Effect of splinting scan bodies on trueness of complete-arch implant impression using different intraoral scanners: an in vitro study.

AIM: To evaluate the trueness of seven different intraoral scanners (IOSs) in making a complete-arch digital scan with and without splinting the scan bodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A polyurethane cast of an edentulous mandible with four dental implant analogs was prepared. A reference scan was made using a laboratory scanner. The reference model was scanned with each of the seven investigated IOSs (control groups, n = 10 per scanner), and scanned again after splinting the scan bodies (study groups, n = 10 per scanner). Each scan was exported as a standard tessellation language (STL) file and transferred to a comprehensive metrology software program (Geomagic Control X). In order to measure the trueness, four points (A, B, C, and D) were determined on the scan bodies, and the distance between point A and the other points (DAB, DAC, and DAD) was measured. The measurements were tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and probability plots. Trueness was compared using three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and pairwise comparisons were performed using the post hoc Tukey and paired sample t tests. Statistical analyses were two-sided, and the significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: Splinting the scan bodies improved the trueness values of the digital scans, while increasing the interimplant distance decreased them. A significant association was found between the trueness values and all three tested variables, including splinting the scan bodies, type of IOS, and interimplant distance (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the present findings, splinting the scan bodies can improve the trueness of complete-arch digital implant scans due to the improvement in morphologic landmarks by the stitching process, regardless of the type of IOS or the interimplant distance. (Int J Comput Dent 2023;26(1): 19-0; doi: 10.3290/j.ijcd.b2599297).

The connective tissue graft as a membrane to improve esthetics according the defect.

Dental implants are now one of the most useful therapies worldwide with higher rates of success from simple to complex cases, but also, with different results regarding the esthetics, cost and long-term success maintenance. In the beginning, dental implants therapy function and survival was the main goal. Nevertheless, through the years, the success criteria have increased, evolved, and improved beyond function to include esthetic and patient-related outcomes. Parallel to implant therapy, guide bone regeneration and periodontal plastic surgery have also evolved to achieve predictable, functional, and esthetic results in shallow and complex defects. However, they are mostly performed during different surgical procedures at different stages, raising the treatment time and cost for patients, directly related to the bio materials used and surgical times. The purpose of this case series is to present a simplified clinical scenario using a connective tissue graft as a membrane to improve esthetics and patient satisfaction while reducing treatment time and cost.