Fabrication of a self-retaining surgical template for surgical placement of dental implants for the partially edentulous patient

Fabrication of a self-retaining surgical template for surgical placement of dental implants for the partially edentulous patient
January 2005
Dusan V. Kuzmanovic, DDS, MDS, DipClDent & J. Neil Waddell, MDipTech, HDE
Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Зѓў Volume 93 Зѓў Number 5
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Procedure
A team approach to implant therapy is essential for preoperative diagnosis, evaluation, and correct implant placement. Radiographic and surgical templates are valuable aids in both preoperative radiographic evaluation and surgical placement of dental implants.1 An ideal surgical template should be placed intraorally in a reproducible and stable manner.2 A stable and retentive surgical template allows the restorative dentist and surgeon to transfer the information obtained during presurgical evaluation for implant placement to the surgical phase of the treatment.
For the partially edentulous patient, proper intraoral stability may not be easily achieved by using conventional acrylic resin without additional means of retention.2,3 For partially edentulous patients, stability may be best achieved when the template is firmly supported by the remaining dentition without utilizing stabilization from the palate. Elimination of the palatal coverage reduces the bulkiness of the template and provides the surgeon with an optimal visualization of the most favorable implant site.
This article describes the fabrication of a surgical template that may facilitate accurate surgical dental implant placement for the partially edentulous patient, fulfilling the esthetic and functional objectives of the definitive prosthesis. Relining the surgical template with a silicone material and engaging the undercuts of the remaining teeth achieves retention of the template intraorally. The reline material used in this article is based on vinyl polysiloxane. These silicone materials require the use of a primer to act as an adhesive to the polymethyl methacrylate base of the surgical template.
References
1. Branemark PI. Tissue-integrated prosthesis. Chicago: Quintessence Pub Co, Inc; 1985. p. 242-6
2. Sicilia A, Noguerol B, Cobo J, Zabelegui I. Profile surgical template: a systemic approach to precise implant placement. A technical note. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 1998;13:109-114.
3. Edge MJ. Surgical placement guide for use with osseointegrated implants. J Prosthet Dent 1987;57:719-722.