Digital assessment of positional accuracy of different splinting multiimplant impression techniques: An in vitro comparative study

INTRODUCTION: Splinting of multiple implants during impression with the most accurate material to reproduce their intraoral relationship is deemed necessary for achieving passively fitting prosthesis. OBJECTIVES: To assess positional accuracy of multiimplant impressions for completely edentulous arches obtained by a 3D printed splint and compare the results obtained with those obtained with conventional methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS. One mandibular epoxy model with 4 parallel implants was used as master reference model. A total of 24 (n=24) open tray impressions were done using a custom-made tray and were poured in dental stone. Eight impressions were done with 3D printed splint (group I), 8 were done with the conventional splinting method (group II), and 8 were done with sectional splinting method (group III). Four impression posts were attached to each cast, and all casts were scanned using a desktop scanner. Surface scans for the 3 groups were superimposed with the scan of the master reference model. The positional accuracy of each post was compared with the reference model to assess positional deviations. RESULTS: Models of group I showed lower positional deviation compared to other groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the 3 impression techniques regarding positional accuracy of the implants. CONCLUSIONS: 3D printed splint method can be used as an alternative to conventional splinting techniques.