Perfect digital impression of natural abutment teeth without using retraction cords

Digital technologies are gradually gaining ground in dentistry. In particular, taking impressions with intraoral scanners is becoming routine; however, even this must often be preceded by the use of retraction cords. This article presents an innovative technique to record digital impressions of natural tooth abutments using interim restorations relined with impression material instead of retraction cords. In the laboratory, using computer-aided design, the technician can segment the internal surface of the interim restoration and use it to replace the abutment of the intraoral scan, thus obtaining an accurate coping that yields more detailed information about the supragingival and intrasulcular surface of the preparation. Keywords: cord, dental technology, digital impression, prosthodontics, retraction cord