Evaluation of the accuracy of the optical scanners used in the modern dental practice

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the laboratory optical scanning method used in modern dental practice in a CAD/CAM workflow. The assessment was made using the most common case in practice – tooth prepared for a metal-ceramic crown. An acrylic resin tooth was prepared for the metal-ceramic crown according to standard guidelines. The master matrix was scanned by an extraoral Ceramill Map 400 digital scanner. The scanned data of the prepared tooth was processed to an STL model and a digital copy was created. The same sample was measured by a high-precision contact coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and a second digital model was created. The two scans were aligned in one coordinate system and compared. Comparative analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of the optical scanning method and the advantages and disadvantages of such equipment were highlighted. The conclusion was drawn that the comparative analysis with the results of contact CMM scanning is a very appropriate approach to validating the accuracy of the digital extraoral scanners, whose significance in the modern dental medical practice is expected to grow rapidly.