Effect of Non‐Splinting Techniques and Non‐Calibrated Implant Scan Body Systems on the Accuracy of Complete‐Arch Implant Scans: A Comparative Clinical Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of complete-arch implant scans obtained using non-splinting and non-calibrated implant scan body (ISB) methods captured by an intraoral scanner (IOS) with 2 scanning patterns with and without artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A patient with an edentulous maxillary arch and 4 implants was enrolled. Four groups were established according to scanning technique evaluated: non-splinting with PEEK or titanium ISBs, 2 non-calibrated ISBs methods. For each technique, the maxillary arch was scanned using an IOS, applying both a circumferential and an occlusal-buccal-lingual scanning pattern, with and without the use of the integrated AI-based tool of the selected IOS. A stone cast fabricated through the conventional splinted impression was verified and digitized with a laboratory scanner to serve as reference. Linear and angular discrepancies among the designed bars for reference and experimental scans were analyzed. RESULTS: Non-calibrated techniques demonstrated better linear trueness and better angular trueness and precision than non-splinting methods (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the 2 non-calibrated ISB techniques (p > 0.05). The titanium ISBs of the non-splinting group resulted in better trueness and precision than the PEEK ISBs (p < 0.05). The AI-based tool had a significant effect on the accuracy of Dynamic Abutment non-calibrated ISB system (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the evaluated scanning patterns (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Implant scanning technique and AI-based tool of the IOS selected influenced the accuracy of the complete-arch implant scans; however, the scanning pattern did not affect the accuracy of the scanning process.