[Dental] Inside the Straumann EXACT™ Digital Pilot with ClearChoice

This is an opinion piece written by Dr. Theresa Wang, DDS, MS Chief Clinical & Development Officer and Lead Prosthodontist at ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers.

Digital disruption in dentistry isn’t new, but the end-to-end digitization of full-arch restorative workflows at scale has its unique challenges due to technical and clinical complexities. At ClearChoice, a leader in fixed full-arch restorations, we are always looking for technologies that elevate both clinical precision and patient experience. That’s why we were excited to pilot Straumann’s new EXACT™ system across six ClearChoice centers, an effort that marks a breakthrough for clinicians, staff, and patients alike.

With full-arch cases projected to rise by 45% in North America by 2029, advancing the current digital capabilities of this complex treatment pathway is imperative. This pilot set out to answer a critical question: how can we meet growing demand without compromising outcomes or increasing strain on our teams?

The Challenge: Full-Arch Complexity and Digital Limits

Full-arch restorations are among the most demanding procedures in prosthodontics. Capturing an accurate digital impression of an edentulous arch has historically required analog steps that prolong chair time, strain in-house lab resources, and compromise consistency. Other digital options, like photogrammetry and extraoral scanning, are historically expensive and/or have remained partly analog behind the scenes. That’s where Straumann’s EXACT™ workflow offers a solution.

EXACT™: Digitization Without Compromise

Straumann EXACT™ is a model-free, fully digital workflow that simplifies and accelerates full-arch impressions. It uses titanium scan bodies, sterilizable up to 150 times, paired with single-use snap-on links to stabilize scanning. Clinicians place these scan bodies on healed implants, capture the digital impression with an intraoral scanner, and send the scan directly to Straumann’s Un!Q Lab. From there, all lab work is completed without a single physical model.

The Straumann EXACT™ system comprises re-usable scan bodies and links which come in four configurations to accommodate different clinical anatomies, and their coating ensures high scanning precision. The links, engineered for one-time use, are durable yet reduce overall material waste. Together, they create a clean, reproducible process that is intuitive for staff and far more comfortable for patients.

Pilot Design: Defining Efficacy and Opportunity

Over five months, 60 ClearChoice patients received full-arch treatment using the EXACT™ system across six centers. Their experiences and outcomes were compared to 30 patients who underwent treatment using traditional analog workflows.

This wasn’t just a test of technology, it was also a test of scalability. As a pioneer in testing and adopting advanced dental technologies, ClearChoice was uniquely positioned to evaluate whether a fully digitized  workflow like EXACT™ could deliver consistent results across multiple clinics and care teams. Our long-standing commitment to innovation made us an ideal partner to pressure-test this new system in real-world, high-volume settings.

Key pilot outcomes included:

•  97% clinical success rate: 58 out of the 60 total patients had passively fitting bars, confirming that the model-free workflow maintained precision standards.
• Chair time nearly cut in half: The patient chair time dropped from 75% to 39% of the scheduled calendar time.
• Process streamlining: The number of steps required per appointment were reduced by 42%, resulting in fewer opportunities for error, greater predictability, and faster turnaround.
• Operational efficiency: No need for in-house lab work or relief rooms. Center space was freed up and lab teams were able to put more time toward higher-value tasks.
• Inventory and cost gains: Material usage was reduced by 59%, with most components already present in-practice, lowering variability and simplifying stocking.
• Revenue opportunity: By reclaiming 8–12 workdays per month, practices gained capacity for additional patients, consultations, or services.
• Patient satisfaction: With shorter, more comfortable visits and no messy impression trays, the patient Net Promoter Score (NPS) exceeded 9—an indicator of loyalty and positive experience.

Why It Matters: The Bigger Picture in Dentistry

Straumann’s EXACT™ system removes long-standing friction points in full-arch workflows. It gives clinicians more confidence in their outcomes, frees staff from redundant tasks, and most importantly, gives patients a faster, more comfortable, and less invasive treatment experience.

As a result, doctors can deliver better care, more efficiently, and scale their services without adding strain to infrastructure.

Looking Ahead

The EXACT™ pilot wasn’t just about trying something new; it was about building upon our current digital capabilities and taking them to the next level. At ClearChoice, we’ve always believed that great dentistry balances clinical precision with compassion and efficiency. This experience proved that the right technology can elevate all three. We’re excited to keep moving in this direction—not just because it makes our workflows better, but because it makes our patients’ experiences better. 

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