Influence of limited mouth opening in children on intraoral scanning accuracy: An in vitro study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAlthough intraoral scanning is highly reliable, little is known about its accuracy in young children with limited mouth‐opening ability.AimTo determine the accuracy of intraoral scans based on the degree of mouth opening.DesignTo simulate mouth opening in children with primary dentition, three groups (n = 5 per group) were allocated by maximum mouth opening of 30, 37 and 40 mm. After the primary dentition model was connected to a dental phantom, intraoral scanning was performed using iTero and TRIOS4. The scanned files were digitally evaluated. Root mean square values were calculated to assess trueness and precision.ResultsiTero showed deviations of three‐dimensional trueness of 0.067 ± 0.008, 0.063 ± 0.001 and 0.065 ± 0.005 mm, and TRIOS4 of 0.07 ± 0.002, 0.064 ± 0.003 and 0.066 ± 0.002 mm in the 30, 37 and 40 mm groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in either mouth opening (p > .017) or the intraoral scanners (p > .05). The same statistical results were obtained for precision, with the exception of the 30 mm of mouth opening.ConclusionsWithin the limits of this study, limited mouth opening hardly influenced the accuracy of intraoral scanning.