Accuracy of Customized Prefabricated Screw-Type Immediate Provisional Restorations after Single-Implant Placement

Limited evidence is available comparing the differences between pre-operative and post-operative 3D implant positions from the viewpoint of prosthetics. We aimed to investigate the differences between preplanned positions of virtualprovisionalrestorationsand their actual positions following fully guidedsingle-implantplacement. Ten maxillary typodonts with missing right central incisors were imaged using cone-beam computed tomography, and digital impressions were obtained using an intraoral scanner. These data were imported into implant-planning software, following which theprovisionalrestorationswere designed.Afterdata superimposition, an appropriate implant position was determined, and a computer-assisted implant surgical guide was designed for each typodont. Orders generated from the implant-planning software were imported into relevant computer-aided design software to design the custom abutments. The abutments,provisionalrestorations, and surgical guides were fabricated, and each restoration was cemented to the corresponding abutments, generating ascrew-typeimmediateprovisionalrestoration. The implants were placed using the surgical guides, and thescrew-typeprovisionalrestorationswere engaged to the implants. The typodonts were then rescanned using the intraoral scanner. Therestorationsdesigned at the treatment planning stage were compared with those in the post-operative scan using metrology software. The angular deviation around the central axis of the implant was measured, and the differences in the crown position were converted to root mean square (RMS) values. The post-operativeprovisionalrestorationsexhibited an absolute angular deviation of 6.94 ± 5.78° and an RMS value of 85.8 ± 20.2 µm when compared with their positions in the pre-operative stage. Within the limitations of the present in vitro study, the results highlight the potential application ofcustomizedprefabricatedimmediateprovisionalrestorationsaftersingle-implantplacement.ope

Comparative Accuracy of STL Conversion Digital Model of DICOM Files according to CBCT Scanning Protocols

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the digital models from Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of orthodontic diagnostic models by comparing the Digital Imaging & Communication in Medicine (DICOM) file to Stereolithography (STL) conversion data obtained by various voxel sized CBCT machines with the digital model obtained by a 3D optical extraoral scanner. Materials and Methods: Three orthodontic diagnostic models were scanned with a 3D optical scanner and stored as STL file data. The three models were scanned with the 5 modes which were Object scan (100 μm), 300, 400 μm of RAYSCAN α+ and 300, 390 μm of Alphard 3030. The DICOM files were converted to STL file data. For each orthodontic model, two digital models obtained by CBCT and optical scanner were paired, and GOM inspect software was used to superimpose and obtain the deviation between two digital models. One way ANOVA test was performed to determine whether there is a statistical difference in the mean value of deviations between digital models by the 5 protocols. Results: In three diagnostic models, the mean values of the deviations between the digital model of the Object scan (100 μm) and the digital model of 3D optical scanner were the smallest in comparison with other image protocols and there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). The mean values of the deviations were in the range of 0.0967 ~0.1022 mm. On the other hand, deviations of STL data from 400 μm of RAYSCAN α+ showed the largest mean value from 0.4007 to 0.4534 mm. Conclusions: The STL file data of the Object scan (100 μm) of RAYSCAN α+ is more accurate than those of large voxel sized protocols of CBCT. It shows the availability as an orthodontic digital model.ope

Load-Bearing Capacity of Posterior CAD/CAM Implant-Supported Fixed Partial Dentures Fabricated with Different Esthetic Materials

PURPOSE: To compare the load-bearing capacity after long-term use (5-year simulation) of posterior three-unit implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) fabricated with different esthetic materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 specimens fabricated from one design file using CAD/CAM were divided into four groups: polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) veneered with composite resin (CR); PEKK veneered with lithium disilicate (LD); zirconia veneered with fluorapatite (FA); and monolithic zirconia. Samples were placed into a chewing simulator with simultaneous thermocycling. The fracture load after aging was measured using the universal testing machine with load on the central fossa of the pontic. RESULTS: FPDs fabricated with PEKK + LD had significantly higher fracture load (1,526.56 [SD 95.54] N) compared to PEKK + CR (1,069.54 [SD 67.94] N) (P .05). CONCLUSION: FPDs fabricated with PEKK + LD were superior to PEKK + CR. These materials can be promising alternatives for use as implant-supported FPD materials in the high-stress-bearing posterior region. Zirconia + FA can be an alternative to monolithic zirconia in cases that require more esthetics.restrictio