The Digitalizing of Implant Dentistry: A Clinical Evaluation of 15 Patients

Digital impression systems have offered the possibility of better-fitting restorations and greater productivity for the general dentist.⁶ These systems offer users the ability to capture a digital image of the preparation and submit that information electronically, resulting in fabrication of a working model and die system for fabrication of the restoration. A comparison of crowns made with a digital scan versus those created with a traditional impression found that the scanned restorations showed a greater number of perfect interproximal contacts, better marginal fit, and more accurate occlusion.^7,8

The iTero™ digital impression device (Align Technology, Inc., www.aligntech.com) has been developed as an office-based intraoral scanning system, which is connected by the Internet to a centralized milling center and to the partnering dental laboratory. The system’s enhanced visualization and real-time analytical tools enable clinicians to adjust measurements before completing the intraoral digital scanning of patients.^9-11 Digital scanning technology has significantly enhanced clinical accuracy and productivity in comparison to conventional impression techniques. Standard impressions can be prone to the following shortcomings: pulls and tears; bubbles and voids; distortion; tray-to-tooth contact; poor tray bond; de-lamination; sensitivity to temperature, technique, time, and chemistry; varying shrinkage; stone model pouring; and die trimming discrepancies. Digital scanning technology eliminates these issues,¹² consistently displaying highly accurate digital impressions.

The iTero intraoral scanning device used in this case series consisted of a mobile cart (central processing unit [CPU] device) on castors equipped with a wireless mouse and keyboard, hands-free navigation using a wireless foot control/pedal, and a handheld scanning wand (electronic impression device [EID]) that is used to obtain the scan data. The scanner head houses the analog-digital converter, video camera, focusing mirrors/motor, and light source, which projects 100,000 beams of parallel red laser at focal depth intervals of 50 µm. The reflected light is converted into digital data through the use of analog-to-digital converters; therefore, the entire event takes approximately one-third of a second. The iTero digital impression device does not require opaque powder to provide uniform light distribution, and the surface registration and accuracy are within 15 µm.¹³

The case series included 13 patients with single implant sites and two patients with multiple implant sites (two) in both the maxillary and mandibular arches. All patients were healthy and nonsmokers. Cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained preoperatively. Prior to surgery, all patients received a loading dose of amoxicillin, 4 mg Medrol Dosepak (methyl prednisone), and 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse. Local anesthesia was delivered using local infiltration and nerve blocks with 2% articaine/lidocaine (1:100,000 epinephrine). Where possible, a flapless surgical procedure was used with a biopsy punch (Ace Surgical Supply, www.acesurgical.com). If guided bone regeneration was anticipated, a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was raised for direct visibility and true analysis of hard tissue.

Following ridge exposure, implant osteotomies were prepared according to the manufacturer’s drilling specifications. Seventeen NanoTite™ Certain® implants (Biomet 3i, www.biomet3i.com) were placed in 15 patients using cone-beam analysis and a surgical guide fabricated on study casts from an ideal wax-up or computerized software (Anatomage®, Anatomage, www.anatomage.com). The implant diameters and lengths ranged from 3.25 mm to 5 mm D x 10 mm to 13 mm L. All implant insertion torque values were set at 50 Ncm to achieve adequate primary stability. Primary stability was achieved with all implants and verified with the Osstell™ resonance frequency analysis (RFA) device (Osstell™ Device, Integration Diagnostic AB, www.osstell.com).^14,15 Following RFA stability verification, the implants had BellaTek™ Encode® healing abutments (Biomet 3i) placed for single-stage healing. The full-thickness mucoperiosteal flaps were closed using 4-0 and 5-0 Vicryl (Ethicon, www.ethicon.com) interrupted sutures.

Patients were placed on a 1-week antibiotic regimen (amoxicillin), chlorhexidine 2 times daily, a low-dose steroid, and analgesics as needed. Strict oral hygiene instructions were given in writing and orally, and specific dietary protocols were given. After 14 days, the sutures were removed and each patient’s oral hygiene instructions were modified and the patients reinstructed. The implants were allowed to heal for approximately 3 to 5 months prior to definitive restoration. A digital scan of the BellaTek Encode healing abutment using the iTero intraoral scanner (Figure 1) was taken to include the opposing arch and 90-degree occlusal registration. All scanning data was sent to iTero to be processed and converted to standard triangulation language (STL) files in preparation for definitive abutment fabrication. The data was forwarded to the BellaTek™ Production Center at Biomet 3i, where the virtual BellaTek abutment was designed in preparation for the CAD/CAM milling process. For further modification and approval, a jpeg file can be sent to the restorative dentist to approve the design (eg, margin location) prior to final manufacturing.

The new STL file with the patient-specific abutment (BellaTek™ Abutment, Biomet 3i) in place and the healing abutment removed was sent back to iTero for fabrication of a polyurethane master cast (working model) for completion of the definitive restoration. The crown was then fabricated on the iTero model and delivered to the restoring clinician with model, abutment, and abutment-specific screw in preparation for the final seating. Once seating verification was complete, the BellaTek final abutment was torqued down with a gold screw (Gold-Tite® abutment screw, Biomet 3i) to 20 Ncm with the indicated torque driver. The crowns were then seated using a cement-retained protocol individualized to each clinician. A post-seating radiograph was taken to assess marginal fit and to check for retained cement.

In a sample case among the patients treated in this evaluation that depicts a typical application of the technology, a 28-year-old woman presented with recurrent caries associated with the mesial aspect of tooth No. A in the No. 4 position (Figure 2). The restorative dentist determined this tooth should not be retained and recommended extraction. The tooth was extracted approximately 6 months prior to implant placement. A 4.1/3.25-mm x 13-mm implant (NanoTite Certain, Biomet 3i) was placed in the No. 4 area with the aid of a surgical guide (Figure 3). The implant insertion torque value was set at 50 Ncm to achieve adequate primary stability. Primary stability was achieved and verified with the Osstell™ RFA device prior to the final restorative phase. The BellaTek Encode healing abutment was checked for mobility, and torque was verified at 20 Ncm (Figure 4 and Figure 5). A radiograph was taken for seating verification prior to the digital scan. A digital scan of the healing abutment using the iTero intraoral scanner was taken to include the opposing arch and 90-degree occlusal registration (Figure 6).

The crown was then fabricated on the iTero model and delivered to the restoring clinician with the model, abutment, and abutment-specific screw in preparation for the final seating (Figure 7 and Figure 8). Once seating verification was complete, the BellaTek abutment was torqued down with the gold screw (Gold-Tite) in place to 20 Ncm with the indicated torque driver (Figure 9 and Figure 10). The crowns were then seated using a cement-retained protocol (Figure 11 and Figure 12).

Digital scanning technology is changing the face of implant dentistry. Compared to elastomeric impression materials digital scanning results in less expense, increased productivity, and more efficient clinical systems. Digital scanning technology has significantly enhanced clinical accuracy and productivity in comparison to conventional impression techniques. A variety of impression materials can be prone to inherent challenges that decrease their overall accuracy. Scanning technology such as that used in this evaluation eliminates these issues and consistently produces highly accurate digital impressions.

Today in dentistry, specific implant abutments can be scanned and the information digitally transferred directly to a five-axis milling center. This technology saves additional time and money for all parties. The introduction of digital impression systems provides clinicians the opportunity for better-fitting restorations and greater general dentistry productivity. These digital systems are now being utilized together to serve clinicians and patients more effectively. The design technician is also given more information, improving the design of the CAD/CAM abutments with the aid of computerized virtual programs.

Undoubtedly, digital impression devices are going to be a significant part of the future of implant dentistry. The industry will see continued development within the digital markets, which will increase market competition, and with more clinicians implementing the technology into their practices, the technology will likely become more affordable.

This project was partially supported by Biomet 3i.

The author would like to thank Mrs. Amy Derhalli and Dr. Richard Mounce for their critical review, and Dr. Steven Hopmann for the restoration shown in Figure 11 and Figure 12. In addition, he would like to thank O’Brien Dental Lab, Inc., Corvallis, Oregon.

Munib Derhalli, DMD, MS, MBA
Private Practice
Vancouver, Washington