Digital impression preferable and faster than alginate impression in kids undergoing orthodontic treatment

A study was done to compare the conventional alginate impression and the digital impression taken with an intraoral scanner of both dental arches in children, using a randomized crossover design. It was a monocentric, controlled, superiority, randomized, crossover, open study.

Twenty-four orthodontic patients between 6 and 11 years of age underwent intraoral scanning (TRIOS 3; 3Shape) and alginate impression of both dental arches with an interval of 1 week between the two procedures. Participants were recruited from September 2021 to March 2022 and the study was completed in April 2022. Impression time for the two procedures was compared. Patients were asked which one of the two impression procedures they preferred. A questionnaire including Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for comfort, pain, gag reflex and difficulty in breathing, was administered to the patients.

Results

Eighteen out of 24 patients preferred digital impression

Scanning time was significantly shorter than alginate impression time

Comfort was significantly higher for digital impression

There was no difference in pain while gag reflex and breathing difficulties were smaller for digital impression

Digital impression is preferred by children aged 6–11 years and it is significantly faster in acquisition time than conventional alginate impression.

Reference:

Bosoni, C, Nieri, M, Franceschi, D, Souki, BQ, Franchi, L, Giuntini, V. Comparison between digital and conventional impression techniques in children on preference, time and comfort: A crossover randomized controlled trial. Orthod Craniofac Res. 2023; 00: 1- 6. doi:10.1111/ocr.12648

Keywords:

Digital, impression, preferable, faster, alginate, impression, kids, undergoing, orthodontic, treatment, Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research, Bosoni, C, Nieri, M, Franceschi, D, Souki, BQ, Franchi, L, Giuntini, V.