Evaluation of the effect of implant scan body alignment, exposed heights, and inter-scan body distances on the accuracy of digital implant impressions.

Metwally, Nayrouz A; Badr, Mohamed Osama; Sabahy, Maryam A; Khamis, Mohamed Moataz

doi:10.21608/adjalexu.2025.331131.1548

Evaluation of the effect of implant scan body alignment, exposed heights, and inter-scan body distances on the accuracy of digital implant impressions.

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Chompollion Street, Azarita, Alexandria, Egypt

² Postgraduate student, Clinical Master of Oral Implantology Program, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Egypt

³ Professor and chairman, Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University.

10.21608/adjalexu.2025.331131.1548

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. An accurate digital impression of the scan body is essential to replicate the actual implant position in the software program. However, studies analyzing the scanning accuracy using different scan body angulations, exposures, and inter-scan body distances are scarce.
AIM OF THE STUDY. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of scan body alignment, exposed heights, and inter-scan body distances on the accuracy of digital impressions.
METHODS. Two edentulous maxillary epoxy models were used in this study. The first model had 4 dummy implants. Two PEEK scan body, were tested together with the variable inter-scan body distances. The second model had 6 dummy implants; 3 with different angulations and 3 placed at different levels from the gingival margin. PEEK scan bodies were were scanned by using a laboratory scanner. All standard tessellation language (STL) files were imported into a surface matching software program (GOM Inspect; GOM).
RESULTS. Both linear and angular deviation values(μm) were significantly higher in the long inter-scan body distance group than the short one. Regarding the effect of the angulation, the highest deviation values (μm) were recorded at the 30-degree angulation. Regarding scan body exposed heights, the linear and angular deviation values (μm) were significantly increased as the supragingival exposed height of the scan body was reduced.
CONCLUSIONS. Short inter-scan body distance and more exposed part of the scan body can enhance the accuracy of the digital impression. Scan body angulation did not significantly affect the accuracy of the digital impression.

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