Use of a surgical template for minimally invasive second-stage surgery: A dental technique.

The introduction of new techniques and new technology has been directly related to successful outcomes in implant dentistry. Merging information from high-quality cone beam computed tomography images and detailed prosthetically driven digital planning translates into computer-guided surgery. A surgical template is a guide used to assist in the proper surgical placement and angulation of dental implants. However, a surgical guide not only facilitates implant placement but can also be used for other purposes, including diagnosis, treatment planning, and even second-stage surgery. In situations where multiple implants have been placed through computer-guided implant surgery, the preexisting surgical template can be used to perform the second-stage surgery with a flapless approach if the patient's soft tissue condition permits.