Comparison of digital scanning methods for the fabrication of complete dentures: accuracy analysis

• Grant number: 24/10905-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Emily Vivianne Freitas da Silva
• Grantee: Júlia Izel Enes Baganha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Complete dentures are a common rehabilitation option among edentulous patients; however, during conventional molding, professionals face challenges such as material and working model deformations, as well as patient discomfort. Thus, digital technologies are being employed to enhance the process, although intraoral scanning of edentulous patients remains complex. New techniques can be utilized to obtain digital models, such as scanning of edentulous arch molds. The study aims to compare the accuracy of three digital scanning methods for the fabrication of total prostheses. Three groups will be studied: Group 1 - scanning of the upper edentulous arch of a dental mannequin (control, master file), Group 2 - scanning of the mold obtained from arch molding, and Group 3 - scanning of the gypsum model. Digital files will be obtained using three distinct scanning techniques for Groups 2 and 3. Then, the accuracy between scans will be analyzed using specialized software, relative to the master file. Numerical values will be subjected to normal curve adherence testing. In the case of normal distribution, analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be applied, with appropriate post-hoc testing at a significance level of 5%. In the event of non-normal distribution, non-parametric statistical tests will be conducted.