Use of surgical templates in the daily practice of the oral surgeon

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) technology allows for the creation of individual surgical templates. This is a special construction, providing precise placement of dental implants in the jaw tissue. Templates are divided by the type of fixation into bone pins and screws and dental and gingival pins. The surgical template is made by 3D printing from a special resin. The technology allows the computer modeling to be transferred precisely to the patient’s jaw. The optimal angle for implant insertion and free overlapping of the template, which has holes for positioning and cooling the mucosa, is important to consider. The goals of template making are the correct positioning of the implant and the accuracy of placement, which affects the success of further prosthetics. The template is the link between surgery and prosthetics. Proper positioning of the implants increases the accuracy of the orthopedic prosthesis.

AIM: The study was aimed to compare the standard implantation protocol and implant placement using a 3D-printed surgical template.

METHODS: Comparative assessment of two groups of patients was conducted. Group 1 was implanted using a surgical template, whereas Group 2 was implanted according to the standard technique, without a template. In total, 35 patients with partial adentia and 10 patients with complete adentia were examined. The effectiveness of surgical templates during the placement of dental implants and the risks of complications were assessed.

RESULTS: In Group 1, where surgical templates were used, a 40% decrease in the duration of surgery, a 90% reduction in the gingival incision area, and accurate positioning of the construct were observed. Postoperative complications such as pain, swelling, bleeding, and numbness developed less frequently by 70%. Group 2 was implanted according to the standard technique; however, the implant deviation from the planned position was observed in 35% of patients. The effectiveness of surgical templates lies in the accuracy of implant positioning and denture fabrication and reduction of complications.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of surgical templates is indicated in complicated clinical cases, critical bone atrophy, and for avoiding damage to anatomically important areas. The planning of the surgical template is simultaneous with the placement of the implant and with consideration of the subsequent prosthetic construction, since the accuracy of positioning affects the accuracy of the prosthetic construction. The use of advanced technologies increases the effectiveness of dental implantation.