Augmented Reality Integration Improves Ergonomics in Dynamic Navigation for Dental Implant Surgery

ABSTRACT Dynamic navigation is a technology for computer‐assisted dental surgery that utilizes real‐time imaging, patient‐specific anatomical data, and preoperative planning to dynamically guide surgical instruments in order to optimize clinical outcomes. It improves the precision of dental implant placement, but shifting attention between the surgical site and the monitor causes ergonomic and workflow issues. This model‐based proof‐of‐concept study introduces augmented reality (AR) integration that projects X‐Guide navigation data directly onto the surgical field. The AR overlay eliminates repeated head movements, offering a high ergonomics and cognitively efficient paradigm for computer‐assisted implant surgery. Results demonstrated precise implant positioning (coronal deviation: 1.6 ± 1.4 mm; apical deviation: 1.6 ± 1.2 mm; angular deviation: 2.5 ± 1.9°) with efficient surgical times (5.9 ± 2.6 min per implant). Attention shifts caused by looking at the X‐Guide monitor were reduced to zero. Results of the author‐developed questionnaire showed a high score on the domains of System Usability Scale (SUS; 5.0 out of 5.0) and a low score on the domains of NASA Task Load Index (NASA‐TLX; 1.7 out of 5.0), confirming a high acceptability and low workload. Our findings support AR‐integrated dynamic navigation as an accurate and ergonomic solution for guided implantology, warranting further clinical validation.