[To bite or to scan? Dental impressions with alginate, PVS or -intra-oral scanning; processing time and patient...

In recent years technology has enabled dental professionals to make digital dental models using intra-oral scanners. In a study involving 10 test cases, a comparison was made between the digital impression technique and 2 -conventional impression techniques, using alginate and Polivinyl Syloxane™. With the 3 different techniques, dental impressions were made of the lower and upper arches; the processing time required for each and the differences in patient comfort were recorded. The individuals in the test cases experienced no difference in comfort between the alginate and the digital impression. The impression technique involving Polivinyl Syloxane™ was experienced as less comfortable. The digital impression technique appeared to be the most time consuming.