Accuracy of digitization obtained from scannable and nonscannable elastomeric impression materials

Elastomeric impression materials have been marketed for optimizing direct digital acquisition without requiring a stone cast. The trueness and precision of the digitization of these new elastomeric impression materials are unclear.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the trueness and precision of digital dental casts obtained from the direct digitization of 2 types of vinylsiloxanether (VSXE) impression materials by using a laboratory laser scanner.

Thirty-eight elastomeric impressions were made of a master die with a similar morphology to a premolar crown preparation. The impression materials were Identium (IDE) and Identium Scan (SCAN), designed for direct digitalization. Each impression was digitalized by using an optical scanner to create digital casts. A computer-aided design (CAD) reference model of trueness (CRM) was created and aligned to each digital cast for digital 3-dimensional discrepancy analysis.

The mean ±standard deviation global trueness of IDE was 53 ±16 μm and that of SCAN was 46 ±3 μm. SCAN digital casts showed higher precision (58 ±5 μm) than IDE (69 ±18 μm) (P<.05). At the margin of the preparation and at the axial surfaces, SCAN models showed higher trueness (3 ±6 μm and 1 ±5 μm) than IDE (15 ±10 μm and 2 ±37 μm), respectively.

Scannable impressions could be digitalized with higher global precision than conventional elastomeric materials. Higher trueness could be achieved in specific impression locations such as gingival areas or axial walls of preparations, where the light emitted by the scanner was not blocked.