What is this about?
- A summary of the RD 360 pilot study (in partnership with ClearChoice) on digitizing full-arch dental implant workflows using the EXACT™ solution and how it performed in real-world clinical settings (fit success, reduced chair time and materials use, and boosted patient comfort).
- Get an overview on clinical outcomes, efficiency gains, patient and clinician feedback, and future implications for dental practices.
- Learn about upcoming enhancements and download the full white paper for deeper exploration.
The challenge: How can we modernize the full-arch workflow without compromising predictability?
As the demand for full-arch dental implant treatments rises, dental organizations are under growing pressure to deliver high-quality care while improving operational performance. While traditional workflows remain clinically trusted, they can be time-consuming, material-intensive, and uncomfortable for patients. The challenge is clear: how can we modernize the full-arch workflow without compromising predictability? To explore this, Straumann Group’s Enterprise Solutions team partnered with the US-based full-arch market leader, ClearChoice, to conduct a real-world evaluation of a fully digital approach to full-arch final prosthetics; the Restorative Dentistry 360 (RD 360) Digital Full-Arch Pilot. A major focus was to test the IOS-based Straumann EXACT™ workflow: our dedicated digital impression solution for full-arch cases. Straumann EXACT™ combes custom scan bodies, disposable links, with a validated scan protocol using pre-existing IOS, supported by our own lab and hardware ecosystem.
Pilot findings revealed that not only is a fully digitized approach clinically sound, it also provided measurable benefits in workflow efficiency, patient experience, and practice growth.
6 high-volume clinics over a 5-month period, 60 cases completed in total
The pilot was conducted across six high-volume, highly IOS experienced ClearChoice clinics over a five-month period (June-November 2024). Each clinic treated 10 patients, requiring fixed finalised full arch prosthetics, using the EXACT™ digital impression workflow, with 60 cases completed in total. For comparison, data was also collected from 30 patients treated using the conventional analog method. Lab work for digital cases was handled exclusively by Straumann UNIQ™ Lab Services in a model-free, fully digital environment.
The pilot’s primary goals
- Elevate clinical excellence, with well-fitting final prosthetics
- Increase operational efficiency, by reducing chair and staff activity time
- Activate growth potential by creating more time for added dentistry
Goal 1: Elevate clinical excellence, with well-fitting final prosthetics
Result: A 97% success rate for passive fit
From pilot cases, 58 of the 60 cases (97%) achieved this using the EXACT™ workflow as a benchmark on the first attempt. The two cases that initially failed were traced back to scan body seating issues, which were resolved with a rescan. Both then produced acceptable results, reinforcing the reliability of the intraoral approach. This high success rate supports the use of direct scanning for healed implant sites, traditionally one of the most challenging steps to digitize.
“The process was faster than our previous workflow, and
we were impressed with the accuracy.”
Dr. Vladimir Jovic, USA
Patient and clinician feedback: High net promoter scores
Experience quality was measured using the Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a network widely used for evaluating satisfaction in healthcare and service industries, finding high satisfaction for both clinician at 9.12 and patient at 9.15 using the EXACT™ workflow.
“Our patient tolerated the scan well and preferred it to conventional impressions.”
Dr. Dan Pinto, USA
Goal 2: Increase operational efficiency: reducing time, steps, and resources
Chair time cut by 50%
At the impression appointment, chair time was reduced by half:
- Single-arch cases: 63 minutes (vs. 113 mins traditional)
- Double-arch cases: 70 minutes (vs. 135 mins)
This reduction led to an improved patient experience but also freed up time for clinicians to provide additional treatments or consultations.
Process steps reduced from 19 to 10
Additionally, the digital impression workflow removed nearly half of the procedural steps, thus streamlining treatment and freeing up clinical and lab staff. Importantly, digital cases did not require in-house lab work, allowing staff to focus on more strategic tasks.
Materials reduced from 17 to 7
The EXACT™ workflow required only seven materials, six of which are already common in most implant practices. The only additions were the proprietary scan bodies and disposable links, which simplified supply management, reducing costs.
No relief room needed
With no requirement for a separate waiting room during lab processing, the shortened workflow helped clinics to better optimize physical space, particularly valuable in high-volume or space-limited environments.
Goal 3: Activate growth potential – activate growth potential by creating more time for added dentistry
Finally, it was noted that efficiency improvements allowed more time for meaningful growth. By analyzing the number of full-arch cases and time saved, dental offices were estimated to have regained the equivalent of 8–12 full workdays per month; time that could be redirected towards patient care, team development, or practice expansion.
The workflow also allowed for more flexible scheduling. Digital cases could be booked at any time of day, no longer tied to lab technician availability. This scheduling agility is especially valuable for DSOs and large networks aiming to standardize and scale high-quality care.
Conclusion: a proven, scalable path to digital full-arch treatment
The RD 360 Digital Pilot demonstrated that intraoral scanning for full-arch final prosthetics is not only clinically reliable, but it also brings tangible advantages in workflow efficiency, patient experience, and practice productivity. The EXACT™ workflow offering is continuing to grow with future developments in progress including:
- Direct-to-final prosthetics - Skipping the bar try-in stage entirely
- Day-of-surgery scanning - Reducing total treatment time
- Expanded prosthetic options - Including direct-to-multi-unit abutment workflows
- Integration into Straumann AXS™ - A digital platform connecting clinics and labs for seamless case management
Straumann remains committed to shaping the future of implant dentistry through smart, streamlined solutions that deliver measurable impact.
Explore the full data and methodology
For full clinical methodology, detailed case metrics, and workflow comparisons, we invite you to read the detailed full white paper here.
Key take-aways
- The Straumann EXACT™ workflow achieved a 97% first-time fit rate and strong satisfaction scores from both patients and clinicians.
- Clinics experienced significantly reduced chair time, fewer materials used, and streamlined processes—freeing up time and resources.
- The study validates digital full-arch workflows as a reliable, scalable, and patient-friendly alternative to traditional method