Custom button-shaped radiopaque composite resin fiducial markers for alignment of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral digital scans: A dental technique

Accurate alignment of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral digital scans is essential for prosthetically driven implant planning. In patients lacking stable dental structures, existing registration methods such as radiographic templates or adhesive radiopaque markers are often complex, costly, or prone to positional errors. The present technique describes an alternative chairside procedure for fabricating and placing small custom button-shaped radiopaque composite resin fiducial markers directly onto the masticatory mucosa. Sutures ensure fixed spatial positioning throughout both CBCT and intraoral scanning, eliminating the need for dual scan protocols. This approach offers an immediate, straightforward, low-cost, and reproducible option for accurate CBCT-intraoral scan alignment in edentulous and periodontally compromised patients, enhancing the precision and efficiency of digitally guided implant planning.