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Updated: Aug 6, 2025
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Measuring the Complete-arch Distortion of an Optical Dental Impression
Published on: May 30, 2019
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EPA Consensus Project Paper: Optical Impression Accuracy of Preparations for Fixed Prosthodontics: A Systematic
1Ankara University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics, Emniyet Mahallesi Mevlana Bulvarı Yenimahalle, Ankara, Türkiye.
Summary
This systematic review found that the accuracy of optical impressions (OI) for dental restorations varies. Due to inconsistent results, a definitive conclusion on the superiority of any single OI system over conventional methods is not yet possible.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Digital Dentistry
- Prosthodontics
Background:
- Accurate dental impressions are crucial for fabricating fixed prosthodontics.
- Optical impression (OI) technology offers potential advantages over conventional methods.
- Evaluating the comparative accuracy of various OI systems is essential for clinical adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate the accuracy of different optical impression systems for tooth preparations.
- To synthesize existing evidence on the trueness and precision of OI technologies in dentistry.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Medline Complete, ScienceDirect) up to March 2022.
- Inclusion criteria focused on studies comparing the accuracy of OIs for tooth-supported fixed prosthodontics.
- Exclusion criteria targeted orthodontic and implant-supported restorations; the review was registered with PROSPERO.
Main Results:
- Eleven in vitro studies with a low risk of bias were included.
- Evaluated OI systems demonstrated variable trueness and precision, influenced by methodological differences and scanned object types (single preparation, FPD, full arch).
Conclusions:
- Optical impression technology presents benefits for dental applications.
- The heterogeneity in accuracy results prevents declaring a specific OI system as the most accurate or superior to conventional impressions.
