Registration of patient-relevant references in edentulous jaws using intraoral scanners: simplification of the clinical procedure

With the advancement of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in dentistry, the use of digital technologies is being increasingly adopted by clinicians and laboratory technicians. Clinicians are using intraoral scanners (IOSs) more and more to perform computer-aided impressions. While these are mainly used to digitize dentate or partially edentulous jaws, it is feasible with a few of the available systems to scan edentulous jaws, with or without implants. To scan edentulous jaws, the registration and articulation of patient-relevant references and planes is difficult without the use of physical casts. The present article introduces simple yet effective methods to integrate individual interocclusal information during the intraoral scan procedure. The techniques described aim to simplify the digital registration procedure of edentulous jaws, with or without implants, and integrate patient-relevant information in the virtual articulator without the need to manufacture and articulate casts after the intraoral scan.