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Crown Workflow: Digital Impressions for Crowns

The following workflow details the steps necessary for clinicians to create digital impressions for crowns.

Overview

Digital impressions for crowns are an innovative method of capturing precise, 3D images of a patient’s mouth using advanced scanning technology. Unlike traditional impressions, which require messy molds, digital impressions are quick, comfortable, and highly accurate. The data gathered is used to create custom crowns that fit seamlessly, ensuring improved comfort and function for the wearer.

Technology & Materials

  • IOS Scanner
  • Hemostatic agent
  • Cord (sizes #00 and #02)
  • Compressed air

 
Workflow Steps for Digital Impressions for Crowns 

Step Instructions Image
1.

Set up the patient with IOS system.

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2.

Select tooth, implant type, shade, delivery date and lab choice. When sending information to the lab make sure to include:

  • Address of the office and prescribing doctor

  • Shade, implant type, any additional information the lab may need

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3. Optional: If parts of the margin are subgingival, place retraction cord and/or hemostatic agent.
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4.

Scan both arches using the protocol specified by your IOS and the following recommendations:

  • Lower Arch: Scan occlusal surface from the molar to the canine, then as it is the lower arch, slowly roll to the lingual side and move the scanner to the distal direction. Finally slowly roll over the last molar and scan the buccal side.

  • Upper Arch: Scan the occlusal surface from molar to canine, then slowly roll to the buccal side and move the scanner in the distal direction. Finally, slowly roll over the last molar and scan the lingual side.

 4
5.

Use one of two methods to scan the crown prep area:

  • Scan without cord: Remove the retraction cord, dry the preparation and immediately scan the preparation with a clear margin, before the gingiva collapses. Make sure to get the margin well, and then paint the margin using the lock tool. This will freeze the margin in its current retracted state, thus preventing it from being updated with later data when the gingiva might have collapsed.

  • Scan with cord: Leave the retraction cord in place and scan the arch. Trim away the margin in the scan with the ‘Trim’ tool. Remove the retraction cord, dry the teeth and scan the margin immediately, before the gingiva collapses.

 5

5.2

 
6. Ensure that the scan covers the crown prep area entirely, including the margin line and contact points. 6
7. Ask the patient to bite and scan 3-4 teeth until the upper and lower arches snap to the bite scan. 7
8. Optional: Capture an HD photo of the crown prep to send to ROE to help set the margin. 8
9.

Verify all information is correct and send to the laboratory.

Margins are clearly captured:

✔️ No voids or bubbles present

✔️ No tears or pulls in material

✔️ Adequate thickness of material

✔️ Clear impression of opposing arch

✔️ Proper occlusal registration

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Important: For proper occlusal registration, avoid using too much bite material, which can prevent doctors from verifying correct occlusion.

Use just a single rope of bite material applied to the occlusal surfaces with a large syringe, then have the patient bite into it. This allows you to check that teeth are in proper occlusion while the bite material is setting.

If you’re working on a case that doesn’t have adequate centric stops, consider using bite rims or a full-arch impression to capture whatever centric stops are available.

If you’re uncertain about a bite registration and concerned it might be mounted incorrectly, have it mounted in the lab and check it before fabrication proceeds so that both you and the lab know it’s correct.