PDF Version - Glidewell Dental Labs

In late 2010, Straumann introduced a scannable abutment
called a “scanbody,” which allowed for the taking of a digital
implant impression. We needed this option to be available
for most commonly used implant systems, however. At this
time, Straumann only works with iTero (Align Technology
Inc., formerly Cadent Inc.; San Jose, Calif.).
A dental laboratory in Canada, 5 Axis Dental Design Center,
has since taken the concept further by developing scannable
abutments that are compatible with implant systems from
most of the major implant companies, allowing dentists
to submit digital impressions for CAD/CAM design and
milling of implant abutments and fixed restorations.
However, at the time of this writing, they too can only use
the iTero scanner. 7
In February 2012, Glidewell Laboratories introduced intraoral
scanning abutments under its Inclusive ® line of implant
products for implant systems from Astra Tech, Straumann,
Neoss and Zimmer, as well as Certain ® (BIOMET 3i; Warsaw,
Ind.), PrimaConnex ® (Keystone Dental; Burlington, Mass.),
and Brånemark System ® , NobelActive and NobelReplace
(Nobel Biocare; Yorba Linda, Calif.). These Inclusive Scanning
Abutments are also available for the lab’s line of Inclusive
Tapered Implants, and they can be used to create digital
implant impressions with the available, compatible intraoral
scanners, such as iTero, Lava C.O.S. ® (3M ESPE; St. Paul,
Minn.), CEREC ® (Sirona Dental Systems Inc.; Charlotte, N.C.),
IOS FastScan ® (IOS Technologies; San Diego, Calif.) and the
soon-to-be-compatible E4D ® Dentist (D4D Technologies;
Richardson, Texas). Heraeus projects to have a new intraoral
scanner, the cara TRIOS ® , available this year.
This is a rapidly developing field, and I would not be
surprised if in the near future we see a greater number of
compatible implant systems and more dental laboratories
offering this service.
When you compare the
simple steps involved
in capturing digital
implant impressions
using scannable
abutments to
conventional impression
systems, the
digital method is
simpler, easier and
makes you a better,
happier and more
productive dentist.
Figure 1: Implant ready to be restored
The following case example demonstrates the simplicity of
capturing a digital implant impression using an Inclusive
Scanning Abutment and CEREC Redcam acquisition unit
with version 3.8 CEREC Connect* software to restore a
Zimmer Screw-Vent ® implant. However, any of the previously
mentioned chairside digital impression systems available
today are compatible and can be used for this technique.
Case Presentation
The patient in this case is a 62-year-old male who needed
the restoration of a Zimmer Screw-Vent 4.7 wide implant
in the area of the right mandibular first molar (Fig. 1). The
gingiva had healed around the healing abutment and was
ready for the implant impression (Fig. 2).
Figure 2: Implant with healing abutment
*In April 2012, Sirona renamed its digital impression portal Sirona Connect.
According to the company, the Sirona Connect portal, accessible via www.sironaconnect.net,
is compatible with all existing versions of CEREC Connect.
46 www.chairsidemagazine.com