The effect of intraoral scanner tip size and scanning strategy on the digital impression trueness of full-arch implant-supported prostheses: an in vitro study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: PURPOSE: study was to evaluate the effect of scanner head size, scanning path, and scanning strategy on the trueness of complete-arch digital implant impressions in an edentulous maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An edentulous maxillary model with four implants was digitized using a laboratory scanner to generate a reference dataset. Digital impressions were obtained using two scanner head sizes, two scanning paths, and three scanning strategies, resulting in twelve experimental groups, with ten scans for each group under standardized conditions. Root mean square and angular deviations between the reference dataset and each test scan were calculated using a best-fit algorithm. Statistical analysis was performed with the level of significance set at α = .05. RESULTS: < .001). Among medium-head groups, the reverse double scan produced the lowest RMS values (M.I.R., 40.5 µm; M.P.R., 38 µm), while the single-scan groups showed the highest deviations (M.I.S., 51.5 µm; M.P.S., 49.5 µm). Scanning path showed no significant effect on trueness. CONCLUSION: Scanner head size and scanning strategy significantly affected trueness. Clinically, larger scanner heads combined with appropriate scanning strategies may improve trueness in full-arch or extended edentulous scans by reducing cumulative stitching errors.
Authors: Aslıhan Öztürk, Ahmet Atila Ertan
Institution: Hacettepe University
Language: English
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Hacettepe Üniversitesi
OpenAlex ID: W7223019285