J Prosthet Dent. 2026 Mar 9:S0022-3913(26)00129-0. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.02.021. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Data on the accuracy of digital scans for complete arch implant-supported restorations, particularly concerning how different scan body (SB) designs affect implant orientation transfer in dental computer-aided design (CAD) programs, are lacking.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the trueness of implant position transfer using various new SB designs in digital scans.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A master maxillary model was fabricated with 4 straight multi-unit abutments connected to parallel implant analogs. Digital scans were obtained using an intraoral scanner with 4 SB designs: the original SB (OS), a 3-dimensionally (3D) printed SB replicating the original design (POS), a 3D printed SB with an asymmetric hexagon (PHS), and a 3D printed SB with an asymmetric hexagon modified with horizontal and vertical projections (PHVS). Ten digital scans were acquired per group and saved as standard tessellation language (STL) files. The master model with original SBs was scanned using a reference scanner to generate a reference dataset. STL files were imported into the inspection software program to measure linear, angular, and 3D deviations between each scan and the reference. Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way ANOVA followed by pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction (α=.05).
RESULTS: Significant differences were found among SB designs in linear, angular, and 3D deviations (P<.05). The PHS group (horizontal extensions) exhibited the lowest deviations compared with all other groups (P<.05). The POS group showed lower linear and angular deviations than PHVS.
CONCLUSIONS: The novel SB design with horizontal extensions (PHS) yielded the highest accuracy in linear, angular, and 3D measurements.
PMID:41807169 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.02.021
