Implant Level Impression / Occlusal Registration

The implant level impression is a universal impression technique allowing for the fabrication of any type of restoration. This impression gives greater flexibility for the selection and modification of an abutment by a laboratory technician. It is the recommended impression technique when an implant is not ideally positioned. It is the mandatory technique for the Integrated Abutment Crown and telescopic restorations.

Implant Level Impression

1. Remove the temporary or healing abutment. If necessary, use an impression reamer to widen the sulcus to accommodate an impression post.

2. Tap the impression post into the implant well. Choose a red plastic or titanium impression post for a 2.0mm well and a green plastic or titanium impression post for a 3.0mm well

3. Inject impression material around the impression post. Make impression being careful not to distort the impression post by overseating the tray. It may be necessary to make a hole in the tray for the post.

4. Remove the impression from the mouth.

5. Remove the impression post from the implant and insert it into a plastic or metal implant analog.

6. Place the assembled unit into the impression. Inject soft tissue material around the post and minimally around the implant analog. Pour impression in dental stone.

Notes: An actual titanium abutment may be used in lieu of the impression post. The abutment must be fully tapped into the well of the implant prior to an impression being made. After making the impression, the titanium abutment is removed from the implant and tapped into the implant analog prior to being inserted as a unit into the impression.

The impression post must be tapped into the implant well. It cannot be seated axially by either twisting or pushing. If a plastic impression post is withdrawn with the impression, the impression must be redone, since the plastic impression post did not record the proper axial position of the implant. Since the titanium impression posts are less retentive than the plastic, they may be withdrawn with the impression after having accurately recorded the implant’s position.

Occlusal Registration

1. Tap an impression post into the well of the implant and, if necessary, reduce the post for occlusal clearance.

2. Add acrylic resin to the impression post for the recording of an occlusal registration.

Notes: If necessary, reduce the height of the impression post prior to adding acrylic for an occlusal registration.

Remove the impression posts from the implant and send the occlusal registration assembly to the laboratory for the mounting of the dental models.