Digital scanning in orthodontics: a literature review

Abstract

The landscape of orthodontics is changing, and the transition to digital workflows in clinical practice has begun. As new and updated scanner models are regularly being released, it is paramount to assess the current evidence base and compare this to manufacturer claims. At present, there are limited literature reviews assessing and summarizing the clinically relevant features of dental scanners. This review summarizes key findings with respect to accuracy, patient-related outcomes and clinician experiences with digital dental scanners. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Digital scanners are an increasingly popular device in orthodontics, this article provides an up-to-date summary of the pros and cons of scanners in relation to both the patient and orthodontic clinician.