Citation: Tallarico, M.; Galiffi, D.;
Scrascia, R.; Gualandri, M.;
Zadro ˙ zny, L.; Czajkowska, M.;
Catapano, S.; Grande, F.; Baldoni, E.;
Lumbau, A.I.; et al. Digital Workflow
for Prosthetically Driven Implants
Placement and Digital Cross
Mounting: A Retrospective Case
Series. Prosthesis 2022, 4, 353–368.
https://doi.org/10.3390/
prosthesis4030029
Academic Editors: Andrea Scribante,
Simone Gallo and Maurizio
Pascadopoli
Received: 13 June 2022
Accepted: 11 July 2022
Published: 18 July 2022
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Case Report
Digital Workflow for Prosthetically Driven Implants Placement
and Digital Cross Mounting: A Retrospective Case Series
Marco Tallarico
1,
* , Davide Galiffi
1
, Roberto Scrascia
2
, Maurizio Gualandri
3
, Lukasz Zadro ˙ zny
4
,
Marta Czajkowska
5
, Santo Catapano
6
, Francesco Grande
6
, Edoardo Baldoni
1
, Aurea Immacolata Lumbau
1
,
Silvio Mario Meloni
1
and Milena Pisano
1
1
Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07021 Sassari, Italy;
davidegaliffi@gmail.com (D.G.); baldoni@uniss.it (E.B.); alumbau@uniss.it (A.I.L.);
melonisilviomario@yahoo.it (S.M.M.); milenapisano@yahoo.it (M.P.)
2
Independent Researcher, 74121 Taranto, Italy; roberto.scrascia@gmail.com
3
Independent Researcher, 00100 Rome, Italy; mauriziogualandri@gmail.com
4
Department of Dental Propaedeutics and Prophylaxis, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland;
lzadrozny@wum.edu.pl
5
Department of Laryngology, Medical University of Silesia, 40-027 Katowice, Poland;
mrtczajkowska@gmail.com
6
Department of Prosthodontics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
cts@unife.it (S.C.); francesco.grande90@gmail.com (F.G.)
* Correspondence: me@studiomarcotallarico.it
Abstract: Fully digital workflow in implant dentistry is ever increasing. Treatment of partial eden-
tulous cases is well-documented; nevertheless, complete edentulous cases are still a challenge. To
present several innovations in the treatment of complete edentulous patients using digital solutions,
both for implant placement and restoration delivery, was the objective of this study. It was designed as
a retrospective case series study, aimed to tune further research with larger sample size, and a longer
follow-up. Patients requiring complete, implant-supported restoration were asked to participate in
this study. Enrolled patients were treated with four implants, immediate loading and a definitive
complete arch restoration. Patients were treated using computer-assisted, template-based surgery.
Multi-piece surgical templates were used to accurately place the implants, to manage the bone if
needed and to make immediate loading procedure quicker and easier. After osseointegration period,
definitive, extra-oral, digital impressions were taken using newly developed scan analogs, connected
in the patient mouth using temporary cylinders and stabilized by means of the low-shrinkage, flow-
able, resin composite. Outcomes were implant and prosthesis survival rate, complications, accuracy,
and patient satisfaction. Radiographic evaluation performed with a preliminary, radiopaque alu-
minum try-in, was used to test the accuracy of the digital impressions. Overall, 20 implants were
placed in five patients. All the implants osseointegrated without complications. One impression
was taken a second time due to inaccuracy of the aluminum tray-in. Finally, all of the patients
were completely satisfied with both surgical and prosthetic procedures. Within the limitations of
this case series, multi-piece surgical templates showed promising results improving the clinician’s
confidence in the case of bone reduction, post-extractive implants and immediate loading. The
prosthetic template increased the trueness of the digital impression for complete edentulous patients.
Finally, even if an impression was performed again, the scan-analog used for extra-oral chair-side
digital impressions seemed to be a promising tool. Continuous improvements and further study are
needed to confirm these preliminary results.
Keywords: dental implants; digital workflow; guided surgery; prosthesis
1. Introduction
Integrated treatment planning with dental implants is a well-established solution.
Nevertheless, the achievement of the optimal implant position, based on the prosthetic
Prosthesis 2022, 4, 353–368. https://doi.org/10.3390/prosthesis4030029 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/prosthesis