Intraoral scanning accuracy and trueness for different dental restorations

To investigate the accuracy of digital impressions of various dental materials by comparing the scan accuracy and trueness of a handheld scanner operated by an experienced clinician, a handheld scanner operated by a robotic arm, and a tabletop scanner.

Standard-size models made from various dental materials were used. The scanners tested included a tabletop scanner, a handheld scanner operated by an experienced clinician, and a handheld scanner operated by a robotic arm. The number of triangles, average degrees, and number of vertices were recorded and compared. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant differences between the groups.

The tabletop scanner produced the fewest triangles in the digital model, while the handheld scanner operated by the experienced clinician had the most. Significant differences were found in the number of triangles, average degrees, and vertices among different dental restorations. The handheld scanner used by the experienced clinician produced the most accurate and true digital model, followed by the robotic arm-operated handheld scanner, and then the tabletop scanner. The dental material significantly affected the accuracy of the digital impression.

The findings of this study suggest that the operator's experience and scanner type impact digital impression accuracy. These insights have implications for clinical practice and indicate the need for further studies to confirm these results and explore other influencing factors in dental digital impressions.