Influence of operator experience, scanner type, and scan size on 3D scans

Area of Science:

• Digital Dentistry
• Oral Health Technology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Intraoral scanners (IOSs) can exhibit distortions due to optical and software limitations.
• Factors influencing IOS accuracy, such as operator experience, scan time, scanner type, and scan size, require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the trueness and precision of intraoral scans.
• To assess the impact of operator experience levels on scan accuracy using two different IOSs.

Main Methods:

• Three operators with varying experience levels performed 10 scans each using two IOSs (CEREC Omnicam and TRIOS 3).
• Scans were analyzed for trueness (comparison to a reference scan) and precision (intra-examiner variability).
• Statistical analysis included 3-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests to determine significant factors affecting accuracy and scan time.

Main Results:

• Operator experience, scanner type, and scan size significantly influenced scan accuracy (P<.001).
• TRIOS 3 demonstrated higher precision for complete-arch scans compared to CEREC Omnicam.
• Less experienced operators showed lower precision and longer scan times, particularly with CEREC Omnicam for complete-arch scans.

Conclusions:

• Intraoral scan accuracy is significantly affected by operator expertise, IOS type, and the size of the scanned area.
• Increased operator experience and reduced scan size correlate with improved scan accuracy and efficiency.
• TRIOS 3 exhibited superior accuracy over CEREC Omnicam for complete-arch digital impressions.