title: Accuracy of 3 different impression techniques for internal connection angulated implants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Making implant impressions with different angulations requires a more precise and time-consuming impression technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy of nonsplinted, splinted, and snap-fit impression techniques of internal connection implants with different angulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental device was used to allow a clinical simulation of impression making by means of open and closed tray techniques. Three different impression techniques (nonsplinted, acrylic-resin splinted, and indirect snap-fit) for 6 internal-connected implants at different angulations (0, 15, 25 degrees) were examined using polyether. Impression accuracy was evaluated by measuring the differences in 3-dimensional (3D) position deviations between the implant body/impression coping before the impression procedure and the coping/laboratory analog positioned within the impression, using a coordinate measuring machine. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA. Means were compared with the least significant difference criterion at P<.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that at 25 degrees of implant angulation, the highest accuracy was obtained with the splinted technique (mean ±SE: 0.39 ±0.05 mm) and the lowest with the snap-fit technique (0.85 ±0.09 mm); at 15 degrees of angulation, there were no significant differences among splinted (0.22 ±0.04 mm) and nonsplinted technique (0.15 ±0.02 mm) and the lowest accuracy obtained with the snap-fit technique (0.95 ±0.15 mm); and no significant differences were found between nonsplinted and splinted technique at 0 degrees of implant placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Splinted impression technique exhibited a higher accuracy than the other techniques studied when increased implant angulations at 25 degrees were involved.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate student, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsagkalidis
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tortopidis
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mpikos
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Section of Mechanical Design and Control Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaisarlis
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: pkoidis@dent.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koidis
mesh_terms: D015921:Dental Implants; D003760:Dental Impression Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003761:Dental Impression Technique / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D003760:Dental Impression Materials