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Updated: May 13, 2026
Accuracy in Dental Medicine, A New Way to Measure Trueness and Precision
Published on: April 29, 2014
Digital Versus Conventional Impression Techniques in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficiency,
Daniele Garcovich1, Riccardo Aiuto2,3, Alfonso Alvarado Lorenzo4
1Department of Dentistry, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Background:
Conventional alginate impressions are widely used in paediatric dentistry but present several limitations. Digital intraoral scanning has emerged as a promising alternative, potentially improving patient experience and clinical efficiency.
Aim:
Evaluate whether digital intraoral impressions differ from conventional alginate impressions in efficiency, comfort and acceptance among paediatric patients.
Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA 2020. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and SIGLE were searched to February 2025. Eligible studies enrolled children receiving both digital and conventional full-arch impressions. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane RoB-1, and data pooled using random-effects models.
Results:
Seven studies with 337 children were included. Digital impressions were faster than conventional (mean difference 165.48 s; 95% CI 157.74-173.21; p < 0.00001). Patient-reported outcomes also favoured digital scanning: lower pain (MD 13.03 mm), greater comfort (MD -34.02 mm) and less breathing difficulty (MD 32.51 mm) and gag reflex (MD 38.07 mm), all p < 0.00001. Children were over four times likelier to prefer digital scanning (RR 4.28; 95% CI 1.47-12.44; p = 0.008). Heterogeneity was high but directionally consistent.
Conclusions:
Digital intraoral scanning is faster, more comfortable and better accepted than conventional impressions, supporting wider use in paediatric dentistry.
Trial Registration:
Open Science Framework Registration number: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8EFHS.
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