International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences 2023; 9(2): 24-27

ISSN Print: 2394-7489

ISSN Online: 2394-7497
IJADS 2023; 9(2): 24-27 Digital impressions in dentistry: A literature review
© 2023 IJADS
[Link]
Received: 05-01-2023 Juan Carlos Terres Bustos and Diego Armando Tapia Ornelas
Accepted: 07-03-2023
DOI: [Link]
Juan Carlos Terres Bustos
Universidad Autónoma De
Abstract
Nuevo León, Facultad de
The importance of this research lies in knowing the effectiveness of digital impressions in dentistry.
Odontología. Monterrey,
Nuevo León, México
Methodology: A compilation of articles published in the last 5 years was carried out using the PubMed
electronic database. Abstracts and full texts were identified that included information on factors that
Diego Armando Tapia Ornelas influence digital impressions in dentistry: “scan”, “time”, “impression”, “digital”, and “conventional”.
Universidad Autónoma De Results: An intraoral scan is faster and more accurate than a conventional impression. The scanner does
Nuevo León, Facultad de not allow us to obtain a termination line if it is subgingival, as well as the pixel capacity, it can also
Odontología, Posgrado de provide us with a patient model in a more straightforward and more comfortable way. It allows us to
Maestría en Prostodoncia1, have a future visualization and a record of before and after each treatment.
Monterrey, Nuevo León, México Conclusions: Digital impressions have brought innovation to impression-taking and have partially set
aside conventional methods. They offer significant advantages, such as time efficiency, patient comfort,
simplification of clinical procedures, and storing and capturing information that can be used over time.
They also facilitate diagnosis and treatment planning. Among the disadvantages of using it are the high
cost and the existence of a learning curve for the use of intraoral scanners.

Keywords: Scanner", "time",” impressions”, "digital", "conventional"

Introduction
In recent decades, digital systems have had an important impact on dental practice [1]. The
digital flow through CAD/CAM has allowed the fabrication of restorations in less time [2].
The initial step to carry out rehabilitation is the taking of a dental model [3]. For decades,
polyvinyl siloxane has been used as an impression material with drawbacks in impression
technique, consistency, taste, and smells [4]. In the early 1970s, Dr. Francoise Duret
implemented intraoral scanning technology for an indirect restoration for the first time [5].
Initially, the digitization of study models was used to later perform restorations with milling in
CAD/CAM equipment. Now we can directly perform our oral scan on our patient without the
need to use a physical model [6]. The evolution of this scanning system has helped us create a
faster, more efficient, and more accurate flow for rehabilitation in the dental field [7].
The patient feels more comfortable when making a digital model compared to a conventional
model, as it allows us to avoid the risk of losing the model or causing any damage that alters
our result in the laboratory and provides us with more sustainability [8]. Other benefits are
performing a restoration more quickly, reducing the cost of producing treatments, making it
more practical, and reducing the waste of materials [6]. This leads us to consider the capacities
and characteristics, both operational and physical, such as the size of the tip and its image
capture speed and precision [1]. There are two very important factors that can cause treatment
to fail. These are the lack of long-term planning of the materials and their durability for
treatment and the use of different intraoral scanner equipment [5].
Due to the fact that there is currently no standard technique for taking digital impressions, it is
not possible to guarantee excellence in taking digital impressions since there is a large amount
of equipment for intraoral scanning [9]. Patients must have an alternative that provides them
Corresponding Author:
Juan Carlos Terres Bustos
with greater comfort in their treatments. A very important factor to consider is that
Universidad Autónoma De conventional materials can cause allergic reactions in our patients [4]. In addition, they require
Nuevo León, Facultad de working and setting time, which sometimes causes anxiety and stress in our patients. Intraoral
Odontología. Monterrey, scanners help us not only present a study or work model and give more efficiency when
Nuevo León, México working, but also create a whole plan.
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Treatment that fully focuses on restorations created digitally resolution feature requires additional chair time and can
and allows us to handle the case more easily [10]. Therefore, it disrupt provider workflow [10]. According to the study carried
is essential to look for alternative methods to improve the out in 2020, no significant differences were observed between
results in patients in prosthetic and implant dentistry. With the default resolution and the high resolution in terms of
this, we intend to analyze the literature on whether intraoral precision in the finishing line of the cavo surface of the crown
scanning is capable of reducing working time, the results preparation with the 3Shape TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner [6] in
compared to conventional impression procedures, its 2013, reported that the accuracy of intraoral data acquisition
advantages and disadvantages, as well as its use in other areas and conventional impressions is the same [17]. On the contrary,
of dentistry. in 2016, they reported that intraoral scanners were more
accurate than the conventional method [18].
Materials and Methods The intraoral scanner is not exempt from presenting
Articles on the subject published through the PubMed, discrepancies in the digitized models, as with an impression
SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases were analyzed, with and a conventional model, it is likely that the scanner will not
emphasis on the last 5 years. The quality of the articles was allow us to obtain a good finishing line if it is very
evaluated using the PRISMA guide, i.e., identification, subgingival or very small, as well However, the pixel capacity
review, selection, and inclusion. The quality of reviews was of each scanner is not the main factor for obtaining an error in
assessed using the Measurement Tool for Assessing the digital model. Despite this, the scanner can often provide
Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2). The implementation of us with a great digital model that obtains good precision and
the search using the AND, OR, AND NOT operators. Within avoids modifications, either by the movement of the patient or
the keywords used for “scan”, “time”, “impression”, “digital”, the tearing of the conventional impression at the time of its
and “conventional”. The keywords were used individually, as removal.
well as each one of them related to the other.
Advantages and misfortunes of digital and conventional
Results impressions
Working time Studies on conventional impressions in the laboratory
Intraoral scanning is an alternative to conventional environment often report greater imposition due to the blood
impressions, since it allows prior visualization of the area of and the patient's movement increasing the imprecise rate.
interest, in addition to reducing working time and improving These factors also affect the accuracy of impressions taken
patient results [11]. According to a systematic review that was with the use of intraoral scanners. However, digital systems
carried out in 2021, a clear trend was observed toward a allow the expansion of scanned teeth on the monitor and
shorter time for intraoral scanning compared to conventional allow badly scanned areas. Thus, possible errors in
impressions, regardless of the size of the scanned area4. It was impressions can be minimized. This can explain the small
shown that the experience of the operator is important in differences in the precision of digital and conventional
working time, operators with less time experience required techniques [10]. One of the limitations of the conventional
longer times [12]. In a study carried out in 2016, he mentions technique in the intake of impressions is the changes in
that for unilateral impressions made by experienced dimensions and the deformity, the spaces between the internal
clinicians, the shortest working time was achieved with the surface of the structure. The type of bucket used can affect the
conventional impression with silicone, and with respect to the quality and accuracy of impressions [3]. In studies, we observe
working time without powdering, the differences between that the use of digital impressions provides greater comfort
conventional impressions and digital were not statistically for patients since they help us avoid a reflection of nausea
significant [13]. Another 2015 clinical study comparing the when it takes impressions, unlike the conventional form [19].
efficacy of digital and conventional impressions for tooth- Printing favors maximizing the efficiency of our work times
supported restorations found that digital quadrant impressions when performing a restorative treatment, that is, the greatest
consume significantly less time than conventional full-arch advantage in laboratory work efficiency, since in terms of
impressions [14]. time at the time of taking the impression so much Digital as
Various studies carried out mention that an intraoral scan is conventional is very similar [20]. A very important problem to
faster and more accurate compared to a conventional consider is that the light of the scanner does not allow us
impression, although the use of anthologist models cannot be Difference in the conventional way [21]. A very important
left aside since it allows us to see certain movements in the factor to consider in the clinical field is that it is very
articulator that we do not They are capable of being displayed important to use the same equipment throughout the treatment
on the computer. since it can affect the use of different iOS during the same
treatment [22]. Another advantage that we can find is the use of
Precision of intraoral scanners in dentistry a scanner in other specialties such as orthodontics since the
The precision of the impression methods is crucial for the main problem for printing in patients with orthodontic simply
internal and external fit of the final restoration. Tooth tearing the impression when removing it, at the time of us
preparation and surface parameters do affect precision [15]. using a scanner this is avoided and in the same way, it helps
Other aspects considered are the resolution of the scanning the patient's comfort and practicality to take the impression
[19]
system and the precision of the algorithm. Compared to the .
conventional technique, the digital method allows The intraoral scanner can give us a patient model in a simpler
improvements or modifications of the scan by selecting some way and also gives the patient more comfortable when not
poorly scanned sections [16]. One of the aspects that must be placing a material in the mouth as alginate that can cause
considered for the precision in digital impressions is the nausea. Any of the two ways to obtain a study model can
resolution, a high resolution would allow a superior finishing cause errors in the models, however, the scanner allows us to
line precision to minimize the marginal discrepancy between make an almost instantaneous modification.
the preparation and the restoration. Clinically, using the high-
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How to Cite This Article

Juan Carlos Terres Bustos, Diego Armando Tapia Ornelas. Digital
impressions in dentistry: A literature review. International Journal of
Applied Dental Sciences. 2023;9(2):24-27.

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