title: The accuracy of six impression techniques for osseointegrated implants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Six impression techniques were evaluated using tapered and square impression copings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The absolute distortion was measured using a cast metal impression tray with fiduciary reference points external to the impression material. Measurements of the x, y, z coordinates on the master cast and the impressions were directly made with a travelling digitizing microscope. The difference between the coordinates of each of six sites in the impression and the corresponding reference site were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the techniques for the square copings but that there was a significant loss of accuracy in the z-axis with the tapered copings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant differences were noted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio 78284-7912.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: de Rijk
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D003760:Dental Impression Materials; D003761:Dental Impression Technique; D006801:Humans; D003765:Models, Dental; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D003760:Dental Impression Materials