Fully Digital versus Conventional Workflows for Fabricating Posterior Three-Unit Implant-Supported Reconstructions: A...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Prosthodontics
• Digital Dentistry

Background:

• Three-unit implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (ISFDPs) are crucial for restoring posterior mandibular function.
• Evaluating the clinical success of digital versus conventional fabrication workflows is essential for optimizing dental treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical outcomes of three-unit ISFDPs fabricated using fully digital versus conventional workflows.
• To assess factors including impression accuracy, framework adaptation, passivity, occlusal adjustment time, and aesthetics.

Main Methods:

• A clinical trial involving 10 patients requiring three-unit ISFDPs in the posterior mandible.
• Impressions were taken using intraoral scanners (digital) and polyvinylsiloxane (conventional).
• Frameworks were fabricated from zirconia (digital) and cobalt-chromium (conventional), with accuracy, adaptation, passivity, and aesthetic assessments performed.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in impression accuracy, framework adaptation and passivity, or aesthetics between digital and conventional workflows.
• The fully digital workflow demonstrated a significantly shorter total fabrication time.
• Clinical outcomes were comparable between the two fabrication approaches.

Conclusions:

• The fully digital workflow is a viable alternative for fabricating three-unit ISFDPs, yielding results comparable to conventional methods.
• Digital workflows offer significant advantages in reducing overall treatment time for implant-supported prostheses.