index transfer
A record or physical device used to accurately reposition a surgical guide, implant analog, or prosthetic component from one medium (such as the mouth or study model) to another.
Full Definition
In implant dentistry, an index transfer is a registration device—typically made from silicone, acrylic, or plaster—that captures and reproduces the precise spatial relationship of implants, abutments, or surgical guides between the patient's mouth, diagnostic models, and laboratory workflows. It is fundamental in ensuring that custom abutments, surgical templates, and final restorations are accurately fabricated. Editors should be alert to the varying contexts in which 'index' is used: as a verb ('to index the position') and as a noun ('the index'). The term appears in laboratory prescriptions, implant-placement records, and prosthetic workflow documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, no hyphen. Distinguish clearly from 'impression coping', which is used to record implant position rather than to transfer an existing relationship.
In Context
- "An index transfer was fabricated chairside to verify the surgical guide's seating prior to the osteotomy." — Surgical Checklist
- "The laboratory technician used the index transfer to confirm abutment angulation on the working cast." — Dental Laboratory Prescription