The aim of this study was to systematically review the current scientific literature
regarding the accuracy of fully guided flapless implant positioning for complete-arch
rehabilitations in edentulous patients and to assess if there was any statistically
significant correlation between linear deviation at shoulder point, at apex point
and angular deviation. The electronic and manual literature search of clinical studies
was carried out using specified indexing terms. A total of 13 studies were eligible
for qualitative analysis and 277 edentulous patients were rehabilitated with 1556
implants patients by means of fully guided mucosa-supported template-assisted flapless
surgery. Angular deviation was 3.42 degrees (95% CI 2.82-4.03), linear deviation at
shoulder point 1.23 mm (95% CI 0.97-1.49) and linear deviation at apex point 1.46
mm (95% CI 1.17-1.74). No statistically significant correlations were found between
the linear and angular deviations. A statistically significant correlation was found
between the two linear deviations (correlation coefficient 0.91) that can be summarized
by the regression equation y = 0.03080 + 0.8254x. Computer-assisted flapless implant
placement by means of mucosa-supported templates in complete arch restorations can
be considered a reliable and predictable treatment choice despite the potential effects
that flapless approach could bring to the overall treatment.