Tip I am grateful to have been taught early by my mentor: Check Your Pilot Drill Angulation Early.

When placing implants, taking a PA X-ray of the pilot drill is a crucial step that’s often overlooked. This simple check can save you from a lot of headaches down the line.

The pilot drill sets the foundation for the entire implant trajectory. If the angulation is even slightly off at this stage, it can result in improper placement, bone perforation, or aesthetic challenges, especially in the anterior region.

By taking a PA X-ray after placing your pilot drill, you can immediately assess:

• Parallelism to adjacent teeth or implants.

• Proper alignment within the bone.

If you notice angulation issues, the good news is that they’re easily corrected at this stage. You can use a lance drill to adjust the path before moving to wider drills. Once you progress past the pilot stage, corrections become much harder and risk compromising the implant site.

Early course corrections have saved me time, reduced my stress, and lead to better outcomes for me and my patients. Don’t skip this critical step! Of course if you take a CBCT it’s even better, but maybe not as practical. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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