LAUSR

OBJECTIVES To compare 2 implant scan bodies with different geometry on the accuracy of the virtual alignment process in the digital workflow. MATERIALS AND METHODS A master model of the edentulous maxilla with 6 implants and multi-unit abutments (MUA) inserted was fabricated. Six dome-shaped and cuboidal scan bodies were mounted on the MUAs respectively and consecutively scanned by a laboratory scanner 10 times. The original scans were imported to a dental-specific CAD software and virtually aligned with the default CAD model in the implant library. Thus, 10 aligned models were created. Both the original scans and the aligned models were evaluated by an inspection software for deviation of the scan body surfaces, the centroids of scan body and MUA, the scan body centre-axis and the inter-MUA distances/angles. The two-sample T-test/Mann Whitney U test were used to analyse the data with the level of significance set at 0.05. RESULTS The cuboidal group showed significant greater deviations of the model surface (13.9 µm vs 10.7 µm) and the MUA centroids (31.7µm vs 22.8 µm) but smaller deviation of the inter-MUA angle (0.047° vs 0.070°) than those of the dome-shaped group (P<0.05). No significant differences in the deviation of scan body centroids, centre-axis and the inter-MUA distances between the 2 groups were found. CONCLUSIONS Virtual alignment of implant scan body affected the accuracy of the digital workflow for complete-arch implant-supported prostheses (up to ~30 µm/0.09°). Different geometries of the implant scan body could also influence the transfer accuracy in the CAD process.