Does the Learning Curve for Intraoral Scanning Vary Depending on the Device?

Area of Science:

• Digital dentistry
• Dental technology adoption
• Clinical learning curves

Background:

• Intraoral scanners (IOS) are increasingly replacing conventional dental impressions.
• Mastering IOS requires a learning period for dental professionals.
• This study investigates the learning efficiency of different IOS models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the learning curves of three intraoral scanner systems: Eagle, Omnicam-AF, and IS-3700.
• To determine the number of trials needed for dentists to achieve proficiency with each IOS.
• To assess user experience and identify factors influencing learning efficiency.

Main Methods:

• 29 dentists with no prior IOS experience were randomly assigned to one of three IOS groups.
• Participants completed full arch scans on a phantom model after a lecture.
• Scanning times were recorded, and Wright's model estimated proficiency trials. Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests were used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Proficiency was reached after approximately 10-11 trials for all tested intraoral scanners.
• The IS-3700 group achieved faster average scanning times (167.9s) compared to Eagle (245.5s) and Omnicam-AF (260.6s).
• While appreciating time savings, 60-70% of participants indicated a need for additional training.

Conclusions:

• Intraoral scanner characteristics significantly impact learning efficiency and user perception, despite similar numbers of trials for proficiency.
• Optimizing IOS training programs requires understanding device-specific performance and learning curves.
• This knowledge aids clinicians in effectively adopting digital workflows.