Accuracy Analysis of Digital Models from Intraoral Scanners and 3D-Printed Casts in Children and Teenagers.

PURPOSE

The aim was to analyze the accuracy of digital models and 3D-printed casts from full-arch digital impressions using two intraoral scanners (iTero and Primescan).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A crossover reliability study was designed, scanning children and teenagers with iTero and Primescan. Accuracy was evaluated by measuring intercanine, intermolar, and ipsilateral canine-molar distances intraorally and comparing these measurements with those from plaster casts, digital models obtained with intraoral scanners, and 3D-printed casts. A paired comparison and a general linear model with a one-way repeated measures ANOVA procedure were carried out with a confidence level of 95% ( ≤ 0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 51 subjects were analyzed (mean age 12.35 ± 2.57). Statistical differences ( < 0.05) were found in the upper and lower arch regarding accuracy in comparison to intraoral measurements, except for the iTero-printed cast and canine-molar upper right and intercanine lower distances ( > 0.05 for all comparisons). Regarding a comparison between reproduction methods, the plaster cast oversized the intercanine upper distance in comparison with both intraoral scanners' digital models and the Primescan-printed cast ( = 0.001), but there were no differences in the lower arch ( > 0.05 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSION

Intraoral scanners reproduce tooth structures with similar accuracy to conventional methods.