Accuracy of Digital Implant Impressions?

How accurate are digital impressions when compared to conventional impressions, especially in cases of angulated implants? A recent study compared the three-dimensional (3D) accuracy of conventional impressions (CIs) with digital scans (DSs) using an intraoral scanner (IOS) and varying buccolingual interimplant angulations.

The conclusion:

Distortions were found for both digital scans (DS) and conventional impressions (CI) test groups. The best accuracy was obtained with CIs for parallel implants. With angulated implants, conventional and DSs were not significantly different. Excessive torque application that causes negative dz for SB fit would position the virtual implant at a deeper location compared with reality, resulting in possible framework misfit.

Read the Full Abstract Here

Have you been using digital impressions in your practice? What has been your experience of using these vs conventional?

1\. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2017 Mar/Apr;32(2):313“321. [In Vitro Three-Dimensional Accuracy of Digital Implant Impressions: The Effect of Implant Angulation.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28231346) Chia VA et al.