Soft tissue contour impression with analogic or digital work flow: A case report

Abstract

Purpose: Transferring precise information to the dental laboratory is one of the key factors to achieving clinical success. The aim of the present study was to describe classical and digital work-flows used to rehabilitate an implant with a convergent collar in the aesthetic zone following the BOPT (biologically oriented preparation technique) approach and to report the three years follow-up outcomes of two patients rehabilitated following such procedures. Materials and methods: Two central incisors of two different patients were rehabilitated with a tissue-level implant with a convergent collar and, after a provisional and healing phase, one implant was “impressed” using a classical workflow and one using a digital one. The primary outcome measured was the mean bone loss. An intraoral radiograph was taken at crown delivery and at the three years follow-up visit. Secondary Esthetic outcomes pre-op and post-op were evaluated using the PES (pink esthetic score). Results: At the three years follow-up visit, radiographic analysis showed no signs of bone resorption. For the analogic procedure, the pre-and post-op PES scores were 8, whereas for the digital procedure the pre-op PES score was 4 and a post-op score of 9 was obtained. Conclusions: classical and digital work flows succeeded in giving precise and complete anatomical information of implant position, including the soft tissue contour. Minimum bone loss and an esthetic success were obtained in both procedures.