ANSWERS

What does dual scan technique mean?

Dual scan technique is a CBCT-based implant planning protocol that uses two separate scans: one of the patient wearing a radiographic denture with fiducial markers, and one of the denture alone. The two DICOM datasets are superimposed in planning software to align the prosthetic design with the underlying bone, enab...

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The protocol in plain terms

Dual scan technique solves a specific problem: how do you plan guided implant surgery on an edentulous arch when there are no teeth to reference? The workflow, documented in implant literature since the early 2000s and still standard practice for full-arch guided cases, takes two CBCT scans. Scan one captures the patient wearing a radiographic denture, a duplicate of the existing prosthesis embedded with six to eight gutta-percha or barium sulfate fiducial markers. Scan two captures the denture alone, sitting on a stable platform. The planning software (3Shape Implant Studio, Blue Sky Plan, coDiagnostiX) identifies the fiducial markers in both datasets and registers them, locking the prosthetic position to the bone anatomy.

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When do you use dual scan vs single scan with intraoral reference?

Single scan with intraoral scan fusion works when the patient has stable teeth or implants to register against. Dual scan is reserved for fully edentulous arches with no reliable intraoral landmarks. If the patient has even a few stable teeth in the opposing arch and a wax rim or try-in that seats reproducibly, a single CBCT with intraoral scan overlay is usually faster and avoids the radiographic denture fabrication step. For full-arch edentulous planning, dual scan remains the standard.

How many fiducial markers does a radiographic denture need?

Standard protocol calls for six to eight markers, distributed across the buccal and lingual flanges and the occlusal surface, spaced far enough apart that the planning software can register them in three dimensions. Gutta-percha and barium sulfate are the common materials; both show up cleanly on CBCT without scatter artifact. Markers placed too close together or all on one plane fail to give the software enough geometric variation to lock the merge.

Does Dani Dental fabricate the radiographic denture?

Yes. For All-on-X cases planned through Dani's digital workflow, the lab duplicates the existing denture or wax try-in, embeds the fiducial markers per the surgeon's planning protocol, and ships it back for the two CBCT scans. The technician on the case reviews the merged DICOM dataset with the surgical team before guide design is finalized. Turnaround on the radiographic duplicate is typically three to five business days from receipt of the master denture.

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