How do you make an implant seating jig?
Implant seating jigs are very useful for dentists to help them more quickly seat an implant case. They are similar to verification jigs except that the jigs are not attached to the abutments or impression copings like they are in verification jigs.
What is an implant seating jig?
An implant seating jig is an acrylic (typically) sleeve that wraps around the custom implant abutment and the teeth in the area. It allows the custom abutment to go in at the correct rotation much easier than trying to do by hand. Some simple single implant cases do not benefit much from having one but most cases do. They are especially useful for multiple implant cases.
Why use a jig?
The vast majority of the time you do not need one. Actually you never NEED one but there are some cases where they are helpful. If the lab or you are unsure about the full seating of the impression coping then an implant jig will tell you if the model and the patient actually match. Granted this is a little late and an expensive way to discover this information. However, it can alleviate some frustration when trying to seat a case where this has happened as you’ll know sooner what the problem was. Implant seating jigs are also helpful for some cases in seating the case more quickly. This may be someone that has a deep implant or small mouth where easy of seating is challenging. Also when there are multiple implant abutments to seat in a row it can be helpful by allowing a faster seating.
Using an implant seating jig for a dental implant bridge.
This is the situation where a jig is the most useful. It can be challenging to seat multiple implant abutments and if any of the implant abutments are non-hex then it is impossible to seat them properly without a jig.
What material are jigs made out of?
They can be made out of anything. The ones that we have seen labs make are typically some type of resin. They could be hand made or milled.
What complications and issues can seating jigs have?
Some seating jigs can be difficult to draw or to seat properly. Some jigs may cover the screw access hole too much and make tightening the screw more challenging. All of these problems are more difficult in the mouth than they are on the table with a model. So even if there is a perfect impression and model, what is easy on the model outside the mouth, can be much harder inside the mouth.