Accuracy of 3-dimensional curvilinear measurements on digital models with intraoral scanners

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics 2017-09, Vol.152 (3), p.420-425
• Main Authors: Mack, Spencer, Bonilla, Tammy, English, Jeryl D., Cozad, Benjamin, Akyalcin, Sercan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Dental Arch - anatomy & histology; Dental Arch - diagnostic imaging; Dental Impression Technique - standards; Dental Models; Dentistry; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - standards; Mandible - anatomy & histology; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; Reproducibility of Results; Tooth - anatomy & histology; Tooth - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2017.05.011

Our objectives were to evaluate and compare the digital dental models generated from 2 commercial intraoral scanners with manual measurements when performing 3-dimensional surface measurements along a curved line (curvilinear). Dry mandibles (n = 61) with intact dentition were used. The mandibles were digitized using 2 chair-side intraoral scanners: Cadent iTero (Align Technology, San Jose, Calif) and Lythos Digital Impression system (Ormco, Orange, Calif). Digitized 3-dimensional models were converted to individual stereolithography files and used with commercial software to obtain the curvilinear measurements. Manual measurements were carried out directly on the mandibular teeth. Measurements were made on different locations on the dental arch in various directions. One-sample t tests and linear regression analyses were performed. To further graphically examine the accuracy between the different methods, Bland-Altman plots were computed. The level of significance was set at P 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis showed no fixed bias of 1 approach vs the other, and random errors were detected in all comparisons. Although the mean biases of the digital models obtained by the iTero and Lythos scanners, when compared with direct caliper measurements, were low, the comparison of the 2 intraoral scanners yielded the lowest mean bias. No comparison displayed statistical significance for the t scores; this indicated the absence of proportional bias in these comparisons. The intraoral scanners tested in this study produced digital dental models that were comparatively accurate when performing direct surface measurements along a curved line in 3 dimensions. •Curvilinear accuracy of Cadent iTero and Lythos Digital Impressions was tested.•Accuracy was sufficient to reproduce geometric information with both 3-D model systems.•Algorithms used to produce digital models can transform physical information from a curved surface into the digital platform.