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Reverse scan body: A complete digital workflow for prosthesis prototype fabrication.
Panos Papaspyridakos1,2, Armand Bedrossian3, Yukio Kudara1
1Department of Prosthodontics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Summary
This study shows that milled dental prostheses fabricated using a digital workflow with reverse scan bodies achieve 100% accuracy. 3D printed prototypes also demonstrated high accuracy, validating this digital method for implant prosthesis fabrication.
Area of Science:
- Dental Prosthetics
- Digital Dentistry
- CAD/CAM Technology
Background:
- Complete digital workflows are increasingly used for fabricating implant-supported prostheses.
- Accurate data acquisition for prosthesis design is crucial for successful outcomes.
- Traditional methods often involve intraoral scanning, which can be challenging in certain clinical situations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of fit for prosthesis prototypes created using a complete digital workflow.
- To assess a protocol utilizing reverse scan bodies and extraoral scanning, bypassing intraoral scanning for implant data.
- To compare the fit of milled versus 3D printed prototypes.
Main Methods:
- A maxillary stone cast with implant analogs served as the master cast.
- Interim prostheses were fabricated, and novel reverse scan bodies were attached.
- Extraoral scanning was performed, followed by digital design and fabrication of 50 milled and 50 3D printed prototypes.
- Accuracy of fit was assessed by two clinicians using screw-resistance tests and radiographic evaluation.
Main Results:
- All 50 milled prosthesis prototypes (100%) exhibited accurate fit.
- 44 out of 50 (88%) 3D printed prosthesis prototypes showed accurate fit.
- Overall, 94% of the 100 prototypes demonstrated accurate fit (p = 0.027).
Conclusions:
- Digitally fabricated prosthesis prototypes can achieve accurate fit using extraoral scanning with reverse scan bodies.
- Milling appears to yield higher accuracy rates compared to 3D printing in this specific digital workflow.
- This digital protocol offers a viable alternative for fabricating accurately fitting implant prostheses without intraoral scanning.
