Impact of Maneuverability Constraints on Intraoral Scanner Performance.

Area of Science:

• Digital Dentistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Dental Technology

Background:

• Intraoral scanners (IOSs) are crucial in digital dentistry but their accuracy can be affected by clinical factors like restricted space and patient movement.
• Maneuverability during intraoral scanning is limited by confined spaces, potentially impacting data acquisition and scanner performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of maneuverability constraints on the trueness accuracy and efficiency of intraoral scanners.
• To compare intraoral scanning performance under constrained conditions versus open extraoral scanning.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen novice participants scanned maxillary and mandibular typodont models using the Aoralscan 3 IOS.
• Scans were performed under two conditions: constrained intraoral scanning in a manikin and open extraoral scanning.
• Trueness accuracy was assessed via RMS deviation, inter-implant distances, and implant angular deviations. Scan time measured efficiency.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in trueness accuracy (RMS deviation, inter-implant distances, implant angular deviations) were found between intraoral and extraoral scanning.
• Extraoral scanning significantly reduced scan times for both models (p < 0.0001).
• Inexperienced operators showed longer scan times under intraoral constraints, indicating reduced efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Maneuverability constraints alone may not significantly impair intraoral scanner trueness accuracy compared to bench-top scanning.
• Scanning efficiency is reduced under intraoral constraints, particularly for operators new to the technology.
• Further investigation is required to understand the impact of other intraoral factors on IOS accuracy in clinical settings.