title: The influence of digital fabrication options on the accuracy of dental implant-based single units and complete-arch frameworks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the accuracy and reproducibility of digital versus conventional dental impressions and fabrication techniques for single units and full-arch implant frameworks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 samples, divided into four groups, were created using conventional and digital implant impression/fabrication techniques: group 1 (conventional single implant), group 2 (digital single implant), group 3 (conventional complete arch), and group 4 (digital complete arch). All impressions were made at the abutment level. Marginal fit measurements were made using an optical microscope at two points (buccal and lingual) for each sample. Statistical analysis was performed using F and t tests (α = .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For single implants, the conventional impression/fabrication pathway resulted in a mean marginal discrepancy of 24.1 μm compared to 61.43 μm for the digital impression/fabrication pathway. For full-arch frameworks, the conventional impression/fabrication pathway resulted in a mean marginal discrepancy of 135.1 μm compared to 63.14 μm for the digital technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conventional pathway resulted in a smaller marginal discrepancy for single-implant frameworks. In contrast, the digital pathway resulted in a smaller marginal discrepancy for full-arch implant frameworks.
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdel-Azim
authors.forename: Amirali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zandinejad
authors.forename: Eiad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elathamna
authors.forename: Weishao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morton
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003735:Dental Casting Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D015921:Dental Implants; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D003761:Dental Impression Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D012834:Silver; D010165:Palladium