title: Collaboration Patterns and Processes Between Dentists and Dental Laboratories When Planning and Fabricating Implant-Supported Restorations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The success of implant-supported restorations is dependent on proper treatment planning, effective communication within the clinical team, and the use of appropriate methods and materials in the dental laboratory. The objective of this study was to determine collaboration trends between dentists and laboratories and to assess the common methods and materials involved in fabricating implant-supported restorations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were distributed to dental laboratories and technicians. Seventy questionnaires were answered and were included in the data analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the impressions (87%) were taken using an individual custom-made open tray. In 83% of impressions, screw-retained transfer units were used, and in 61% of cases, the units were splinted. Bite registration was recorded in 91% of the cases. In 80% of cases, articulator setup was done. When matching the shade of a restoration in the anterior, 57% of the technicians do so in collaboration with the dentist, and 39% match the shade independently. Type of restoration and abutment selection were done mainly by the technicians. Abutment selection was reported to be carried out by 72% of the technicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Generally, dentists and technicians follow the standards recommended in the contemporary literature, especially, in major procedures such as impression taking, bite registration, and articulator setup. However, principal decisions, such as abutment and color shade are done mainly by technicians.
authors.affiliation: *Instructor, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. †Dental Lab Manager, Chief Technician, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. ‡Clinical Professor, Department for Periodontology and Implantology, NYU Dental School, New York, NY. §Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Noga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harel
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meirowitz
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Ady
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palti
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matalon
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ormianer
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003761:Dental Impression Technique; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D007754:Laboratories, Dental; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires