In dental implant surgery, surgeons must manage more than the operative task itself: they monitor patients, communicate with the team, and deal with unforeseen complications. Novel computer-assisted surgical guidance systems were designed to support surgeons through real-time visualization of instrument position relative to anatomy and planning. Currently available systems often suffer from high information load, complex interfaces, and off-site information displays that require frequent attentional shifts. These factors may amplify surgeons' mental workload and increase the risk of adverse surgical events. Medical research has focused mainly on maximizing and evaluating the surgical precision (implant placement accuracy) of such systems. By contrast, potential detrimental effects on surgeons' cognitive resources have been largely overlooked.


This in-vitro study highlights the critical importance of psychology in evaluating surgical guidance systems. Surgeons' mental workload was compared across three implant placement procedures: freehand, static (3D printed mechanical guide), and dynamic (real-time visualization). Mental workload was assessed multimodally through subjective ratings, physiology (pupillometry, EEG), and a secondary task measuring spare cognitive capacity.


We will present results on how dynamic guidance influences mental workload and surgical accuracy compared to static and freehand implant placement, with particular attention to the relationship between both outcomes.


By integrating psychological theory and methods into the evaluation of surgical technology, this study shows that the traditional focus on accuracy may conceal excessive cognitive demands, creating hidden risks for patient and surgeon well-being. This underscores the value of a user-centred perspective: addressing surgeons' needs and cognitive resources in medical technology design ensures novel technologies genuinely support - rather than strain - the professionals they are designed to serve.