title: A comparison of the dimensional accuracy of the splinted and unsplinted impression techniques for the Bone-Lock implant system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The precise transfer of intraoral relationships of implants to laboratory working models is central to the success of implant prostheses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study a stone master model incorporating five implants (Bone-Lock) was used to compare the dimensional accuracy of a splinted impression technique with an unsplinted impression technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three-factor analysis of variance was used to examine the effect of technique, relative position of the implant on the cast, and plane of measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three factors had a significant effect on dimensional accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The splinted technique exhibited more deviation from the master model than the unsplinted technique did. This was primarily associated with rotational discrepancies around the long axes of the implants for the splinted technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Science, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burawi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Claffey
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D003761:Dental Impression Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D003765:Models, Dental; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013165:Splints