Digital workflow coupling conic retention for the immediate restoration of adjacent posterior implants

Abstract

To evaluate the digital workflow coupling conic retention for the immediate restoration of adjacent posterior implants. The patients with adjacent teeth missing in the posterior jaw seeking for implant restoration in the Department of Implantology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from March, 2017 to February, 2018 were recruited. After implant placement and commercial conic retention coping delivery, the patient had an intraoral scan for digital impression, and the computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology was used for the fabrication of the immediate splinted prosthesis, which was made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and loaded immediately after delivery. Six months later, all the temporary prostheses were replaced by the permanent ones made of monolithic zirconia with CAD/CAM technology as well. The parallel periapical films were taken for the temporary and permanent prostheses post-delivery. The clinical effect of this workflow was evaluated by indices including the survival rates of implants and prostheses, the change of marginal bone level, and the implant-related and prosthesis-related complications; before the final restoration, the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) was used to evaluate the satisfaction of the patients. Ten patients (4 males and 6 females, 55.5 years old for average) were recruited. Totally 34 implants were placed; 14 prostheses were fabricated, temporary and permanent, respectively. After an observation period from 4 to 14 months, the survival rate for implants and prostheses were both 100%; the marginal bone level of the implants were (1.06±0.97) mm and (0.96±0.82) mm, immediate post-operation and 6 months later, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Neither implant- nor prostheses- related complications were observed. And the VAS of the patients' satisfaction was 87.2. For the adjacent posterior implants, the immediate prostheses manufactured by digital workflow, coupling conic retention, were clinically feasible and patient-satisfactory.