INFLUENCE OF SCANNABLE HEALING ABUTMENT DIAMETER ON THE TRUENESS OF INTRAORAL SCANS: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

This in vitro study evaluated the effect of scannable healing abutment (SHA) diameter on the trueness of intraoral scanning. Three SHA diameters, 4 mm (D4), 5 mm (D5), and 6 mm (D6), were scanned under controlled conditions with a constant supramucosal height. Reference data were obtained using a laboratory scanner. Ten repeated intraoral scans were performed for each group. The scan datasets were superimposed onto the reference dataset using three-dimensional analysis software. Trueness was assessed using root mean square (RMS), linear, and angular deviations. RMS, linear and angular deviation was analyzed using one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Significant differences among the diameter groups were observed for all outcomes (p < 0.001). RMS deviation decreased significantly from D4 (61.11 ± 4.93 µm) to D5 (47.62 ± 7.91 µm) and D6 (32.90 ± 4.75 µm). Linear deviation showed a similar decrease from D4 (81.07 ± 6.04 µm) to D5 (62.42 ± 7.50 µm) and D6 (39.44 ± 11.38 µm). Angular deviation was significantly greater in D4 (0.75 ± 0.12°) than in D5 (0.47 ± 0.11°) and D6 (0.40 ± 0.08°), with no significant difference between D5 and D6. Increasing the SHA diameter improved RMS and linear scanning trueness, whereas angular trueness did not significantly improve with an increase in diameter from 5 to 6 mm.

Keywords: Intraoral Scanners, Trueness, Implant, Scannable Healing Abutment