Impact of Surgical Template on the Accuracy of Implant Placement

Purpose: To achieve functional and esthetic results, implants must be placed accurately; however, little information is available regarding the effect of surgical templates on the accuracy of implant placement. Thus, the aim of this study was to measure the deviation between actual and planned implant positions, and determine the deviation caused by the surgical template.

Materials and methods: Jaws from 16 patients were scanned using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). For our study, 53 implants were planned in a virtual 3D environment, of which 35 were inserted in the mandible and 18 in the maxilla. A stereolithographic (SLA) surgical template was created. A CBCT scan of the surgical template fitted on a plaster model was performed, and the images obtained were matched to virtual implant plan images that contained the planned implant position. The actual implant position was acquired from the registration position of the surgical template. Deviation between actual and planned implant positions was analyzed.

Results: Mean central deviation at the hex and apex was 0.456 mm and 0.515 mm, respectively. Mean value of horizontal deviation at the hex was 0.193 mm, horizontal deviation at the apex was 0.277 mm, vertical deviation at the hex was 0.388 mm, vertical deviation at the apex was 0.390 mm, and angular deviation was 0.621°.

Conclusion: Our study results revealed a significant deviation between actual and planned implant positions caused by the surgical template.