2019 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 71-79
In recent years, digital technology for dental implant prosthesis has developed and improved the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Among these advancements, the intraoral scanner has been attracting attention because it is expected to prevent vomiting reflex, resolve distortion of impression or expansion of plaster on hardening, reduce infectious waste, and other advantages. Currently, the intraoral scanner is widely used for manufacturing fixed dental prostheses for devices such as single crowns or bridges. However, there are still many unknown points regarding application to the fabrication of removable dental prostheses and adaptation to full arch implant cases. This article reports on the following cases of good application: fabrication of implant superstructures in full arch implant cases using an intraoral scanner, fabrication of implant superstructures faithfully reproducing the form of the final provisional restoration, fabrication of surgical guides for immediate implantation after tooth extraction in cases with loose remaining teeth, fabrication of provisional restoration immediately after tooth extraction by obtaining an optical impression, fabrication of complete dentures using a 3D printer after obtaining an optical impression of the ridge mucosa, and fabrication of copy dentures outside the oral cavity by obtaining an optical impression of the existing dentures.
It is suggested that the intraoral scanner is indicated not only for single crown or bridge cases, but also for full arch implant cases. Furthermore, the intraoral scanner may be indicated for a wide range of clinical applications including fabrication of provisional restorations, surgical guides or complete dentures.
