Investigating the implant position reproducibility of optical impressions obtained using an intraoral scanner and 3D-printed models fabricated using an intraoral scanner.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the effect of the size of the intraoral scanning area on implant position reproducibility and compare the implant position reproducibility of plaster models fabricated using the silicone impression technique, the digital model of an intraoral scanner, and three-dimensional (3D)-printed models fabricated using an intraoral scanner. METHODS: Scanbodies were attached to an edentulous model with six implants (master model) and were scanned using a dental laboratory scanner to obtain basic data. The plaster model was fabricated using the open-tray method (IMPM; n = 5). The master model was then scanned in various implant areas using an intraoral scanner to obtain data (IOSM; n = 5); the scanning data of six scanbodies were used to fabricate the 3D-printed models (3DPM; n = 5) using a 3D printer. Scanbodies were attached to the implant analogs of the IMPM and 3DPM models and data were obtained using a dental laboratory scanner. The basic data and IMPM, IOSM, and 3DPM data were superimposed to calculate the concordance rate of the scanbodies. RESULTS: The concordance rate of intraoral scanning decreased as the number of scanbodies increased. Significant differences were observed between the IMPM and IOSM data, and between the IOSM and 3DPM data; however, the IMPM and 3DPM data did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The implant position reproducibility of the intraoral scanner decreased with an increase in the scanning area. However, ISOM and 3DPM may provide higher implant position reproducibility than plaster models fabricated using IMPM.

Accuracy of Implant-Supported Copy Overdentures Fabricated Using Either an Intraoral Scanner and a 3D Printer or the Conventional Copy Denture Technique: A Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the 3D accuracy of copy dentures fabricated using an IOS (IOS copy denture) to that of copy dentures fabricated using the conventional method (conventional copy denture). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maxillary and mandibular complete dentures were fabricated and scanned using a high-precision dental laboratory scanner to obtain data (basic data). Optical impressions of the dentures were recorded with the IOS to obtain data (IOS reference dentures). The IOS copy denture was fabricated using a 3D printer after configuring the data using the software. The conventional copy dentures were fabricated by making impressions of the complete dentures and pouring the room-temperature curing resin into them. The IOS copy dentures and conventional copy dentures were scanned using a high-precision dental laboratory scanner to obtain data. The data obtained were imported into 3D analysis software, and the IOS reference denture, IOS copy denture, and conventional copy denture data were each superimposed on the basic data for 3D evaluation by color mapping and calculation of the concordance rate. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the concordance rates were observed between the IOS reference dentures and IOS copy dentures and between IOS copy dentures and conventional copy dentures (P < .05), but not between maxillary and mandibular complete dentures (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The IOS copy dentures demonstrated greater accuracy than the conventional copy dentures.

Impact of implant superstructure type on oral health-related quality of life in edentulous patients.

BACKGROUND: The effect of the type of implant superstructure on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among edentulous patients remains controversial. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the type of implant superstructure and OHRQoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two completely edentulous patients who received implant fixed complete dentures (IFCDs) or implant overdentures (IODs) were administered the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire during the post-treatment maintenance period. The OHIP summary score, as well as the four dimension scores, were calculated to evaluate OHRQoL. RESULTS: The mean OHIP summary score for the IFCD group tended to be lower than that for the IOD group, but this difference was not statistically significant (19.9 ± 21.9, 22.8 ± 18.2, respectively; P = .57). However, a significant group difference was found in the four dimension scores (P < .01), with the OHIP item scores representing masticatory function being significantly lower in the IFCD group than in the IOD group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that patients with an IOD exhibited comparable OHRQoL to those with an IFCD, with the exception of perceived masticatory function.