The fitness of self-glazed zirconia (SGZ) onlays fabricated with computer-aided design/ computer-aided manufacturing was analysed, and conventional impressions (CIs) were compared with intraoral digital impressions (DIs). Onlay preparation was applied on a typodont left mandibular first molar to create 22 copy dies, which were divided into DI and CI groups. The marginal gap of DI-fabricated onlays was smaller than that of CI-fabricated onlays (p < 0.05). In both groups, the marginal gap was larger in the distal gingival than in other regions (p < 0.05), and a trend of decreasing marginal accuracy after thermal cycling was observed. SGZ onlays performed well for internal fitness; the overall internal gaps were 72.05 ± 8.16 and 100.96 ± 22.53 μm in Groups DI and CI, respectively. SGZ onlays exhibited clinically acceptable marginal and internal fitness values. The marginal adaptation of DIfabricated onlays was better than that of CI-fabricated onlays.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of a novel interocclusal recording method on the occlusal accuracy of implant-supported fixed prostheses for partially dentate patients with distal extension. Materials and Methods:Twenty patients with two or more adjacent teeth missing in the distal extension and scheduled to receive implant-supported fixed prostheses were enrolled. Two interocclusal recording methods were used: placing polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) on the interocclusal recording caps (test), and placing PVS on healing abutments (control). The intraoral occlusal contacts in maximal intercuspal position (MIP) were compared with those in the mounted casts to calculate sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV). Then, patients were randomly allocated into two groups to determine which interocclusal record would be used. The implant prostheses' evaluations mainly included occlusal adjustment height, volume, and time, occlusal contact score based on articulating paper examination. Paired-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and least squares regression analyzed the statistic differences. Results:The test method had higher sensitivity to detect intraoral occlusal contacts than the control method (p = .002), but similar PPV (p = .10). During the prostheses' evaluations, the occlusal adjustment height in the test group was significantly lower than that in the control group [99.4 (53.2, 134.2) vs. 159.0 (82.3, 247.8) μm, p = .03],while the occlusal contact score before adjustment was higher (p = .006). The groups had similar occlusal adjustment volume and time. Conclusions:The novel interocclusal recording method for implant-supported fixed prostheses was more accurate and could reduce the occlusal adjustment.

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Background Precise occlusal design of implant-supported fixed prostheses is difficult to achieve by the conventional wax-up method, often requiring chairside adjustments. The computer-aided design (CAD) method is promising. This study aims to compare the occlusal contacts and clearance of posterior implant-supported single crowns designed by the CAD and conventional methods. Methods Sample size calculation indicated fourteen samples per group. Two sets of type-IV plaster casts with a single implant analog inserted in the posterior teeth region were mounted as master casts in a mechanical articulator in maximal intercuspal position (MIP). Seven working cast sets were obtained from each master cast by a closed tray technique, and mounted in MIP. Two implant-supported single crowns were designed with an occlusal clearance to achieve light occlusal contact in each working cast set by CAD and conventional method, separately. For the CAD group, the crown was designed in digital models obtained by scanning the working casts. For the conventional group, wax-up of the crown was prepared on the working casts and scanned to generate a STL file. In the working and master casts, mean and minimum occlusal clearances in the designed occlusal contact area of the both finished prostheses were calculated using the occlusal clearance (OC) and occlusal record (OR) method. The prostheses’ occlusion was evaluated in master casts. Results For the evaluation in the working casts, both design methods had similar mean occlusal clearances by the OC method (195.4 ± 43.8 vs. 179.8 ± 41.8 μm; P = 0.300), while CAD group resulted in a significantly larger minimum occlusal clearance in the designed occlusal contact area (139.5 ± 52.3 vs. 99.8 ± 43.8 μm; P = 0.043). Both design methods had similar mean and minimum occlusal clearances by the OR method (P > 0.05). For the evaluation in the master casts, both design techniques had similar mean and minimum occlusal clearances, number and distribution of occlusal contacts, and lateral interference ratios (P > 0.05). Conclusion Occlusal contact and clearance of posterior implant-supported single crowns designed by the CAD method can be at least as good as those designed by the conventional wax-up method.