31
Volume2 Issue8
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S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
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Custom implantabutmentdesign to replace tooth23.
Virtual articulationallows for accuratedesignandminimizes
adjustments toCAD/CAM restorations (Cadent iTero®)
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Preparedsecondmolarscan.
Margin is readily identifiable thanks toproperly retracted soft
tissueprior to scan (Cadent iTero®)
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CustomCAD/CAM titaniumabutmentwithduplicatedie
forcrownproduction.
Theuseof the sameoriginal designfileandprecisionmilling
technologyallows for theproductionof highlyaccurate
duplicateswithout anydegradation. Thecrownproduced
on theduplicatediewill beanexcellentfiton thecustom
abutmentwhen transferred.
shouldalso includeanunderstandingof theduration the
models are stored (tomeet regulatory requirements),where
theyare stored, the securityprovidedaswell as fees thatmay
be incurred.
Speakingwith the lab can alsobeuseful tounderstandhow
theymayormaynot be able toworkwith some systems.
Whendo labs still requireconventional
impressions?
Althoughdigital technologyhasdistinct advantagesand fairly
comprehensiveutility, it is still difficult to fabricatecomplete
dentures. Currently, it isnotpossible toprocessdentureson
milledmodels.
Whenorthodonticapplianceswithexpansion screws in the
palateare required, aconventional impression ispreferable.
Thepalate is averydifficult area tocapturewithadigital
impressionand thepalatal areacannot bemilled. However,
models canbe fabricatedusinga3Dprinter.
It is alsochallenging to takea reliablepickup impression
withdigital technology. Consider a scenariowhereacrown
abutment isbeing fabricatedand retrofitted toapartial
denture: it isnearly impossible tocapture the interface
between thecrownandpartial denture.
Willdigital impressions lower labbills?
Overall, there isnocost reduction for dental practices. The
cost for a lab to fabricatemodels fromdigital files ishigher
than from stone.Most labs chargeadigital impression fee,
especially if theyhave tooutsourcemodel production.
Usually, thecost is around$20/quadrant ($40/arch). Some
labswill absorb this feeasdigital files improve their
workflows andoverall qualityofwork.
However, dental officesmay saveoncostsassociatedwith the
purchaseof impressionmaterials. Acost reductionmayalso
result from thedecreaseddependencyoncouriersordrivers
topickup labcases fromdental practices.
a
Theviewsexpressedarethose oftheauthorsanddonot necessarilyreflecttheopinions orofficialpoliciesofthe
CanadianDentalAssociation.
Theauthorsdidnotreceiveanycompensation fromanymanufacturersshown inthisarticle.
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