Evaluating the effects of splinting implant scan bodies intraorally on the trueness of complete arch digital scans: A clinical study

Kawther Ali; Abdulaziz A Alzaid; Montry S Suprono; Antoanela Garbacea; Roberto Savignano; Mathew T Kattadiyil

doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.03.004

Evaluating the effects of splinting implant scan bodies intraorally on the trueness of complete arch digital scans: A clinical study

J Prosthet Dent. 2024 Apr 8:S0022-3913(24)00189-6. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.03.004. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kawther Ali¹, Abdulaziz A Alzaid², Montry S Suprono³, Antoanela Garbacea⁴, Roberto Savignano⁵, Mathew T Kattadiyil⁶

Affiliations

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University Health Sciences Center, Jabriya, Kuwait. Electronic address: kawtheralberumi@gmail.com.
² Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Associate Professor and Director, Center for Dental Research, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.
⁴ Assistant Professor, Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.
⁵ Assistant Professor, Center for Dental Research, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.
⁶ Professor and Director, Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.

PMID: 38594088
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.03.004

Abstract

Statement of problem: A predictable protocol for accurately scanning implants in a complete edentulous arch has not been established.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the effect of splinting implant scan bodies intraorally on the accuracy and scan time for digital scans of edentulous arches.

Material and methods: This single center, nonrandomized, clinical trial included a total of 19 arches. Definitive casts with scan bodies were fabricated and scanned with a laboratory scanner as the reference (control) scan. Each participant received 2 intraoral scans, the first with unsplinted scan bodies and the second with resin-splinted scan bodies. The scan time was also recorded for each scan. To compare the accuracy of the scans, the standard tessellation language (STL) files of the 2 scans were superimposed on the control scan, and positional and angular deviations were analyzed by using a 3-dimensional (3D) metrology software program. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the distance and angular deviations between the splinted group and the unsplinted group with the control. The ANOVA test was conducted to examine the effect of the scan technique on trueness (distance deviation and angular deviation) and scan time (α=.05 for all tests).

Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the overall 3D positional and angular deviations of the unsplinted and splinted digital scans when compared with the reference scans (P<.05). No statistically significant differences in overall 3-dimensional positional deviations (P=.644) and angular deviations (P=.665) were found between the splinted and unsplinted experimental groups. A faster scan time was found with the splinted group in the maxillary arch.

Conclusions: Conventional complete arch implant impressions were more accurate than digital complete arch implant scans. Splinting implant scan bodies did not significantly affect the trueness of complete arch digital scans, but splinting appeared to reduce the scan time. However, fabricating the splint was not considered in the time measurement.