A novel technique to integrate intraoral scans and polyvinyl siloxane impressions in situ for the completely edentulous maxilla.

Abstract

This dental technique demonstrates an approach to integrating an intra-oral scan and a poly vinyl siloxane impression of the functional sulcus for a completely edentulous maxilla. The intra-oral scan and polyvinyl siloxane impression are aligned in the oral cavity via the design and subsequent manufacture of a custom impression tray with a large window. This technique allows precise alignment of the two scans, whereas other proposed methods rely on alignment ex vivo using third-party software which may introduce errors. The technique explained here can be applied in a variety of clinical scenarios including hyperplastic tissue, flabby or mobile ridges, or patients with sensitive gag reflexes. Moreover, it offers an alternative technique to clinicians for challenging clinical situations without the need for additional clinical appointments.