Accuracy and reliability comparison between different intraoral scanning devices in patients with permanent dentition: A prospective clinical study

Abstract

Objectives

This study primarily aimed to compare the accuracy and secondarily the reliability of different intraoral scanning (IOS) devices using intra- and interarch linear measurements of three-dimensional digital dental models.

Methods

Digital dental models were divided into three groups based on their acquisition method: group T (GT) using the Trios® IOS, group P (GP) using the Panda® (IOS), and the control group (CG) consisting of plaster models digitized with the E3® desktop scanner. Two examiners measured the following variables using the OrthoAnalyzer® software: mesiodistal tooth width, clinical crown height, intercanine, interpremolar and intermolar distances, arch perimeter, arch length, overjet and overbite. Intra- and inter-examiner reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman test. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the analysis of variance (Anova) followed by Tukey tests (P < 0.05).

Results

The sample consisted of 25 volunteers (11 men, 14 women) with a mean age of 29.6 years. Overall, the measurements of digital models obtained from the Trios®, Panda® and the E3® desktop scanner were comparable. For intermolar distance, the mean and standard deviation were as follows: GT (52.4 ± 3.55), GP (52.6 ± 3.56), and CG (52.1 ± 3.96) with P = 0.896 for the maxillary arch, and GT (45.8 ± 3.87), GP (46.3 ± 4.40), and CG (46.3 ± 4.08), with P = 0.848 for the mandibular arch. No statistically significant differences were observed regarding this and other variables. Measurements showed good to excellent reliability for both Trios® and Panda® IOS.

Conclusion

The three scanning devices Trios®, Panda® and E3® presented similar and adequate accuracy and reliability.