ASSESSMENT OF ZIGZAG INTRAORAL SCANNING STRATEGY TRUENESS FOR RECORDING POSITIONS OF SCAN-ABUTMENTS ON EDENTULOUS MANDIBLE MODEL WITHIN IN-VITRO CONDITIONS

Abstract

Introduction. The objectification of zigzag scanning strategy accuracy, considering that such may be interpreted as one of the potentially promising approaches for optimizing the trueness of registering the positions of scan abutments on an edentulous jaw, can be interpreted as a practically expedient task, the solution of which may contribute to the improvement of quality during full-arch rehabilitation of patients with prosthetic constructions supported by dental implants.Objective of the research. To analyze linear deviations of scan abutments’ positions during the implementation of zigzag intraoral scanning strategy on the investigated edentulous mandible model within in-vitro conditions.Materials and methods. Under laboratory conditions fivefold acquisition of digital impression was performed from the investigated model of an edentulous mandible with five installed scan abutments using Medit i500 intraoral scanner while implementing zigzag scanning strategy. The trueness of the digital impression obtained using the zigzag scanning strategy was evaluated based on the deviations of inter- implant distances registered by the intraoral scanner in comparison with reference parameters registered by the laboratory scanner. Results and discussions. The mean level of all deviations noted among inter-implant distances when comparing the data of digital models obtained using the zigzag scanning strategy with those obtained using the laboratory scanner was 0,076 mm. The correlation between mean values of the registered inter-implant distances and standard deviations was r = 0,31, indicating weak direct relationship between the extent of the investigated segments and variability of the quantitative characteristics of scanning accuracy.Conclusions. As a result of testing and quantifying trueness parameters of the zigzag scanning strategy under laboratory conditions, it was established that recorded error level does not exceed clinically significant thresholds and varies within the range of 53–94 microns in comparison to the indicators registered by the laboratory scanner as reference values. However, further validation of this scanning pattern under real clinical conditions is required to substantiate its broader clinical applicability.