Modified Direct Transfer Coping Technique For Making Impression of Closely Placed Implants - Modified Direct Transfer Coping Technique For Making Impression of Closely Placed Implants - Open Access Pub

The main purpose of the impression is to record and transfer the relationship between implants and to reproduce this relationship as accurately as possible. But, Unplanned placement of the implants may result in close approximation of the implants, thereby posing tough challenge to the restorative dentist, to first accurately record the impression and later on fabricate the prosthesis with satisfactory esthetics and function. This article presents a modified direct impression coping procedure for precise making of impression of closely placed implants which otherwise may be difficult to replicate the exact position of the implants by conventional direct or indirect technique. DOI10.14302/issn.2473-1005.jdoi-19-2908 The passive fit of the implant components is very critical for the long term success of the implant restorations1 Component failure or biologic complications2 may occur due to poor fit. So, careful performance of each and every laboratory and clinical step is important to minimize the positional discrepancies. Unplanned implant placement or change in angulations of the implants due to anatomic limitations3,4 such as mandibular canal, mental foramen, nasal floor, sinus cavities or roots of the adjacent teeth, might result in close approximation of the implants (Figure 1), which poses tough challenges to the restorative dentist, who have to overcome certain technical difficulties for the fabrication of the prosthesis including making of a proper impression. Figure 1. Radiograph – closely positioned implants. Direct impression coping (open tray) technique is usually preferred over indirect impression coping (close tray) technique for making an accurate Impression of the implants. But most of the direct impression coping supplied by the manufacturer are bulky in upper part which may preclude the accurate seating of the impression coping to the respective implants, thereby resulting in an inaccurate replication of position of the implants on the cast. The fabrication of an accurate passive fit prosthesis from such an impression is not possible, which requires lot of adjustments during seating of the prosthesis and also create associated soft tissue problems. For the fabrication of accurately fit implant supported prosthesis for the closely placed implants, a precise registration of the position of the implants is important. Due to insufficient space, the direct transfer copings do not fit precisely over the implants, which requires the modification of one or both transfer copings. This article describes a modified direct impression coping