The accuracy of an implant impression technique using digitally coded healing abutments

Area of Science:

• Dental prosthetics
• Robotic automation in dentistry
• Implantology

Background:

• The Encode healing abutment, introduced in 2007, features digital coding for length and diameter.
• No prior studies have assessed working cast fabrication using impressions of coded abutments and robotic analogue placement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy of implant analogue placement in working casts.
• Evaluate a robot technique utilizing Encode healing abutment impressions against a traditional method.

Main Methods:

• An acrylic master model with two groups of implant analogues was used.
• Encode healing abutments (test) and conventional impression copings (control) were employed.
• Fifteen vinylpolysiloxane impressions were taken, and implant analogues were robotically placed on the test side.

Main Results:

• The robot technique showed higher mean deviations in x, y, and z axes (37.4 µm, 47.3 µm, 35.0 µm) compared to the traditional method (18.5 µm, 13.9 µm, 15.1 µm).
• Mean angle error (0.41° vs 0.14°) and hexagon rotation (2.88° vs 1.82°) were also greater with the robot technique.

Conclusions:

• Both conventional and robotic techniques demonstrated minimal displacement of implant analogues.
• While the robot technique was less precise, the accuracy difference was minor.
• Both methods are sufficiently precise for single crowns and short-span implant-supported fixed partial prostheses.