Implant positioning device and method

A method of creating an alignment device for guiding a dental drill head for drilling a bore having a desired axis in a desired location with respect to a selected patient's dental arch comprising the steps of:

• taking an impression of said selected patient's dental arch,
• forming a cast dental arch from said impression,
• determining said desired location of said desired axis,
• placing a proxy implant having a proxy axis in said cast dental arch so that said proxy axis is coincident with said desired location of said desired axis,
• forming a stent of said selected patient's tooth crowns from said cast dental arch,
• incorporating into said stent, a locating barrel, said locating barrel having a locating barrel axis, so that said locating barrel axis is spaced from said proxy axis by a first selected distance,
• providing a drill alignment arm, said drill alignment arm, having fixing means for fixing said drill alignment arm to said dental drill head at a predetermined location, said dental drill head having a drill axis, said drill alignment arm having a drill alignment arm pin having a drill alignment arm pin axis,
• and wherein said drill alignment arm pin is spaced from said drill axis by a second selected distance, and wherein said second selected distance is equal to said first selected distance.

A method for creating an alignment device for guiding a dental drill head for drilling a bore having a desired axis at a desired location comprising,

• forming a cast dental arch from an impression made of a selected patient's mouth;
• determining a desired location in said cast dental arch for installation of a dental implant,
• fixing a proxy implant in said cast dental arch at said desired location,
• fixing a stent alignment arm with respect to said proxy implant, said stent alignment arm including a stent alignment arm pin,
• placing a locating barrel on said stent alignment arm, so that said stent alignment arm pin is received within said locating barrel,
• providing a stent made from the crowns of said dental arch, and incorporating said locating barrel in said stent,
• providing a drill alignment arm, said drill alignment arm, having a drill alignment arm pin, said drill alignment arm pin being receivable within said bore of said locating barrel, and
• providing fixation means on said drill alignment arm, for fixing said drill alignment arm to said drill head at a particular location.