Evaluation of Digital Implant Impressions using an Intra-oral Computerized Scanner (iTero) versus Conventional Implant Impressions: A 3-Dimensional Analysis of Accuracy

Scanning abutments allow clinicians to use digital intra-oral scanners to produce casts on which to fabricate implant-supported prostheses. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a digital impression approach and to compare it to a conventional impression technique. A simulated patient was fabricated with implants placed in posterior edentulous segments. Digital implant impressions were taken using an intra-oral scanner with scanbodies and conventional implant impressions were taken using an open-tray technique. 3-dimensional analysis and comparison of implant location on resultant working casts was performed using a laser scanner. A statistically significant difference between the two groups was found, with average 3-dimensional error of implant positioning of 116m and 56m for the digital group and conventional groups, respectively (p=0.01). Within the limitations of this study, the digital impression technique was less accurate than the conventional impression technique and did not produce working casts with clinically acceptable accuracy.M.Sc