this study was to evaluate the accuracy of different digital data acquisition workflows for the construction of full arch maxillary implant prostheses.
Material and methods
Five scan bodies were attached to five implants that were equally distributed in an educational maxillary edentulous resin model and scanned by an industrial scanner for reference STL file. four different methods for data acquisition were used including Pentamix: conventional impressions using vinylpolysiloxanesilicone VPS ( Pentamix) , Identium vinylsiloxanether (VSE Identium) and poured into cast, TRIOS 4: Trios 4 and Primescan intraoral scanner was used to scan the model with scan bodies . Each group was further divided into splinted and non- splinted. Forty eight scans for the casts from conventional impression were done using the industrial scanner while Forty eight scans were done directly by scanning of the educational model. Accuracy were measured and compared to the reference STL file using geomagic control x software.
Results:
Statistically significant difference between the acquisition technique and between splinting and non-splinting technique was reported with (p<0.001). However, the differences between both Pentamix and Identium was (p=0.635) and both digital IOS techniques was (p=0.989) which were statistically insignificant with P. Value of 0.000.
Conclusion
Splinting of scan bodies during intraoral scanning is critical for accuracy in full arch implant supported prosthesis to limit the stitching errors that occur and helps to elevate the inaccuracy related to conventional impression techniques dimensional changes .