Digitally Fabricated Provisional Implant Restorations Prior to Implant Placement: A Clinical Case Series

To review the factors that affect the ability to deliver a CAD/CAM implant-supported provisional restoration designed from a virtually planned implant position prior to surgical placement with static computer-assisted implant surgery (sCAIS).

Data were collected on patients treated with single-tooth implant treatment in which CBCT was combined with intraoral scans and imported into a virtual implant planning software. A synchronization tool established the connection between the planning software and the CAD software, where a digital diagnostic tooth arrangement was performed to create the ideal tooth dimensions and mucosal architecture. The virtual implant planning was finalized, and the implant position was transferred to the CAD software, where a restoration was designed and fabricated. The sCAIS was performed, and the prefabricated custom restorations were delivered on the day of the surgery or following healing if delayed loading or submerged healing was required. Descriptive statistics and statistical comparison with two-proportion z test were performed.

A total of 23 patients with 28 single-implant sites met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Nineteen customized healing abutments and 10 provisional crowns were designed and fabricated for a total of 29 restorations. Of the restorations, 23 were successfully delivered on the day of the surgical intervention. No statistical significance was found among the different variables compared.

Custom prefabricated CAD/CAM restorations based on a virtually planned implant position can be successfully designed, fabricated, and delivered when used in combination with sCAIS.