Purpose: This in vitro study investigates the accuracy of digital impressions taken with different dental materials. It compares the scan accuracy and trueness of a handheld scanner operated by an experienced clinician, a handheld scanner operated by a robotic arm, and a tabletop scanner. By measuring the number of triangles, average degree, and vertices within the three groups, conclusions about the accuracy of different scanning methods on digital models can be drawn.
Materials and Methods: Standard-sized models made from various dental materials were used. The scanners tested included a tabletop scanner, a handheld scanner operated by an experienced clinician, and a handheld scanner operated by a robotic arm. The number of triangles, average degree, and number of vertices were recorded and compared. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant differences between the groups.
Results: The tabletop scanner produced the fewest triangles in the digital model, while the handheld scanner operated by the experienced clinician had the most. Significant differences were found in the number of triangles, average degree, and vertices among different dental restorations. The handheld scanner used by the experienced clinician produced the most accurate and true digital model, followed by the robotic arm-operated handheld scanner, and then the tabletop scanner. The use of different dental materials significantly affected the accuracy of digital impressions.
Conclusion: This study highlights the accuracy and trueness of digital impressions using various dental materials and scanners. The findings suggest that the operator's experience and scanner type impact digital impression accuracy. These insights have implications for clinical practice, indicating the need for further studies to confirm these results and explore other influencing factors in dental digital impressions.