Digital Intraoral Scanners and Alginate Impressions in Reproducing Full Dental Arches: A Comparative 3D Assessment

The purpose of this in vivo study was to compare in vivo full arch intraoral scans obtained using two intraoral scanners and conventional impression. Twenty patients were scanned using TRIOS and iTero scanners, as well as conventional impression. Dental models obtained from alginate impression were scanned with a laboratory desktop scanner. Individual intraoral scan data were compared with corresponding model scans using three-dimensional (3D) surface analysis. The average surface deviations were calculated for quantitative evaluation, and these values were compared between two intraoral scanners using the paired t-test. In the 3D surface analysis, most deviations between intraoral scans and model scans presented on the posterior teeth. The average surface deviations were less than 0.10 +/- 0.03 mm. The results of 3D surface analysis indicated that there was 0.10 mm of overall deviation between conventional alginate impressions and in vivo full dental arch intraoral scans. Clinicians should take this into consideration when performing intraoral scanning for full dental arches.