Arrangement and device for using a template to form holes for implants in bone, preferably jaw bone

A method of implanting at least one dental implant into a patient's jawbone, the method comprising:

• placing a template over a patient's gum tissue surrounding the patient's jawbone, the template comprising:
• a first wall having a plurality of guide holes formed therethrough, each of the guide holes defining an axis;
• a first sidewall having a first anchor hole formed therethrough;
• and
• a second sidewall;
• the first wall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall together defining a channel configured to follow a contour of the gum tissue;
• and
• inserting a first anchoring element through the first anchor hole, through the gum tissue, and at least partially into the jawbone of the patient such that the first anchoring element acts to attach the template to the jawbone and does not intersect the axes defined by the guide holes.

A method of planning the construction of a dental template, comprising:

• receiving information corresponding to a simulation of at least a portion of an implantation site, the simulation including information regarding the structure of a patient's jawbone and the location of nerve paths in the patient's jawbone;
• receiving information corresponding to at least one desired implant location in the patient's jawbone, the desired implant location determined at least in part using the simulation and defining an axis through the patient's jawbone;
• receiving information corresponding to at least one desired anchoring element location in the patient's jawbone, the desired anchoring element location determined so as to avoid the nerve paths in the patient's jawbone and so as to not intersect the axis;
• and
• generating data corresponding to a dental template design based on the simulation, based on the at least one desired implant location and based on the at least one desired anchoring element location.