Accuracy of Different Implant Impression Techniques at Fixture Level

Introduction: An often-debated issue still exists concerning implant impression techniques, whether to use the direct or indirect technique, and whether to splint the copings. Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of polyether impression of two fixture heads using different impression techniques. Materials and Methods: A master model with two fixtures at the sites of 45 and 47 was used. 20 polyehter impressions were made for all 4 techniques: (A) indirect; (B) direct, unsplinted; (C) direct, splinted; and (D) direct, splinted, sectioned, and resplinted. Splinting on group C and D specimen was done with autopolymerizing acrylic resin. Horizontal distance was measured from the master model and each resultant cast, using digital caliper at its two reference points. The difference in distance on the master model and resultant casts were analysed with one-way ANOVA. Results: & Conclusion: The indirect technique showed a lowest accuracy among all techniques. There is no significant difference of accuracy among the groups using direct techniques (p=0.05). The group using indirect techniques showed a significant lower accuracy from other groups (p=0.05). In comparison, direct techniques revealed higher accuracy. Among all the groups, the group using the direct, splinted, sectioned and resplinted technique showed the highest accuracy.