Effect of scan pattern on complete-arch scans with 4 digital scanners

Area of Science:

• Digital dentistry
• Dental prosthetics
• Oral scanning technologies

Background:

• Complete-arch digital scans are increasingly used in digital dentistry for various applications.
• The impact of scan pattern techniques on the trueness and precision of these scans is not well-understood.
• Evidence supporting manufacturer-recommended scan patterns is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how scan patterns affect the trueness, precision, and speed of complete-arch digital scans.
• To compare the performance of four different digital scanning systems.

Main Methods:

• An in vitro study using a custom model as a reference standard.
• Four digital scanners (CEREC Omnicam, Planmeca Emerald, Align iTero Element, 3Shape TRIOS 3) were tested.
• Each scanner was used with four distinct scan patterns, including manufacturer-recommended ones, with scan time recorded.

Main Results:

• Both the scanner type and the scan pattern significantly influenced scan trueness and precision (P<.001).
• Scan pattern 2 demonstrated the highest average trueness and precision across scanners.
• Significant interactions between scanner and scan pattern were observed for both trueness and precision.

Conclusions:

• Scan pattern choice affects the trueness and precision of complete-arch scans, with varying impact across different scanners.
• Significant differences in scan speed, trueness, and precision exist among the evaluated digital scanners.
• Scan pattern selection is a critical factor for achieving accurate and precise complete-arch digital scans.