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Objectives To investigate the wear resistance of polymers for injection molding, subtractive and additive manufacturing of occlusal devices in comparison with enamel antagonist wear and material properties (i.e., hardness, flexural strength, and flexural modulus). Methods Injection molding was compared with milling and the additive technologies stereolithography, low force stereolithography, and digital light processing. For each material, eight specimens were produced for wear measurements. Extracted human premolars served as indenters. All samples were subjected to two series of a 2-body wear test consisting of 200,000 circular loading cycles with an applied load of 1) 20 N and 2) 50 N in a thermocycling environment (5/55 °C, 30 s, 3860 cycles, H2O). Wear resistance was characterized by means of maximum depth and volume of the resulting traces. In addition, enamel wear of the indenters and Vickers hardness, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of the polymers were determined. Wear was statistically analyzed with linear general models for repeated measures and material properties with one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey-HSD tests. Results Wear of the antagonists was not influenced by the material (P ≥ 0.343). Likewise, no differences in wear resistance were found between materials after cyclic loading with 20 N or 50 N (P ≥ 0.074). Material properties investigated revealed decreased values for the resins for the additive manufacturing with the exception of flexural strength of one material. Significance Within the limitations of this in-vitro study, arylates for conventional, subtractive, and additive manufacturing of occlusal devices differ in material properties but not in wear resistance and antagonist wear.

To evaluate the impact of reducing the radiographic field of view (FOV) on the trueness and precision of the alignment between cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scanning data for implant planning.Fifteen participants presenting with one of three clinical scenarios: single tooth loss (ST, n = 5), multiple missing teeth (MT, n = 5) and presence of radiographic artifacts (AR, n = 5) were included. CBCT volumes covering the full arch (FA) were reduced to the quadrant (Q) or the adjacent tooth/teeth (A). Two operators, an expert (exp) in virtual implant planning and an inexperienced clinician, performed multiple superimpositions, with FA-exp serving as a reference. The deviations were calculated at the implant apex and shoulder levels. Thereafter, linear mixed models were adapted to investigate the influence of FOV on discrepancies.Evaluation of trueness compared to FA-exp resulted in the largest mean (AR-A: 0.10 ± 0.33 mm) and single maximum discrepancy (AR-Q: 1.44 mm) in the presence of artifacts. Furthermore, for the ST group, the largest mean error (-0.06 ± 0.2 mm, shoulder) was calculated with the FA-FOV, while for MT, with the intermediate volume (-0.07 ± 0.24 mm, Q). In terms of precision, the mean SD intervals were ≤0.25 mm (A-exp). Precision was influenced by FOV volume (FA Q A) but not by operator expertise.For single posterior missing teeth, an extended FOV does not improve registration accuracy. However, in the presence of artifacts or multiple missing posterior teeth, caution is recommended when reducing FOV.

Extrusion-based printing enables simplified and economic manufacturing of surgical guides for oral implant placement. Therefore, the cytotoxicity of a biocopolyester (BE) and a polypropylene (PP), intended for the fused filament fabrication of surgical guides was evaluated. For comparison, a medically certified resin based on methacrylic esters (ME) was printed by stereolithography (n = 18 each group). Human gingival keratinocytes (HGK) were exposed to eluates of the tested materials and an impedance measurement and a tetrazolium assay (MTT) were performed. Modulations in gene expression were analyzed by quantitative PCR. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey tests were applied. None of the materials exceeded the threshold for cytotoxicity (p p

This report describes the prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with a large maxillary defect. It is often risky and difficult to take an impression of a large defect in a single-step procedure. In this study, we present a clinical technique where the maxillary obturator prosthesis was fabricated by combining two methods: conventional processing using an impression followed by relining of the obturator part to improve retention and support of the prosthesis. This report also describes how digital speech analysis using formants of five vowels can be utilized during the relining and adjustment step, resulting in improved patient satisfaction and comfort. (Int J Maxillofac Prosthetics 2020;3:32-36)

Dental implants need to combine mechanical strength with promoted osseointegration. Currently used subtractive manufacturing techniques require a multi-step process to obtain a rough surface topography that stimulates osseointegration. Advantageously, additive manufacturing (AM) enables direct implant shaping with unique geometries and surface topographies. In this study, zirconia implants with integrated lamellar surface topography were additively manufactured by nano-particle ink-jetting. The ISO-14801 fracture load of as-sintered implants (516±39 N) resisted fatigue in 5-55 °C water thermo-cycling (631±134 N). Remarkably, simultaneous mechanical fatigue and hydrothermal aging at 90 °C significantly increased the implant strength to 909±280 N due to compressive stress generated at the seamless transition of the 30-40 µm thick, rough and porous surface layer to the dense implant core. This unique surface structure induced an elongated osteoblast morphology with uniform cell orientation and allowed for osteoblast proliferation, long-term attachment and matrix mineralization. In conclusion, the developed AM zirconia implants not only provided high long-term mechanical resistance thanks to the dense core along with compressive stress induced at the transition zone, but also generated a favorable osteoblast response owing to the integrated directional surface pores. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Zirconia ceramics are becoming the material of choice for metal-free dental implants, however significant efforts are required to obtain a rough/porous surface for enhanced osseointegration, along with the risk of surface delamination and/or microstructure variation. In this study, we addressed the challenge by additively manufacturing implants that seamlessly combine dense core with a porous surface layer. For the first time, a unique surface with a directional lamellar pore morphology was additively obtained. This AM implant also provided strength as strong as conventionally manufactured zirconia implants before and after long-term fatigue. Favorable osteoblast response was proved by in-vitro cell investigation. This work demonstrated the opportunity to AM fabricate novel ceramic implants that can simultaneously meet the mechanical and biological functionality requirements.

The purpose of the study was to compare conventional to digital workflows of occlusal splint production regarding time efficiency, overall fit, and wear. Fifteen Michigan splints were fabricated with a conventional and digital method. The duration for the dentist’s and the dental technician’s workload was recorded. Subsequently, the overall fit was examined with a four-level score (1–4). Paired t-tests were used to compare the time results for the conventional and digital workflows and the sign test to compare the overall fit. The mean time (16 min 58 s) for computerized optical impressions was longer than for conventional impressions (6 min 59 s; p = 0.0001). However, the dental technician needed significantly less mean time for the digital splint production (47 min 52 s) than for the conventional (163 min 32 s; p = 0.001). The overall fit of the digitally-fabricated splints was significantly better compared to the conventionally-fabricated splints (p = 0.002). There was no impact of the different materials used in the conventional and digital workflow on the wear (p = 0.26). The results suggest that the digital workflow for the production of occlusal splints is more time efficient and leads to a better fit than the conventional workflow.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed alarming shortages of personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare professionals and the general public. Therefore, a 3D-printable mask frame was developed, and its air seal performance was evaluated and compared. Personalized masks (PM) based on individual face scans (n = 8) and a statistically shaped mask (SSM) based on a standardized facial soft tissue shape computed from 190 face scans were designed. Subsequently, the masks were additively manufactured, and in a second step, the PM and SSM were compared to surgical masks (SM) and FFP2 masks (FFP2) in terms of air seal performance. 3D-printed face models allowed for air leakage evaluation by measuring the pressure inside the mask in sealed and unsealed conditions during a breathing simulation. The PM demonstrated the lowest leak flow (p 0.68). The developed framework allows for the time- and resource-efficient, on-demand, and in-house production of masks. For the best seal performance, an individually personalized mask design might be recommended.

The accuracy of intraoral and model scanners has been widely investigated with heterogeneous results, but the impact of the applied diversity of measurement methods on the outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of methodological factors on the measurement result when comparing full-arch scans.The evaluation referred to a 5M model to analyze whether accuracy measurements are affected by (1) the reference geometry, (2) mesh density of the standard tessellation language (STL) datasets, (3) operator, (4) inspection software, and (5) alignment procedure. STL datasets of full-arch reference models were measured with 29 different combinations of these factors. For each combination, 10 repeated measurements of the intermolar width were performed. Trueness was statistically analyzed with one-way ANOVA and T-tests, repeatability with Levene tests, and reproducibility with interclass correlation coefficients.Measurement method variations affected the intermolar width by up to 186 µm. The alignment algorithm had a significant effect on the measurement outcome (p = 0.001). Likewise, reference geometry influenced trueness and repeatability significantly (p = 0.001), whereas mesh density affected the repeatability only in some cases. The operator had no impact on the measurement result. The inspection software affected the repeatability but not the trueness.The factors reference geometry and alignment algorithm highly affected the measurement outcome, while the operator, inspection software, and mesh density showed no impact on the trueness of the outcome. Cylindrical reference geometries showed fewer differences than bar-shaped ones and best-fit alignments fewer variations than alignments based on boundary parameters.

Additive manufacturing is becoming an increasingly important technique for the production of dental restorations and assistive devices. The most commonly used systems are based on vat polymerization, e.g., stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP). In contrast, fused filament fabrication (FFF), also known under the brand name fused deposition modeling (FDM), is rarely applied in the dental field. This might be due to the reduced accuracy and resolution of FFF compared to vat polymerization. However, the use of FFF in the dental sector seems very promising for in-house production since it presents a cost-effective and straight forward method. The manufacturing of nearly ready-to-use parts with only minimal post-processing can be considered highly advantageous. Therefore, the objective was to implement FFF in a digital dental workflow. The present report demonstrates the production of surgical guides for implant insertion by FFF. Furthermore, a novel approach using a temperature-sensitive filament for bite registration plates holds great promise for a simplified workflow. In combination with a medical-grade filament, a multi-material impression tray was printed for optimized impression taking of edentulous patients. Compared to the conventional way, the printed thermoplastic material is pleasant to model and can allow clean and fast work on the patient.

A polyolefin with certified biocompatibility according to USP class VI was used by our group as feedstock for filament-based 3D printing to meet the highest medical standards in order to print personal protective equipment for our university hospital during the ongoing pandemic. Besides the chemical resistance and durability, as well as the ability to withstand steam sterilization, this polypropylene (PP) copolymer is characterized by its high purity, as achieved by highly efficient and selective catalytic polymerization. As the PP copolymer is suited to be printed with all common printers in fused filament fabrication (FFF), it offers an eco-friendly cost–benefit ratio, even for large-scale production. In addition, a digital workflow was established focusing on common desktop FFF printers in the medical sector. It comprises the simulation-based optimization of personalized print objects, considering the inherent material properties such as warping tendency, through to validation of the process chain by 3D scanning, sterilization, and biocompatibility analysis of the printed part. This combination of digital data processing and 3D printing with a sustainable and medically certified material showed great promise in establishing decentralized additive manufacturing in everyday hospital life to meet peaks in demand, supply bottlenecks, and enhanced personalized patient treatment.

To investigate the tensile and flexural strength of poured, subtractive, and additive manufactured denture base methacrylates bonded to soft and hard relining materials after hydrothermal cycling and microwave irradiation.This study included a conventional (CB), subtractive (SB), and additive (AB) base material as well as a soft (SCR) and hard (HCR) chairside and one hard laboratory-side (HLR) relining material. Reference bodies of the base materials and bonded specimens to the relining materials were produced with a rectangular cross-section. The specimens were either pre-treated by water storage (50 h, 37 °C), hydrothermal cycling (5000 cycles, 5 °C and 55 °C, 30 s each), or microwave irradiation (6 cycles, 640 W, 3 min, wet). A tensile and four-point bending test were performed for a total of 504 specimens. Data were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey tests (α = 0.05).In comparison with the other reference groups SB showed marginally higher tensile and flexural strength (p0.047). Bond strength to SCR was affected neither by the base material nor by the pre-treatment (p0.085). HCR demonstrated twice the bond strength to AB compared with SB and CB (p ≤ 0.001). HLR showed the highest bond strength to CB (p ≤ 0.001). There was no difference between the specimens after hydrothermally cycling and microwave irradiation (p0.318).The bond strength of hard relining materials to subtractive and additive manufactured denture bases differ compared with conventional pouring.

Occlusal devices to reduce symptoms of bruxism and temperomandibular disorders can nowadays be manufactured in a digital workflow but studies comparing the accuracy of those occlusal devices are still limited. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to investigate the accuracy of injection molding compared with four computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) techniques for the manufacturing of occlusal devices. In addition, the number of contact points and retention were evaluated to assess clinical relevance. A conventional workflow consisting of alginate impression, wax-up, and injection molding (IM) and digital workflows including intraoral scanning, digital design, and subtractive manufacturing (SM) or additive manufacturing by using stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and material jetting (Polyjet) were investigated. Sixteen splints were fabricated with each method. The intaglio surfaces of the splints were laser scanned and superimposed with the reference data sets to analyze the surface deviations. In addition, the number of contact points after repositioning the splints on the reference model was evaluated with occlusal foil. Finally, the retention was measured in a tensile test. One-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey tests were used for statistical analyses (α = .05). IM and SM splints demonstrated the highest manufacturing accuracy without significant differences to each other (P .985). Additive manufactured splints revealed greater deviations with equal results for SLA and Polyjet (P .949) and significantly higher deviations for DLP compared to all other groups (P .002). Comparable retention force was measured for IM, SM, and SLA (P .923), whereas Polyjet splints showed the greatest variability. IM and SM splints presented the most contact points (P = .505). Additive manufactured splints demonstrated fewer contacts without significant difference to each other (P .116). It can be concluded, that there is no difference in manufacturing accuracy, retention, and number of contacts between IM and SM splints. AM splints demonstrated higher, however, clinically acceptable deviations.

The objective was to investigate clinical and radiological outcomes of rehabilitations with root-analogue implants (RAIs). Patients restored with RAIs, supporting single crowns or fixed dental prostheses, were recruited for follow-up examinations. Besides clinical and esthetical evaluations, X-rays were taken and compared with the records. Patients were asked to evaluate the treatment using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). For statistical analyses, mixed linear models were used. A total of 107 RAIs were installed in one dental office. Of these, 31 were available for follow-up examinations. For those remaining, survival has been verified via phone. RAIs were loaded after a mean healing time of 6.6 &plusmn, 2.5 months. 12.1 &plusmn, 6.9 months after loading, a mean marginal bone loss (MBL) of 1.20 &plusmn, 0.73 mm was measured. Progression of MBL significantly decreased after loading (p = 0.013). The mean pink and white esthetic score (PES/WES) was 15.35 &plusmn, 2.33 at follow-up. A survival rate of 94.4% was calculated after a mean follow-up of 18.9 &plusmn, 2.4 months after surgery. Immediate installation of RAIs does not seem to reduce MBL, as known from the literature regarding screw-type implants, and might not be recommended for daily routine. Nevertheless, they deliver esthetically satisfying results.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate two-body wear of three zirconia ceramics stabilized with 3, 4 and 5mol% yttria and to compare their wear behavior with that of a lithium-disilicate glass-ceramic. METHODS: Sixteen rectangular-shaped specimens made from three grades of zirconia ceramics and a lithium-disilicate glass-ceramic were polished and dynamically loaded in a chewing simulator (2kg vertical load, 2.1Hz) under water at 90°C for 1.2×106 cycles (about 7 days) in the ball-on-plate mode against steatite antagonists. Surface roughness was measured before and after wear testing. Wear tracks were scanned with a non-contact 3D profilometer and super-impositions were used to determine wear loss of the antagonists. Wear surfaces were imaged by SEM. XRD and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize phase transformation and stress status in the worn and unworn areas of the zirconia ceramics. RESULTS: Independent of fracture toughness, strength and aging-susceptibility, the three zirconia ceramics showed a similar and limited amount of wear (∼10μm in depth) and were more wear-resistant than the lithium-disilicate glass-ceramic (∼880μm in depth). Abrasive wear without obvious cracks was observed for all investigated zirconias, whereas the glass-ceramic with a lower fatigue threshold and high susceptibility to surface dissolution exhibited significant abrasion, fatigue and corrosion wear. All three zirconia ceramics yielded a lower antagonist wear than the glass-ceramic and no significant differences were found between the zirconia ceramics. SIGNIFICANCE: In the context of this study, high-translucent zirconia ceramics stabilized with a higher yttria content, recently introduced in the dental field, were as wear-resistant and antagonist-friendly as conventional high-strength zirconia and suitable for monolithic restorations. ispartof: DENTAL MATERIALS vol:35 issue:12 pages:1776-1790 ispartof: location:England status: published

Statement of problem Intraoral scanners (IOSs) are based on light-optical imaging methods. However, little is known about whether the ambient light in dental practices influences the accuracy and scanning time of the IOS. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the influence of different illuminations on the accuracy of 4-unit and complete-arch scans of 6 IOSs. In addition, the required scanning time was evaluated. Material and methods A reference structure was attached to the first premolars (P) and second molars (M) in both quadrants (L/R) of a maxillary model. The resulting measured distances were M1-P1, M2-P2, P1-P2, and M1-M2. The investigation included 6 IOSs: TRIOS 3 (TRI), Cerec Omnicam (OC), iTero Element (ITE), CS 3600 (CS), Planmeca Emerald (EME), and GC Aadva (AAD). With each IOS, 17 scans at different illuminances (100, 500, 1000, and 5000 lux) were performed (N = 408). The precision and trueness for all distances were determined, and the scanning time was recorded. For statistical analyses, the Levene tests (precision) and 1-way analysis of variance with the post hoc Tukey honestly significant difference and Games-Howell tests (trueness) were calculated. Results Illuminance significantly influenced the trueness of 4-unit scans for OC, EME, and AAD. TRI, OC, ITE, and CS demonstrated comparable results. AAD (>96 ±22 μm; 1000 lux) and EME (>248 ±88 μm; 500 lux) revealed greater deviations. For complete-arch scans, illuminance did not influence TRI and AAD, but significant variations were detected for ITE, CS, EME, and AAD. The least deviations were achieved with TRI and OC. The scanning time was extended for all IOSs except ITE at more than 500 lux. The shortest scanning times with OC and EME were recorded at 100 lux; with TRI, CS, and AAD at 500 lux; and with ITE at both 100 and 5000 lux. At all illuminances, the fastest scans were obtained with TRI. Conclusions Ambient light was found to influence the accuracy and scanning time of IOSs. This influence varies depending on the device. For 4-unit scans, the effect was not clinically relevant, but for complete-arch scans, accuracy and scanning time can be improved with appropriate lighting.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the fracture resistance and phase composition of tooth supported four-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) made from three different zirconia grades after loading and aging. METHODS: Seventy-two FDPs were fabricated from 3Y-TZP, 4Y-PSZ and 5Y-PSZ. This resulted in 24 FDPs per grade, subdivided into three groups (n = 8): a control group (C), a hydrothermally aged (H2O, 85 °C, 90 days) group (A) and a group subjected to loading (2.5M cycles, 98N) with simultaneous thermal cycling (H2O, 5-55 °C) subsequent to treatment A (AL). Subsequently, FDPs were statically loaded to fracture. Phase composition was quantified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and μ-Raman spectroscopy. Focused ion beam (FIB) - Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for visualization in-depth. RESULTS: Compared to 3Y-C FDPs (1233 ± 165N), reduced fracture load was found for 5Y-C FDPs (889 ± 80 N; p < .001). This did not apply for 4Y-C samples (1065 ± 111N). Treatments (A, AL) did not negatively affect the fracture load for the three grades of zirconia (p > .645). Both A and AL increased monoclinic phase content for 3Y and 4Y FDPs, whereas FIB-SEM suggests no transformability of 5Y-PSZ. 5Y-AL FDPs showed cracks and fractures at the abutment walls and restoration margins after dynamic loading. Reduced fracture load of 5Y samples as compared to 3Y and 4Y was associated with deficient transformability in the fracture zone. SIGNIFICANCE: Aging and loading did not negatively affect the fracture resistance of monolithic four-unit FDPs made from three grades of zirconia. Due to cracks after dynamic loading, 5Y-PSZ cannot be recommended for the clinical application of four-unit FDPs. ispartof: DENTAL MATERIALS vol:36 issue:11 pages:E329-E339 ispartof: location:England status: published

ispartof: Clinical Oral Implants Research vol:30 issue:1 pages:47-47 status: published

Statement of problem Reliable studies comparing the accuracy of complete-arch casts from 3D printers are scarce. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the accuracy of casts printed by using various extrusion- and photopolymerization-based printers. Material and methods A master file was sent to 5 printer manufacturers and distributors to print 37 identical casts. This file consisted of a standardized data set of a maxillary cast in standard tessellation language (STL) format comprising 5 reference points for the measurement of 3 distances that served as reference for all measurements: intermolar width (IMW), intercanine width (ICW), and dental arch length (AL). The digital measurement of the master file obtained by using a surveying software program (Convince Premium 2012) was used as the control. Two extrusion-based (M2 and Ultimaker 2+) and 3 photopolymerization-based printers (Form 2, Asiga MAX UV, and myrev140) were compared. The casts were measured by using a multisensory coordinate measuring machine (O-Inspect 422). The values were then compared with those of the master file. The Mann-Whitney U test and Levene tests were used to determine significant differences in the trueness and precision (accuracy) of the measured distances. Results The deviations from the master file at all 3 distances for the included printers ranged between 12 μm and 240 μm (trueness), with an interquartile range (IQR) between 17 μm and 388 μm (precision). Asiga MAX UV displayed the highest accuracy, considering all the distances, and Ultimaker 2+ demonstrated comparable accuracy for shorter distances (IMW and ICW). Although myrev140 operated with high precision, it displayed high deviations from the master file. Similarly, although Form 2 exhibited high IQR, it did not deviate significantly from the master file in the longest range (AL). M2 performed consistently. Conclusions Both extrusion-based and photopolymerization-based printers were accurate. In general, inexpensive printers were no less accurate than more expensive ones.

Concepts for digital denture manufacturing are market-available but studies comparing the trueness of such dentures, either milled (MIL) or additive manufactured, compared to injection molded (IM) ones are still limited. Regarding the impact of artificial aging and microwave sterilization on this parameter, no data are available. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to assess the trueness of IM, MIL, and stereolithography (SLA) printed denture bases after manufacturing, hydrothermal cycling, and microwave sterilization. Sixteen edentulous maxillary plaster models were poured using a silicone mold and digitized by means of a desktop scanner. For group IM, 16 denture bases were injection molded using these models. For group MIL and SLA, the denture bases were virtually designed and manufactured referring to the digitized data. A total of 48 samples were scanned 1) after manufacturing, 2) after hydrothermal cycling (5–55 °C, n = 5000), and after 3) three as well as 4) six cycles of microwave sterilization for 6 min each at 640 W. The 3-D surface deviation of the total intaglio surface, the palate, the alveolar ridge, and the border seal region was evaluated on the basis of the root mean square estimation (RMSE) and positive and negative mean deviations with an inspection software. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were performed (α = 0.05). MIL showed the lowest deviations of the total RMSE (P ≤ .006) compared with the scans of the plaster models. In comparison, IM showed increased, mainly positive, deviations (P = .006) at the border seal. SLA presented the highest total RMSE (P = .001) with increased negative deviations, likewise at the border seal. In contrast to SLA (P = .001), no differences between IM and MIL (P = .816) were measured after hydrothermal cycling. Following microwave sterilization, the trueness of SLA was higher compared to IM and MIL (P = .001), with no differences between MIL and IM (P = .153). Distortion of IM and MIL was measured after the 3rd cycle with no further changes observed thereafter (P ≥ .385). It can be concluded, that subtractive manufacturing of denture bases results in the highest trueness, followed by IM and SLA. In contrast to IM and SLA, hydrothermal cycling did not affect MIL. Solely SLA printed denture bases remained dimensionally stable after microwave sterilization.

Plaster casts can be digitized with desktop scanners, intraoral scanners, and recently also with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of five different CBCT devices digitizing a plaster cast. A study cast serving as a patient was made using the double mix impression technique, and the impression was poured out with plaster. On the resulting plaster cast, arch length (AL), intermolar width (IMW), and intercanine width (ICW) were measured by a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) (Zeiss O-Inspect 422). The patient cast was then scanned by five CBCT devices - CS 9300, CS 9300 Select, CS 8100 3D (all Carestream), Promax 3D Mid (Planmeca), and Whitefox (Acteon) - in eight scan modes. For each CBCT device, 37 scans were performed. The resulting DICOM data were exported as stereolithographic (STL) data and linearly measured using Convince Premium 2012 (3Shape) software. All measurements were compared to the reference master values of the patient cast. The accuracy measurements showed significant differences among the CBCT devices. The highest accuracy was achieved by Whitefox (IMW: mean ± standard deviation (SD): 5.5 ± 5.7 µm) and CS 9300 (IMW: -15 ± 7.4 µm). Comparable results with less accuracy were shown by CS 8100 3D (IMW: -81.2 ± 7.4 µm) and CS 300 Select (IMW: -82.2 ± 6.6 µm). Significantly lower accuracy was shown by Promax 3D Mid (IMW: -126.1 ± 4.8 µm). Some CBCT devices are suitable for the digitization of plaster casts and show very good clinical accuracy. Dental offices equipped with CBCT devices could digitize plaster casts without the need for additional devices.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of full-arch scans using 11 different cast scanners.Dental arch length (AL), intermolar width (IMW), and intercanine width (ICW) of the reference plaster casts were measured using a coordinate measuring machine (Zeiss O-Inspect 422). The master cast was subsequently scanned 37 times using 11 desktop scanners (3Shape R500, 3Shape R700, 3Shape R1000, 3Shape R2000, Medianetx grande, Medianetx colori, DentaCore CS ULTRA, Dentaurum OrthoX, Maestro 3D, Imetric IScan D104i, GC Aadva Lab Scan). Using the software Convince Premium 2012 (3Shape), AL, IMW, and ICW were measured on the digital models and compared to the reference plaster cast.The accuracy of the cast scanners differed significantly. The most accurate measurements were given by the cast scanners 3Shape R700 (ICW: 7.4?±?5.9?µm) and Imetric IScan D104i (ICW: 9.1?±?4.9?µm). The cast scanners 3Shape R1000 (ICW: 11.2?±?3.4?µm) and GC Aadva Lab Scan (ICW: 13.8?±?8.1?µm) yielded comparable measurements. DentaCore (ICW: 26.6?±?7.5?µm) and Dentaurum OrthoX (ICW: 31.1?±?24?µm) were significantly less accurate.Almost all scanners demonstrated a level of accuracy so high that further improvement would not provide additional benefit for use in orthodontics. Advancement of the scanners should focus primarily on reducing time and cost. For prosthodontic use, the scanners with the highest accuracy are recommended.

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of six intraoral scanners as regards clinically relevant distances using a new method of evaluation. An additional objective was to compare intraoral scanners with the indirect digitization of model scanners. A resin master model was created by 3D printing and drilled in five places to reflect the following distances: intermolar width (IMW), intercanine width (ICW), and arch length (AL). To determine a gold standard, the distances were measured with a coordinate measuring instrument (Zeiss O-Inspect 422). The master model was scanned 37 times with the following intraoral scanners: Apollo DI (Sirona), CS 3500 (Carestream Dental), iTero (Cadent), PlanScan (Planmeca), Trios (3Shape), and True Definition (3M Espe), and indirectly digitized with the OrthoX Scan (Dentaurum). The digital models were then measured, and deviations from the gold standard calculated. Significant differences were found between the devices. Among the intraoral scanners, Trios and iTero showed the most accurate results, although CS 3500, True Definition, and Apollo DI achieved comparable results. PlanScan demonstrated the highest deviations from the gold standard, and presented a high standard deviation (SD). Direct digitization revealed comparable (and, in fact, slightly higher) accuracy than indirect digitization. Both indirect digitization and most of the intraoral scanners were therefore demonstrated to be suitable for use in the orthodontic office, with the exception of PlanScan, which did not meet the demands of individual orthodontic treatment.

The primary objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and time efficiency of an indirect and direct digitalization workflow with that of a three-dimensional (3D) printer in order to identify the most suitable method for orthodontic use.A master model was measured with a coordinate measuring instrument. The distances measured were the intercanine width, the intermolar width, and the dental arch length. Sixty-four scans were taken with each of the desktop scanners R900 and R700 (3Shape), the intraoral scanner TRIOS Color Pod (3Shape), and the Promax 3D Mid cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) unit (Planmeca). All scans were measured with measuring software. One scan was selected and printed 37 times on the D35 stereolithographic 3D printer (Innovation MediTech). The printed models were measured again using the coordinate measuring instrument.The most accurate results were obtained by the R900. The R700 and the TRIOS intraoral scanner showed comparable results. CBCT-3D-rendering with the Promax 3D Mid CBCT unit revealed significantly higher accuracy with regard to dental casts than dental impressions. 3D printing offered a significantly higher level of deviation than digitalization with desktop scanners or an intraoral scanner. The chairside time required for digital impressions was 27% longer than for conventional impressions.Conventional impressions, model casting, and optional digitization with desktop scanners remains the recommended workflow process. For orthodontic demands, intraoral scanners are a useful alternative for full-arch scans. For prosthodontic use, the scanning scope should be less than one quadrant and three additional teeth.