Digital Workflows in Full-Arch Implant Rehabilitation (LS03)

Digital technology is currently being extensively utilized in implant dentistry with several areas already shown to have superior clinical outcomes compared to conventional techniques. Fully digital workflows are also being validated for single implant restorations where a modeless approach can be predictably undertaken; however, when treating the fully edentulous patient, many aspects of the digital workflow—such as intra-oral digital scan, digital bite registrations, and virtual wax ups, which are routine for single tooth and short span reconstructions—present unique challenges associated with lack of adjacent tooth references.Currently there is no scientifically validated fully digital pathway for edentulous implant rehabilitation. There is a paucity of literature which assesses the clinical accuracy of digital implant impression techniques, and that relates to clinical outcomes, such as the fit of the final prosthesis. Novel solutions for more accurate digital implant impression have emerged. These utilize digital photogrammetry, which can measure the relative positions of the implants to each other and does not rely on stitching of individual small images that can be a source of inaccuracy in intra-oral digital impressions. Digital workflows for implant rehabilitation of the edentulous patient are continually being refined with further scientific evidence required to validate a fully digital workflow. This presentation will highlight the challenges associated with digital impressions of edentulous arches and provides insight as to how this can be managed.