389 - Comparison of Intraoral Scanning and Alginate Impressions for Pediatric Patients

Comparison of Intraoral Scanning and Alginate Impressions for Pediatric Patients, Cazayoux, C, (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, New Orleans, LA)

Purpose: This study aims to compare the accuracy and efficiency of both alginate and digital impression techniques in a method representative of a clinical setting. By evaluating the difference in fabrication time and accuracy for these techniques, it can be determined if using digital scanning is a viable alternative to alginate impressions for fabricating pediatric dental appliances.

Methods: Both the alginate and digital impressions were taken from the same pediatric typodont study model. The alginate impressions were handled and stone models were fabricated per the distributor’s instructions and digital impressions were 3D printed. A digital caliper was used to measure different landmarks on both the stone models and 3D printed models, and these measurements were compared to the pediatric typodont to determine accuracy. All steps in the process, including obtaining the impression, fabrication of the model, and total time were recorded to determine the efficiency of both methods.

Results: The alginate models had significantly higher intercanine distance to the truth. Measurements of AP left, AP right, L central, and R central were larger than the control, but did not show a significant difference in measurement. The alginate group had significantly shorter impression time and total time. Model fabrication time between the two groups was similar.

Conclusions: Alginate impressions require less chairside time; however, studies show that pediatric patients find digital scanning to be a comfortable experience. The digital technique was revealed to be accurate in all measurements, unlike the alginate group. Digital scanning may be a good alternative to alginate impressions for patient comfort and accuracy of models for proper appliance fabrication.