George Tsagkalidis1, Dimitrios Tortopidis2, Pavlos Mpikos3, George Kaisarlis4, Petros Koidis5. 1. Postgraduate student, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. 3. Research Associate, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. 4. Research Associate, Section of Mechanical Design and Control Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 5. Professor and Chairman, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: pkoidis@dent.auth.gr.
Abstract
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Making implant impressions with different angulations requires a more precise and time-consuming impression technique. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy of nonsplinted, splinted, and snap-fit impression techniques of internal connection implants with different angulations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An experimental device was used to allow a clinical simulation of impression making by means of open and closed tray techniques. Three different impression techniques (nonsplinted, acrylic-resin splinted, and indirect snap-fit) for 6 internal-connected implants at different angulations (0, 15, 25 degrees) were examined using polyether. Impression accuracy was evaluated by measuring the differences in 3-dimensional (3D) position deviations between the implant body/impression coping before the impression procedure and the coping/laboratory analog positioned within the impression, using a coordinate measuring machine. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA. Means were compared with the least significant difference criterion at P<.05. RESULTS: Results showed that at 25 degrees of implant angulation, the highest accuracy was obtained with the splinted technique (mean ±SE: 0.39 ±0.05 mm) and the lowest with the snap-fit technique (0.85 ±0.09 mm); at 15 degrees of angulation, there were no significant differences among splinted (0.22 ±0.04 mm) and nonsplinted technique (0.15 ±0.02 mm) and the lowest accuracy obtained with the snap-fit technique (0.95 ±0.15 mm); and no significant differences were found between nonsplinted and splinted technique at 0 degrees of implant placement. CONCLUSIONS: Splinted impression technique exhibited a higher accuracy than the other techniques studied when increased implant angulations at 25 degrees were involved.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Making implant impressions with different angulations requires a more precise and time-consuming impression technique. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy of nonsplinted, splinted, and snap-fit impression techniques of internal connection implants with different angulations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An experimental device was used to allow a clinical simulation of impression making by means of open and closed tray techniques. Three different impression techniques (nonsplinted, acrylic-resin splinted, and indirect snap-fit) for 6 internal-connected implants at different angulations (0, 15, 25 degrees) were examined using polyether. Impression accuracy was evaluated by measuring the differences in 3-dimensional (3D) position deviations between the implant body/impression coping before the impression procedure and the coping/laboratory analog positioned within the impression, using a coordinate measuring machine. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA. Means were compared with the least significant difference criterion at P<.05. RESULTS: Results showed that at 25 degrees of implant angulation, the highest accuracy was obtained with the splinted technique (mean ±SE: 0.39 ±0.05 mm) and the lowest with the snap-fit technique (0.85 ±0.09 mm); at 15 degrees of angulation, there were no significant differences among splinted (0.22 ±0.04 mm) and nonsplinted technique (0.15 ±0.02 mm) and the lowest accuracy obtained with the snap-fit technique (0.95 ±0.15 mm); and no significant differences were found between nonsplinted and splinted technique at 0 degrees of implant placement. CONCLUSIONS: Splinted impression technique exhibited a higher accuracy than the other techniques studied when increased implant angulations at 25 degrees were involved.