Tahmaseb et al. 2018; Vercruyssen et al. 2014; Nava et al. 2026; De Souza et al. 2022; Cassetta et al. 2016; Derksen et al. 2019; Papaspyridakos et al. 2020; Bornstein et al. 2014; Jorba-Garía et al. 2021; Smitkarn et al. 2019; Block & Emery 2016; Papaspyridakos et al. 2018; Marlière et al. 2022; ITI Consensus Conference 2019).
Partially edentulous patients represent the most common clinical indication for implant therapy. However, this group also presents specific challenges for sCAIS, including heterogeneous support conditions, variable numbers and distributions of remaining teeth, and the need to integrate implant placement into complex restorative concepts. Among the different guide-support designs, full-arch-supported guides have gained increasing attention as a means to enhance stability and accuracy in extended or complex partially edentulous situations (Bathija et al. 2025; Tahmaseb et al. 2018; Vercruyssen et al. 2014; Nava et al. 2026; De Souza et al. 2022; Cassetta et al. 2016; Derksen et al. 2019; Papaspyridakos et al. 2020; Bornstein et al. 2014; Jorba-Garía et al. 2021; Smitkarn et al. 2019; Block & Emery 2016; Papaspyridakos et al. 2018; Marlière et al. 2022; ITI Consensus Conference 2019; Tattan et al. 2020).
This narrative review article provides a structured and clinically oriented overview of sCAIS using full-arch-supported guides in partial edentulism as well as terminal dentition scenarios. Emphasis is placed on practical aspects relevant to daily clinical practice.