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Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Accuracy in Dental Medicine, A New Way to Measure Trueness and Precision
Published on: April 29, 2014
Evaluation of accuracy and repeatability using CBCT and a dental scanner by means of 3D software
Objective:
The objective of the present study was to compare and evaluate the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) image data acquired from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a dental scanner using 3D software.
Materials And Methods:
After selecting the full-arch forms of the maxilla and mandible as the master cast, the master cast was scanned via a high-precision optical scanner for use as master model data. The model was scanned 12 times each using CBCT and a dental scanner. Scanned data were superimposed onto the master cast data for evaluation of accuracy and repeatability.
Results:
Although significant differences in both accuracy and repeatability were seen between CBCT and dental scanner (P < 0.05), repeatability of the maxillary arch showed little difference, with CBCT and scanner having values of 17 ± 2 µm and 22 ± 5 µm, respectively. Meanwhile, repeatability of the mandibular arch with CBCT and scanner was 15 ± 0 µm and 19 ± 3 µm, respectively. Since good repeatability was shown, this demonstrated that data can be stably acquired.
Conclusions:
The present study demonstrated the feasibility of using a dental scanner to create a digital model as a substitute for a plaster model for use in orthodontic diagnosis and device fabrication.
