Digital transfer of the subgingival contour and emergence profile of the provisional restoration to the final bone-anchored fixed restoration

Abstract

Purpose: This report was written to introduce an attempt at clinical application of our newly developed digital workflow to reproduce the morphology of the subgingival contour and the emergence profile of the provisional restoration within the final bone-anchored fixed restoration, using a bounded unilateral edentulous case.

Methods: This digital workflow involves superimposition of the composite images of two specific types of working casts onto the working cast for the provisional restoration namely, a split cast screwed with a titanium base and a split cast screwed with a provisional restoration and integrating these with the whole intraoral surface image, in which the provisional restoration was present. The final restoration fabricated using this technique could be installed without any clinical problems. The results of in silico analysis revealed that the cubic volume ratio of the total discrepancy between the provisional and the final restorations was only 2.4%. Further, sufficient oral hygiene was maintained and the patient was satisfied with the outcome of the treatment.

Conclusions: This technical report suggests that our newly developed digital workflow provided clinical applicability and may enable accurate transfer of the morphology of the subgingival contour and emergence profile of the provisional to the final bone-anchored fixed restoration.