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Feasibility of digitizing multiple tissue-level implants without scan bodies for fixed dental prostheses
Stefano Pieralli1, Ahmad Amro Baradee2, Benedikt C Spies2
1Department of Prosthodontics, Geriatric Dentistry and Craniomandibular Disorders, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie, Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Aßmannshauser Str. 4-6, Berlin, 14197, Germany.
Scan body-free intraoral scanning of tissue-level implants for fixed dental prostheses showed variable accuracy in vitro. Current deviations limit applicability for multi-unit restorations, especially in posterior regions, advising caution in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Digital dentistry
- Prosthodontics
- Dental implantology
Background:
- Intraoral scanners offer potential cost efficiencies by eliminating the need for scan bodies.
- Accurate digital impressions are crucial for fabricating multi-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of scan body-free intraoral scanning of two tissue-level implants for a three-unit FDP.
- To assess the potential for improving clinical cost efficiency through simplified workflows.
Main Methods:
- An in vitro study using a mandibular typodont with regular-platform (RP) and wide-platform (WP) tissue-level implants.
- Digitization using three intraoral scanners and one laboratory scanner, with and without scan bodies.
- Analysis of linear and angular deviations compared to reference scans.
Main Results:
- Linear deviations were generally smaller at the implant shoulder than the apex.
- Scan body-free deviations for the RP implant at the shoulder were mostly within 100 µm, comparable to using scan bodies.
- The WP implant showed greater deviations (>110 µm) at the shoulder without scan bodies.
- Angular deviations were similar with and without scan bodies (max 0.34°).
Conclusions:
- Scan body-free digital impressions of tissue-level implants demonstrated variable accuracy in vitro.
- Accuracy differences may relate to implant position and scanning strategy, not solely implant geometry.
- Observed linear deviations currently limit the clinical application of scan body-free digitization for FDP restorations, particularly in posterior areas.
