COMPARISON OF DIGITAL SCAN ACCURACY BETWEEN SCAN BODIES AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR COMPLETE-ARCH IMPLANT-SUPPORTED FIXED: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the accuracy, as evaluated by trueness, of digital implant position recording between an intraoral scanner with scan bodies (ISB) and intraoral photogrammetry (IPG) for complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses with four implants. This in vitro laboratory study used an edentulous maxillary model with four implant positions. A reference dataset was obtained using a T710 laboratory scanner (Medit), and implant positions were recorded using a TRIOS 5 intraoral scanner (3Shape A/S) with Straumann scan bodies and an intraoral photogrammetry system (Shining 3D). Each system was used to record 10 scans, resulting in a total of 20 datasets. The acquired scan data were compared with the reference dataset using Geomagic Control X (3D Systems) to evaluate linear and angular deviations. Statistical analysis was performed using an Independent-samples T-Test, with the significance level set at 0.05. The results showed that the IPG system demonstrated significantly lower overall linear deviation than the ISB system, with mean values of 108.62 ± 7.06 and 161.54 ± 18.74 µm, respectively (P < 0.001). For angular deviation, the IPG system also demonstrated lower values than the ISB system, with mean values of 0.2236 ± 0.0832° and 0.3553 ± 0.1479°, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, intraoral photogrammetry demonstrated significantly lower linear and angular deviations than an intraoral scanner with scan bodies in the four-implant model. Therefore, intraoral photogrammetry may be considered an alternative method for digital implant position recording in complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses, particularly in clinical situations requiring a high level of accuracy in implant position transfer.

Keywords: Photogrammetry, Scan Body, Complete-Arch Scan Accuracy, Complete-Arch Implant-Supported Fixed Prostheses