Patent ID: 7097451

Claim:
A method for performing a dental implant osteotomy using a template comprising a resinous, thermoplastic base; at least one non-thermoplastic, rigid drill guide attached to said base; and a securing mechanism between said base and said drill guide; comprising: a. heat-softening said base until said base is malleable; b. manipulating said base while malleable to conform to the teeth next to an edentulous ridge; c. adjusting said drill guide to a desired position and axis corresponding to a prospective osteotomy; d. allowing said template to cool until hardened; e. verifying said template is stable in a patient's mouth and said drill guide is angled correctly in all directions; f. drilling patient's bone with a drill bit using said template as a stable surgical guide; whereby said method provides a one-piece device for performing dental implant osteotomies that can be easily fabricated by hand either directly in said patient's mouth or on a cast model.