Manual implantation VS implantation with a surgical template: which is better

You have already noticed that some dental clinics offer quick and painless implant placement using a surgical template. But is he really needed? In this article, we will consider the benefits of using digital technology, as well as the differences between implant placement with and without a navigation template.

Navigational Surgical Template. What it is and what it looks like?

The surgical template for implantation is a special mouthguard with implant holes, which is made individually for your jaw using digital CAD / CAM technology. Thanks to this, you get ultra-precise calculations for planning and installation, the wound becomes smaller, and the installation of the implant becomes minimally invasive.

Types of surgical templates

• Bone-fixed. Such a support structure is used when completely edentulous (missing teeth), but provided that the patient has sufficient bone tissue.
• With a fixation on adjacent teeth. The most common variant of the navigation template. Suitable for partial missing teeth.
• With a fixation on soft tissues (mucosa). In this case, the design rests on the gingival mucosa. Suitable for patients with a complete lack of dentition or a minimal number of remaining teeth.

Surgical template making stages:

• Diagnostics. Diagnostics of the condition of the jaw is carried out, as well as computed tomography, which in the future will help to determine the necessary place for the implantation.
• Preparation. At this stage, it is necessary to take a virtual impression of the jaw and send the data to the dental laboratory for further production of the guide.
• Modeling. With the help of a special computer program, 3D-modeling of the jaw is carried out, the method of placing the implants, as well as their correct location, is determined.
• Surgical template creation. Surgical templates are printed using a 3D printer or using CAD / CAM equipment. Production time is approximately 3-7 days.
• Installation. Before starting dental implantation, the doctor places a navigation template on the patient's jaw and fixes it. Further, all manipulations take place quickly and clearly. After completing the procedure, the template is deleted.

Benefits of using an implantation template

The most accurate placement

If earlier all calculations for the implant installation were carried out manually and did not differ in particular accuracy, then with the surgical template it is possible to calculate the placement of the implant, the degree of inclination and the drilling depth with an accuracy of 0.1 mm or 1 degree. This helps to eliminate the situation when the crown cannot be screwed on during the implant prosthetics. Or the design causes an overload of the implant, from which the bone can sink faster, or the dental implant simply breaks.

Longer service life

Due to the correct placement of the tooth implant in the bone, its service life can increase.

Ideal for prosthetics «All-on-4»

The All-on-4 surgical template is the perfect solution. Thanks to it, accurate placement of implants is achieved, which, with this method, must be placed at an angle or in anatomically dangerous places (near the maxillary sinus). It is very difficult to calculate this by eye, but it is easy to make a mistake with a millimeter to the left or to the right.

No deep cuts

Swelling, severe pain and a long healing process are the eternal companions of manual dental implantation. Navigational surgery helps to avoid this for those patients who have enough bone and do not need to augment anything. Then the operation goes into the category of minimally invasive manipulations. Fewer incisions mean less pain and faster healing.

With the help of surgical templates, root apex resection can be performed, avoiding large incisions.

Save time

The time for installing the implant is reduced from one hour to 20 minutes.

Predictable operation outcome 

With guided surgery, the predictability of the operation outcome increases significantly. In some cases, the procedure for installing an implant becomes even easier than removing a tooth.

Even for those patients who have little bone tissue, it will be possible to organize the correct prosthetics and, accordingly, using a digital template, plan how and where to add bones to avoid loosening or rejection of the implant.

Guided implantation VS Manual implantation

If we sum up all the above-mentioned advantages of implantation by a template, then according to all characteristics, preference should still be given to modern digital technology, rather than the old, but cheaper method.