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Digital versus plaster study models: how accurate and reproducible are they?

Neilufar Abizadeh¹, David R Moles, Julian O'Neill

¹Eastman Dental Institute and Kettering General Hospital, London, UK. neilufar.abizadeh@gmail.com

Journal of Orthodontics

|September 18, 2012

Summary

Digital study models show satisfactory repeatability for clinical use compared to traditional plaster models, though some systematic differences exist. These digital models can aid in occlusion assessment but may not yet replace current scientific methods.

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Area of Science:

Orthodontics
Dental Technology

Background:

Traditional plaster dental models have been the standard for occlusal analysis.
Advancements in digital technology offer potential alternatives for dental model assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare the accuracy and repeatability of measurements from digital study models versus plaster models.
To evaluate the clinical relevance of discrepancies between the two methods.

Main Methods:

A laboratory study involving 112 sets of dental models with varying malocclusions.
Manual measurements of occlusal features using digital calipers on both plaster and digital models.
Assessment of intra-operator variability and reproducibility for both measurement techniques.

Main Results:

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Statistically significant differences were found between digital and plaster model measurements for 12 of 16 occlusal features.
Plaster model measurements were more repeatable for 8 features, but differences lacked clinical significance.
Systematic differences indicated digital scans were not always a true representation of plaster models.

Conclusions:

Digital study models demonstrate acceptable repeatability for clinical orthodontic applications.
While systematic differences were observed, digital models can serve as a valuable adjunct to clinical occlusion assessment.
Current digital models may not yet be suitable for replacing traditional methods in scientific research.