Simplified protocol for fixed implant restorations using intra-oral scanning and dental CAD/CAM

A method of making a digital patient model for use in making an implant-supported denture device for a patient comprising dental implants, comprising the steps of:

• a) scanning an edentulous jaw of a patient, having at least one dental implant comprising a dental abutment, to acquire a first image of the edentulous jaw and a provisional denture device that is attached the edentulous jaw, wherein the edentulous jaw is a maxillary arch;
• b) removing the provisional denture device from the edentulous jaw and attaching a digital impression coping to the dental abutment, and scanning the edentulous jaw to acquire a second image of the edentulous jaw and the digital impression coping;
• c) scanning an opposing jaw that opposes the edentulous jaw, wherein the opposing jaw comprises an edentulous mandibular arch having at least one oral landmark selected from a retromolar pad and a mandibular torus, to acquire a third image of the opposing jaw and dentition;
• d) saving the first, second, and third images into an electronic storage medium;
• and
• e) registering the images using at least one oral landmark selected from a maxillary tuberosity, a hamular notch and an incisive papilla that is in common to the first and second images, and creating a digital patient model that comprises a digital model of the edentulous jaw.

A method for making a digital denture design for an implant-supported denture device comprising:

• a) acquiring a dataset of a first image of a patient's oral anatomy comprising an edentulous jaw having an implant implanted in the jaw, an abutment, and a digital impression coping attached to the abutment, wherein the digital impression coping has at least one surface feature indicating the position and orientation of the implant, and at least one oral landmark;
• b) acquiring a dataset of a second image of the patient's oral anatomy comprising the edentulous jaw, a provisional denture device attached to the edentulous jaw, and at least one oral landmark;
• c) acquiring a dataset of a third image of the patient's oral anatomy comprising an opposing jaw that opposes the edentulous jaw and that comprises dentition;
• d) identifying at least one common oral landmark in the datasets of the first and second images, that is common to the first and second images, and creating a digital patient model,
• wherein, if the edentulous jaw comprises a mandibular arch, the common oral landmark is selected from a retromolar pad and a mandibular torus, and
• wherein, if the edentulous jaw comprises a maxillary arch, the common oral landmark is selected from a maxillary tuberosity, a hamular notch and an incisive papilla;
• e) registering the first image, the second, and the third image and forming a digital model of the patient's oral anatomy;
• and
• f) generating a digital denture design based on the digital model of the patient's oral anatomy, wherein the digital denture design comprises digital denture teeth and digital gingiva.