Can lithium disilicate ceramic crowns be fabricated on the basis of CBCT data?

A double-blind randomized crossover trial comparing the esthetic outcomes of CAD-CAM provisional restorations fabricated using CBCT and IOS acquisition methods

OBJECTIVES

This double-blind randomised crossover trial aimed to compare the aesthetic outcomes of CAD-CAM manufactured provisional restorations created using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scanners (IOS) acquisition methods.

METHODS

Twelve participants (mean-age: 38 ± 5 years) requiring full mouth rehabilitation were included in this crossover trial. Two sets of identical CAD-CAM provisional restorations, differing only in the method of data acquisition (A: CBCT, B: IOS), were fabricated. Restorations were cemented for two weeks, with washout period between interventions. Esthetic evaluations were conducted using clinician and patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Both parametric and non-parametric tests were used to account for data variability: Mann-Whitney U test compared pink esthetic score (PES), white esthetic score (WES), and modified US Public Health Service (USPHS) score. An unpaired t-test compared Oral Health Impact Profile- Aesthetic Questionnaire (OHIP-Aes) scores and Orofacial Esthetic scores.

RESULTS

Clinician-reported outcomes showed significantly better esthetic scores for provisional restorations fabricated using CBCT compared to IOS. CBCT scored higher in Pink Esthetic Score (PES) [Mean rank: CBCT = 16.00, IOS = 9.00; P = 0.012] and White Esthetic Score (WES) [Mean rank: CBCT = 17.25, IOS = 7.75; P < 0.001]. No significant differences were observed for Modified USPHS scores across groups [Mean rank: CBCT = 11.38, IOS = 13.63; P = 0.221]. Patient-reported outcomes indicated no significant differences between groups in OHIP-Aes scores [CBCT = 1.25 ± 1.76, IOS = 1.58 ± 1.62; P = 0.635] or Orofacial Esthetic Index (OFEI) scores [CBCT = 65.75 ± 1.54, IOS = 65.50 ± 1.62; P = 0.703].

CONCLUSION

Both CBCT and IOS acquisition techniques provide aesthetically satisfactory CAD-CAM provisional restorations. CBCT demonstrated significantly higher clinician-reported esthetic outcomes for both pink and white esthetic scores. While patient satisfaction was similar for both methods, CBCT offers practical advantages, including the elimination of separate diagnostic appointments, making it a preferred choice for enhanced esthetic outcomes in CAD-CAM provisional restorations.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

CBCT acquisition methods yield significantly better clinician-reported esthetic outcomes for CAD-CAM provisional restorations compared to IOS. Additionally, CBCT eliminates the need for separate diagnostic appointments, reducing treatment time and number of visits, while both methods provide similar satisfactory patient-reported outcomes.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Approval number: CTRI/2023/03/050410.

An in vitro comparison of the marginal fit of provisional crowns using the virtual tooth preparation workflow against the traditional technique

Aim

This study investigates the effectiveness of an innovative virtual tooth preparation workflow for the fabrication of dental crowns using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scanners (IOSs) with conventional workflow using extraoral/laboratory scanners.

Settings and Design

This in vitro experimental study was conducted in the laboratory of a university in Chennai, India. The dental laboratory and research facilities at the institution were utilized for the fabrication of the temporary crowns and the data acquisition process.

Materials and Methods

Institutional approval was obtained from the university. It was basically a comparison between the virtual prep technique using CBCT and IOS and the conventional digital technique using extra oral scanners (EOS) for temporary crown fabrication. The sample size was estimated using an effect size of 1.5004, assuming a normal distribution, a significance level of 0.05, and a power of 0.95 in G power software. Based on this calculation, an extracted second lower molar was used to fabricate 10 samples in each group. The samples were divided into three groups: the CBCT (Group 1), the IOS (Group 2), and laboratory scanner (Group 3 as control) groups. The vertical marginal gap of all the surfaces of the crown was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope.

Statistical Analysis Used

Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA using the SPSS software version 26.0, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA.

Results

Acceptable marginal discrepancy values were obtained in all three groups. There was no significant difference in the marginal discrepancy recorded (P = 0.113).

Conclusion

Virtual tooth preparation using CBCT and IOSs can be used as an alternative to the conventional workflow for provisional crown and bridge fabrication.

Fibre-reinforced Cad/CAM post and cores: The new "gold standard" for anterior teeth with extensive coronal destruction?-A fully digital chairside workflow

Objectives

Since one-third of persons suffer a dental trauma, treatment of anterior teeth using post and core (PC) is becoming important. In teeth with extensive destruction, cast PC (CPC) remain the "gold standard", even though they lead to aesthetic impairment and have a mismatching elastic modulus to that of dentin. Prefabricated fibre-reinforced posts have elastic modulus similar to that of dentin but the accuracy of fit and mechanical stability are worse. This study was aimed to evaluate the deviation and mechanical performance of fibre-reinforced CAD/CAM PC (FRPC) fabricated in a fully digital chairside workflow, compared to those of CPC.

Methods

On 30 teeth, a PC preparation was conducted, and a conventional and digital post impression were taken with an intraoral scanner. Fifteen teeth each were treated with CPC and FRPC, respectively. The deviation was evaluated by superimposing the datasets of the digitalised stone models and digital post impressions. Decementation and root fracture during chewing simulation were analysed by microscopy and X-ray. Statistical analysis was performed by pairwise comparison and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

The median deviation for the "coronal", "middle" and "apical" were 14.5, 18.0 and 113.7 μm, respectively. The pairwise comparison for "coronal"/"middle" showed no significance (p = 0.465), whereas that for "coronal"/"apical" and "middle"/"apical" showed highly significant differences (p < 0.001). After chewing simulation, five decementations and two root fractures were detected for CPC. For FRPC, neither decementation nor root fracture were documented.

Significance

Within the limitations of this study, FRPC performed significantly better than CPC.

Comparing the accuracy of distinct scanning systems and their impact on marginal/internal adaptation of tooth-supported indirect restorations. A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the existing scientific evidence on the effect of distinct intraoral (IOS) and extraoral (EOS) scanners in terms of their accuracy for image acquisition and the marginal/internal adaptation of indirect restorations.

METHODS

The protocol of this scoping review is available online (https://osf.io/cwua7/). A structured search, with no date restriction, was performed in LILACS, MEDLINE via Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus, for articles written in English. The inclusion criteria were studies that considered at least two scanners, regardless of method (intra or extraoral), for the production of tooth-supported restorations. Two independent and blinded researchers screened the studies, collected and analyzed the data descriptively.

RESULTS

103 studies were included (55 on marginal/internal adaptation, 33 on accuracy, 5 on both outcomes, and 10 reviews). Most of them, shown clinically acceptable adaptation (<120 μm). Factors commonly related to the performance of scanners are: use of anti-reflection powders, method of image acquisition, and restoration/tooth characteristics. The need of anti-reflection powders was controversial. Different scanning principles seems to result on similar performance; IOS that combine them could be promising. The most explored systems were Omnicam - IOS, and inEos X5 - EOS, which showed similar performance on marginal/internal adaptation. Scarce studies explored the performance of EOS systems, especially in terms of accuracy. Different restoration designs as single-unit seemed not to modify the performance of scanners. Limited information is available regarding the planned cement space, restorative material and design (multi-unit restorations), as also techniques to measure adaptation.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital scanners are valid approaches to obtain accurate impressions resulting in clinically acceptable restorations. Systems that uses combined principles of image acquisition seems promising for optimal performance. Based on high discrepancy, the quality of evaluated evidence is low, and well-designed studies are still encouraged, especially considering validated IOS/EOS as a control comparison condition.

Marginal Accuracy of Lithium Disilicate Full-Coverage Single Crowns Made by Direct and Indirect Digital or Conventional Workflows: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Several studies have compared digital intraoral scanners and conventional impressions. The accuracy of these two methods in terms of marginal accuracy of lithium disilicate crowns is not well-established, yet. The purpose of this study was to systematically review available publications on marginal fit of single-unit, full-coverage, tooth-supported lithium disilicate restorations.

METHODS

Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Scopus were electronically searched along with a manual search. After critical appraisal, data from selected studies were extracted and mean marginal difference with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Meta-analysis of the collected data was conducted using STATA software.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis revealed similar marginal gap values in intraoral scanners with conventional groups (p>0.05) and in intraoral scanners with extraoral canners (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

No significant difference was seen between digital and conventional impressions or intra- and extraoral scanners for marginal accuracy of lithium disilicate crowns.

Digital versus Conventional Workflow in Oral Rehabilitations: Current Status

In recent years, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology has developed along with its applications in dentistry, including several new techniques that are used in oral rehabilitation applications [...]

Accuracy evaluation of 3D printed interim prosthesis fabrication using a CBCT scanning based digital model

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the marginal and internal gaps in 3D-printed interim crowns made from digital models of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) conversion data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen polyvinylsiloxane impressions were taken from patients for single crown restorations and were scanned using CBCT. The scanning data were converted to positive Standard Triangulation Language (STL) files using custom-developed software. The fabricated stone models were scanned with an intraoral optical scanner (IOS) to compare the surface accuracy with the STL data obtained by CBCT. The converted STL files were utilized to fabricate interim crowns with a photopolymer using a digital light-processing 3D printer. The replica method was used to analyze the accuracy. The marginal and internal gaps in the replica specimen of each interim crown were measured with a digital microscope. The Friedman test and Mann-Whitney U test (Wilcoxon-signed rank test) were conducted to compare the measurements of the marginal and internal gaps with a 95% level of confidence.

RESULTS

The root-mean-square values of the CBCT and IOS ranged from 41.00 to 126.60 μm, and the mean was 60.12 μm. The mean values of the marginal, internal, and total gaps were 132.96 (±139.23) μm, 137.86 (±103.09) μm, and 135.68 (±120.30) μm, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the marginal or internal gaps between the mesiodistal and buccolingual surfaces, but the marginal area (132.96 μm) and occlusal area (255.88 μm) had significant mean differences.

CONCLUSION

The marginal gap of the fabricated interim crowns based on CBCT STL data was within the acceptable range of clinical success. Through ongoing developments of high-resolution CBCT and the digital model conversion technique, CBCT might be an alternative method to acquire digital models for interim crown fabrication.

New Intraoral Scanner-Based Chairside Measurement Method to Investigate the Internal Fit of Crowns: A Clinical Trial

To measure the internal fit of the computer-aided designed/computer-aided manufactured (CAD/CAM) crowns, a new scanner-based chairside approach was investigated in patients, and the results were compared to the established silicone replica technique and a digital laboratory replica method. Thirty full-coverage crown preparations were included. Based on a digital impression with an intraoral scanner (IOS, Trios 3), three CAD/CAM measurement copings (‘COM’, resin composite; ‘ZIR’, zirconium dioxide; ‘NPA’, non-precious alloy) were fabricated for each tooth preparation. The internal fit of the measurement copings was analyzed with three different evaluation methods: IOS-based digital approach (D-IOS), digital replica method with laboratory software (D-GOM), and conventional silicone replica technique (CV-SR). The congruence between the determined target parameter of the 80-µm cement space and the actual measured internal gap was investigated. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA (p-value < 0.05). No significant difference was determined between the three evaluation methods. However, significant differences were observed for the three coping materials (p-value < 0.05), the single measurement position (marginal, axial, and occlusal fit) (p-value < 0.05), and the interaction between the coping material and the measurement position (p-value < 0.05). COM revealed the smallest internal gap, followed by ZIR and NPA. Regardless of the coping material, the occlusal gap was higher than the axial and marginal gaps. Furthermore, only the internal gaps of the marginal area almost matched the target parameter of 80-µm for the cement space. D-IOS is effective for measuring internal fit of single crowns in different clinical settings.