COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL AND DIGITAL PROTOCOLS FOR IMPLANT POSITION TRANSFER IN FULL-ARCH ALL-ON-X REHABILITATION

Abstract

Full-arch implant rehabilitation for completely edentulous patients requires highly accurate transfer of implant positions from the mouth to the working stage. In screw-retained All-on-X restorations, even limited inaccuracy during impression taking or digital registration may compromise passive fit, increase mechanical stress within the implant-abutment-framework complex, and raise the risk of screw loosening, framework strain, or biologic complications. The problem is amplified in the edentulous arch because stable landmarks are limited, the mucosa is mobile, moisture control is difficult, and error may accumulate across a long span. Distal implants are also frequently tilted, which complicates implant-position capture and makes geometric deviation more clinically relevant. Thus, the main question is not whether a protocol is conventional or digital, but how reliably it transfers implant positions under full-arch conditions.