Comparing the Accuracy of Intraoral Scanner Digital Models and Plaster Models

Abstract

Introduction: The use of intraoral scanners in dentistry has been increasing in recent years, the reasons for this are the elimination of impression materials, but mainly the speed and convenience of the records obtained. Objective: To present the comparison of dental arch models obtained from two conventional impression methods (alginate and polyvinylsiloxane) and intraoral scanning to determine if there are discrepancies in size. Materials and methods: An observational, analytical, prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out in which 15 patients (9 males, 6 females) were selected from the Faculty of Dentistry of the Universidad Tecnológica de México. For each patient, study models were taken with three different methods. Method 1: Impression with alginate, Method 2: Impression with polyvinylsiloxane, Method 3: Intraoral scanning. Subsequently, plaster models were obtained from Methods 1 and 2, and 3D models were printed based on Method 3. With a digital vernier, the models were manually measured at five transverse distances and the results were analyzed with anova for independent samples (p>0.05). Results: There are no significant statistical differences between the upper and lower inter canine, upper and lower first premolar, upper and lower second premolar, upper and lower first molar, upper and lower second molar transverse distances in Method 1, Method 2, and Method 3. Conclusions: The intraoral scanning system in conjunction with 3D printing technology is a reliable system to be able to reproduce the transverse discrepancies of the measurements of the dental jaws, however depending on its final use other factors such as the type of 3D printing technology should be taken into consideration for its correct clinical application.