Accuracy of In-Vivo Digital Impressions of Complete Arch with Intraoral Scanner Vs Conventional Impression - A Review

Abstract

BACKGROUND We intend to evaluate the accuracy of in vivo conventional and digital methods in generating complete-arch dental models for measuring tooth dimension. METHODS Search was conducted through an electronic database in Medline, Cochrane Library, ResearchGate, PubMed and Google Scholar using query terms such as intraoral scanning; digital impression; accuracy in vivo full arch digital impression; analog impression; accuracy conventional impression; in vivo intraoral scanning; alginate impression; accuracy of plaster models; digital models; and complete arch accuracy. The outcomes were the accuracy of teeth dimension measurements in plaster models in comparison to digitized and digital models in vivo. RESULTS Nine studies matched the inclusion criteria. Two papers compared teeth measurements through plaster models and direct digital models, four papers compared plaster models and digitized models, one paper compared plaster models, digitized and direct digital models, one paper compared four different methods of direct intraoral, plaster models, direct digital and digitized models and one study reported teeth measurements from directly measured intraoral, plaster models, and direct digital models. Neither digital nor plaster models could be considered to replicate exactly the dentition, however it was agreed by the authors that intraoral scanning could represent the intraoral situation more accurately on digital models due to the lesser procedural steps, hence fewer source of error. CONCLUSIONS According to the results of the present review, although there were slight differences in readings of the measurements made on all the methods, the differences were neither statistically nor clinically significant and it is acceptable in clinical application. This review was registered in PROSPERO at CRD42020208662. KEY WORDS Intraoral Scanning, Digital Impression, Analog Impression, Digitized Model, Digital Model, Digital Impression Accuracy, Stl files, Conventional Impression Accuracy, Tooth Dimension Accuracy, Digital Model Accuracy