Dimensional accuracy of vinyl polyether and polyvinyl siloxane impression materials in direct implant impression technique for multiple dental implants

Abstract

PurposeThe present study compared the dimensional accuracy of vinyl polyether silicone(VPES) and polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression materials used for non-splinted(NS) and splinted (S) direct open-tray impression techniques for multiple implantsinserted in simulated edentulous mandibles.Materials and MethodsA mandibular stainless steel model with eight internal connections for implantanalogs was fabricated to simulate a clinical scenario. The acrylic resin splinted andnon-splinted direct impressions were obtained for both VPES and PVS materials.Seventy-two cast samples were divided into four groups based on the impressiontechniques and materials used. The dimensional accuracies of the casts weremeasured in three different axes using a computerized coordinate measuringmachine (CMM), and were statistically compared.ResultsThe differences in the distortion values between the VPES and PVS impressionmaterials were not statistically significant. Similarly, the differences between thesplinted and non-splinted groups among the VPES and PVS materials were notstatistically significant.ConclusionThe casts fabricated from VPS or PVS impression materials provide similardimensional accuracy regardless of the implant splinting method.