A Comparative Study to Assess Accuracy of Casts Prepared using Direct Impression Technique with and without Splinting of Multiple Dental Implants Utilising Two Different Splinting and Impression Materials

BACKGROUND: The current study examined the accuracy of casts generated using direct impression processes with and without splints for multiple dental implants utilizing two different splinting materials and impression materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental replacement base intensity alleviating acrylic tar was used to create a reference model of a mandible with four inserts (Uniti, Equinox, D-3.7 mm, and L-13 mm) in the front. Polyether and polyvinyle siloxane impression materials were used to make impressions of the reference model utilizing direct non-splinted and splinted techniques. RESULTS: Polyether impression material was found to produce more accurate impressions than polyvinyl siloxane, and impressions made using transfer copings splinted with pattern resins were found to be more accurate than those made using either unsplinted copings or copings splinted with light-cured wax resin. CONCLUSIONS: All six impression techniques resulted in casts that were different from the reference model. Next, the polyether-splinted (SPR) technique is the nonsplinted technique employing polyether and polyvinyle siloxane imprint materials, and then, the splinted techniques using polyether and polyvinyle siloxane and produced the most accurate casts in comparison with the reference model.