Digital design and 3D printing of an implant-supported prosthetic stent for protecting complete arch soft tissue grafts around dental implants: A dental technique

Abstract A method for digital fabrication of an implant-supported soft tissue graft stent to protect, shape, and ensure intimate adaptation of the complete arch graft to the periosteum surrounding dental implants is described. To fabricate the stent, an extraoral scanner was used to convert the implant cast into digital data. Dental design software was then used to fabricate the stent, which is produced by 3-dimensional (3D) printing. Due to the lack of long-term biocompatible 3D printing material, the stent was duplicated in bisacryl resin. The patient reported more comfort and stability with the implant-supported stent than the conventional stent received following a previous debulking surgical procedure.