Effect of Implant Scan Body type, Intraoral scanner and Scan Strategy on the accuracy and scanning time of a maxillary complete arch implant scans: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the influence of three Implant Scan Bodies (ISBs), four intraoral scanners (IOSs), and two scan strategies on the trueness of complete arch implant scans.

METHODS

A reference digital cast of an all-on-six maxillary rehabilitation was obtained using a coordinate measuring machine. Three ISBs - AQ (ISB-AQ), One-shot, Elos (ISB-PEEK) - four IOSs - Trios3POD (TRIOS), Medit i700 (MED), iTero Element 5D (iTe), Primescan (PRIME) - and two scan strategies - Zig-zag (ZZ), One-shot (OS) - were used for evaluation. For each group created by the combination of the different variables, 10 digital scans were taken by one operator (n = 240) under controlled temperature and lighting conditions. The positions of the ISB connections were compared to the standard tessellation language reference file by using the nurbs-to-nurbs method. The overall 3D linear and angular deviations of the ISBs connections between reference and test scans were evaluated by computing the Euler distances (α=0.05). Interimplant distance discrepancies were calculated at the ISB connection level. Scanning times were recorded.

RESULTS

Regarding linear and angular deviations, AQ had significantly higher trueness than the other ISBs (p < 0.01). TRIOS showed significantly higher trueness (p < 0.01). No significant differences for scan strategies were found (p > 0.05). ISB-OneSh, Primescan and ZZ method resulted in significant shortest scanning times (p<<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

ISB-AQ demonstrated higher trueness than One-Shot and PEEK. TRIOS performed better than the other IOSs. Scan strategy didn't influence the trueness. ISB-OneSh, Primescan, and ZZ strategy allowed the fastest scans.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The choice of ISB and IOS significantly affects the accuracy of complete-arch implant scans. The scan strategy did not impact trueness but influenced the efficiency. As an in vitro study, results observed need confirmation in the clinical settings.