Comparison of Patient Comfort and Preference between Conventional and Digital Impressions in Adolescents with Multibracket Appliance : A Randomised Crossover Study

Background:Digital impression techniques are currently replacing conventional techniques in clinical practice. The applicability of these methods are being studied extensively. The primary objective of this study was to compare pain, discomfort, gag reflex, and breathing difficulty between alginate impressions and intraoral scanning (IOS) in adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment. The secondary objective was to assess preference and compare the time required for both techniques.Methods:A randomized crossover trial was conducted with 24 adolescent patients aged between 12–17 years. Participants were randomised into Group 1 and Group 2 based on the sequence of the technique and a wash out period of one week was given before the second technique. Pain, discomfort, gag reflex, and breathing difficulty were assessed using a 10-point Likert scale. Time taken for each impression and patient preference were also recorded. Dependent t-tests was used to compare the patient outcomes and time taken. Results:No significant differences were found in patient-reported outcomes (pain, discomfort, gag reflex, and breathing difficulty) between the two techniques. However, intraoral scanning required less time compared to alginate impressions (p < 0.001). Majority of patients (66.67%) preferred IOS over alginate impressions.Conclusion:In adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances, intraoral scanning was time-efficient alternative to conventional impression techniques, with a high patient preference. Both techniques were comparable in terms of discomfort-related outcomes.