J Prosthodont Res. 2026 Jul 11. doi: 10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_25_00384. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Registration accuracy is vital for digital workflows because misalignment increases errors. This study explores the effects of registration methods, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image quality, and number of registration points (NRP).
METHODS: All participants underwent intraoral and CBCT scanning. In Section 1, registration included four groups: three points, two points and one surface, one point and two surfaces, and three surfaces. In Section 2, after grouping the registrations on the basis of image quality (high, medium, or low), clinicians performed calibration trials. In Section 3, the NRP was increased from two to seven points. Deviations were measured by evaluating the anatomical landmarks (including the cusp tips, central fossae, and ends of the developmental grooves).
RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the registration methodologies (P < 0.001), with deviations increasing from 257.0 μm (group 3 points) to 479.3 μm (group 3 surfaces). Calibration precision improved proportionally with enhanced CBCT image quality. Deviations significantly decreased from 314.4 μm (low quality) to 237.6 μm (high quality; P < 0.001). Increasing the NRP from two to four points reduced the deviations from 375.4 to 228.2 μm; however, further increasing the NRP beyond four points yielded no significant improvement (P > 0.999, P > 0.999, P = 0.152).
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should prioritize point-based registration to improve accuracy. High CBCT image quality significantly improves accuracy. Increasing the NRP beyond four points demonstrates no statistically significant reduction in deviation.
PMID:42438012 | DOI:10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_25_00384
