Advanced Technologies in Oral Surgery

1. Introduction

Bearing in mind the expression, “The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art”, we say that oral surgery is changing rapidly due to the introduction of new technologies that improve the way surgical treatments are planned and performed [1]. Today, specialists do not rely purely on clinical experience but use digital tools that provide more precision and certainty at every step of the process [2,3].

One of the main innovations is virtual planning. Through specialized software, surgeons can create three-dimensional (3D) models of a patient’s bones and teeth. This allows them to predict the position of implants better, avoid complications, and plan interventions with more confidence [4,5]. Equally important is 3D imaging, which provides detailed views of the structures of the mouth and aids in more accurate diagnosis.

Another step forward is 3D printing (additive manufacturing), which allows doctors to produce personalized jaw models or create surgical splints tailored to each patient, which reduces surgery time and increases safety [6]. At the same time, the use of intraoral scanners allows for the acquisition of oral data without the need for traditional measurements, making the process more comfortable for the patient [7,8].

Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly being incorporated into diagnostics and surgical planning, helping doctors make more informed and faster decisions [9]. Augmented and virtual reality are also being used to train surgeons and simulate complex procedures in safe and controlled environments [10].

In addition, methods aimed at patient comfort and healing are being developed, such as photobiomodulation, which improves tissue regeneration and reduces pain after surgery [11,12]. Moreover, we are witnessing a greater focus on prevention by studying factors such as harmful habits that can affect oral health.

These technologies demonstrate that oral surgery is not only becoming more precise and efficient, but also increasingly patient-centered. They offer a future where interventions are safer, less invasive, and more tailored to individual needs.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery has long been recognized as one of the most technologically dynamic specialties in dentistry, evolving from manual surgical skill to a discipline increasingly defined by precision engineering and digital augmentation [13]. Historically, the field’s development was closely tied to advances in anesthesia and antisepsis in the late nineteenth century, which first enabled complex oral procedures to be performed with greater safety [14,15]. The mid-twentieth century then saw the widespread introduction of radiography and panoramic imaging, providing unprecedented insights into maxillofacial structures and pathology. These early milestones laid the foundations for the technological integration that now characterizes modern oral surgery.

The advent of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the 1990s represented a paradigm shift, introducing 3D radiographic visualization into everyday clinical practice. This enabled more accurate diagnoses, risk assessment, and treatment planning. Over the following decades, the rise of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), along with 3D printing, enabled the production of patient-specific surgical guides, prostheses, and reconstruction plates [16,17]. By the early 2000s, the synergy of virtual surgical planning (VSP) and additive manufacturing was increasingly adopted in orthognathic and reconstructive procedures, reducing intraoperative time and improving postoperative accuracy.

Over the past decade, the field has rapidly expanded into the digital era. AI and machine learning are now applied in diagnostics, cephalometric analysis, and image segmentation, allowing faster and more objective interpretation of radiographic datasets. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have opened new horizons for surgical training, intraoperative navigation, and patient education [18,19,20]. In parallel, robot-assisted surgery is emerging as an innovative yet still experimental approach for implant placement and complex maxillofacial procedures, offering real-time accuracy and reduced operator variability [21,22].

Minimally invasive surgical concepts have also gained traction. The development of piezoelectric bone surgery exemplifies how technology can enhance safety by reducing damage to adjacent soft tissues while improving surgical precision. More recently, photobiomodulation therapy has been studied as a means to modulate inflammation and pain following extractions and minor surgery, expanding the technological scope beyond mechanical and imaging tools toward biophysical adjuncts [23,24].

Taken together, these advances reflect a continuous trajectory in oral surgery, from early reliance on radiographs and manual dexterity to digital imaging and the integration of AI, AR/VR, robotics, and bioengineering. Dentistry is undergoing a profound digital transformation, in which oral surgery stands at the forefront of innovation. Today’s challenge is not only to refine these technologies but also to embed them in interdisciplinary frameworks, clinical validation pathways, and ethical governance structures. Only then can the promise of advanced technologies in oral surgery be fully realized in routine clinical care.

2. An Overview of Published Articles

The Special Issue “Advanced Technologies in Oral Surgery” collates a diverse yet complementary set of contributions that collectively illuminate the current trajectory of innovation in the field. At its core, this Special Issue emphasizes how digital planning, imaging, and interdisciplinary collaboration are redefining surgical accuracy, efficiency, and patient-centered outcomes.

A notable example of this transformation is the protocol for mandibular reconstruction proposed by Shin et al. (2025), which formalizes collaboration between surgeons and bioengineers in an end-to-end virtual surgical planning (VSP) workflow [25]. Their study demonstrates how accurate 3D models, virtual resections, and additively manufactured guides can streamline reconstructive surgery while ensuring sub-millimeter fidelity between the plan and the outcome. In a similar vein, Macrì et al. (2024) explore the integration of 3D-assisted techniques with orthognathic surgery in adults with skeletal Class III malocclusions [26]. Their case series illustrates how digital planning and guided execution not only enhance functional and esthetic outcomes but also demonstrate the feasibility of combining orthognathic surgery with clear aligner treatment, expanding options for peri-surgical orthodontic management.

Beyond reconstruction and skeletal corrections, this Special Issue also addresses adjunctive strategies to improve patient comfort and to consider preventive dimensions of care. Tenore et al. (2024) investigate the role of photobiomodulation in controlling pain after third-molar extraction [27]. Their randomized pilot study suggests that a single combined intraoral and extraoral session can reduce pain intensity during the first postoperative week, offering a non-invasive and biologically based adjunct to analgesics. Complementing this focus on patient-centered outcomes, Ciavarella et al. (2024) examine the impact of onychophagy (nail biting) on upper central incisors in children and adolescents [28]. Using digital scans, they show that this behavioral habit correlates with increased tooth length and inclination, highlighting the often-overlooked influence of parafunctional behavior on oral structures and underscoring the need for interdisciplinary preventive strategies.

Technological innovation in diagnostics and monitoring provides a narrative review of how cone-beam computed tomography, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality are converging to transform diagnostics, surgical planning, and education [29]. Their synthesis demonstrates how multimodal digital platforms are improving precision, enhancing training opportunities, and opening new possibilities for intraoperative support. In parallel, Ye-Jin Shin et al. (2025) report on the use of 3D intraoral scanners to monitor gingival contour changes following the roll-flap technique in implant surgery [30]. Their case series reveals that such digital tools can sensitively capture and quantify subtle soft-tissue changes, thereby supporting minimally invasive monitoring and personalized treatment evaluation.

Taken together, the articles in this Special Issue trace a coherent arc: from digitally engineered planning in reconstructive and orthognathic surgery, to intelligent imaging and immersive technologies that enhance diagnostics and education, to patient-centered innovations that reduce pain and address behavioral risks, and finally to intraoral scanning methods that enable minimally invasive monitoring of soft-tissue outcomes. They demonstrate how advanced technologies are shaping a new paradigm in oral surgery, one in which precision, interdisciplinarity, and patient-centeredness converge to define the future of care.

3. Conclusions

This Editorial highlights the contributions of the Special Issue within the context of oral surgery’s ongoing technological evolution. The featured studies demonstrate how emerging tools, such as digital planning, advanced imaging, 3D printing, AI, and intraoral scanning, are redefining clinical precision and individualized care.

The integration of these technologies is not only enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of procedures but also transforming the overall treatment experience. Innovations like virtual and augmented reality are improving training and diagnostics, while supportive techniques such as photobiomodulation are promoting faster healing and greater patient comfort.

Collectively, these advancements signal a change toward more preventive, tailored, and education-driven practices. Rather than replacing the clinician, technology is becoming a powerful ally, enabling safer, faster, and more patient-centered care.