Educational
Open vs Closed Tray Impression Copings: When to Use Each
In this article
An implant impression coping transfers the position and orientation of an implant, or of a multi-unit abutment, from the mouth to the laboratory model. The two analog techniques, open tray (pick-up) and closed tray (transfer), reach the same goal in different ways. The choice comes down to how many implants you are recording, how parallel they are, and how much access you have.
How an open tray (pick-up) impression coping works
The open tray coping is fixed to the implant with a long guide screw that passes through a window in a custom or perforated stock tray. Once the material sets, the screw is loosened through the window and the coping comes out inside the impression. Because the coping never leaves the material, there is no repositioning step and no risk of seating it back in the wrong rotation.
How a closed tray (transfer) impression coping works
The closed tray coping is screwed onto the implant and recorded in a standard closed tray. The tray is removed and the coping stays in the mouth. It is then unscrewed, joined to a lab analog and pressed back into its imprint. Clip-retained designs snap into the impression to make that repositioning more positive.
Open tray vs closed tray at a glance
| Open tray (pick-up) | Closed tray (transfer) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tray | Custom or perforated, with access window | Standard closed tray |
| Coping removal | Comes out inside the impression | Stays in the mouth, then repositioned |
| Best suited to | Multiple implants, divergent axes, full arch | Single units, two or three parallel implants |
| Chairside steps | More: tray preparation, screw access | Fewer |
| Limited mouth opening | Harder | Easier |
| Main error source | Movement while loosening the screw | Incorrect repositioning |
Which technique is more accurate?
For a single implant, either technique gives a clinically acceptable transfer. As the number of implants and the angle between them grow, published comparisons generally favour the open tray technique, particularly with splinted copings, because it removes the repositioning step. For full-arch cases, many clinicians also verify the master model with a verification jig before the framework is made.
Choosing the right coping for your implant
Match three things: the connection (internal hex or conical), the platform (narrow, standard or wide), and whether the impression is taken at implant level or at multi-unit level. Then choose the tray technique. The impression copings collection groups every Surcam transfer by connection and tray type, and each transfer needs a matching implant analog for the model.
Going digital: scan bodies instead of copings
Intraoral scanning replaces the coping with a scan body. The scanner records its position and the design software replaces it with the implant geometry from a library file. The same rules about access and angulation apply: a scan body that is not fully seated produces the same error as a poorly repositioned transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use closed tray copings for a full-arch case?
It is possible, but repositioning several copings raises the chance of error. Open tray with splinting is the more common choice.
Do I need a custom tray for open tray?
Not necessarily. A perforated stock tray with a window over the implant sites works if it supports the material rigidly.
Which Surcam transfers fit my implant?
Each product page lists its connection and platform, and the compatibility chart lists matching systems. To compare connections first, see internal hex vs conical connection.
