Digital Intraoral Impression Methods: an Update on Accuracy

Abstract

The increased implementation of intraoral scanners (IOSs) in different dental fields has created the need for IOS’s accuracy assessment by the scientific community. Hence, the aim of this literature review is to provide the current ``state of the art´´ regarding the accuracy of optical impression systems. The reported IOS’s accuracy in dentistry is highly variable and controversial among studies. Researches performed either in vitro or in vivo considering digital intraoral impressions a valuable alternative to conventional impression techniques; however, the clinical situation has to be taken into consideration. Most studies coincide that IOSs show highly accurate results when partial-arch scans are performed, whereas in cross-arch scans especially in implant dentistry, the choice of a complete digital workflow sometimes has to be avoided if the clinical situation is highly challenging. New versions of IOSs guarantee scan accuracy in most clinical situations. However, blood and saliva in prepared teeth impressions continue affecting the reading of the surfaces. On the other hand, multiple implant scenarios in edentulous mandibular arches still result in accuracy limitations.