EVALUATION OF ZIRCONIUM DIOXIDE CROWNS MADE USING TRADITIONAL AND DIGITAL IMPRESSIONS

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study conducted to compare the marginal fit of dental crowns fabricated using conventional silicone molds and zirconium dioxide crowns produced with intraoral digital impressions. A total of 52 patients were included in the prosthetic study, with an average age of 34.62 ± 2.74 years. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of 26 patients who received crowns fabricated using conventional simultaneous impressions with the traditional method, whereas Group II included 26 patients who were pre-instructed in intraoral scanning and crown design using CAD software, with all procedures performed through a fully digital workflow, including the CAM process. Intraoral scanning was performed using the Medit i500 scanner. The assessment of the marginal fit of zirconium dioxide crowns in both groups was conducted using radiographic evaluation. The results of the procedure, performed using the Exocad method to verify the maximum contact accuracy of zirconium-based crowns, demonstrated that a marginal discrepancy of <0.1 mm was more frequently observed in Group I, whereas a marginal discrepancy of >0.1 mm was more prevalent in Group II. Minimal discrepancies were detected along the buccal-mesial line in Group II. Regarding discrepancies along the lingual-mesial line, similar values were recorded in Group II, while the highest levels of marginal discrepancy were observed in Group I. The digital workflow eliminates the need for a master model in the fabrication process. However, each procedural step contributes to the overall accuracy of the final prosthesis. While minimizing steps can streamline the workflow, excessive reduction of steps may increase the risk of inaccuracies and potential disruption of the overall process.