Splinting scan bodies and full-arch scan accuracy

English technical abstract

The study compared three scanning approaches for a complete arch with six implants: conventional intraoral scanning, scanning with splinted scan bodies and scanning with artificial landmarks. The aim was to determine whether these aids improve the trueness* of the digital scan.

The practical finding is important: in this study, neither splinting nor artificial landmarks produced a statistically significant improvement in trueness compared with conventional scanning. The choice of intraoral scanner, however, had a significant effect.

full-archscanbodyIOS*splintingtrueness

What the article covers and how to read it

Three techniquesThe study compared conventional intraoral scanning, splinted scan bodies and a technique using artificial landmarks.

Similar truenessMean values were 48 ±8 µm for the conventional technique, 53 ±7 µm for splinting and 49 ±11 µm for artificial landmarks, with no statistically significant difference among the techniques.

Differences between scannersThe intraoral scanner used had a significant effect on the result. In the study, Primescan showed substantially lower deviations than some of the other scanners tested.

Practical cautionThe study is a reminder that mechanically adding an aid to a scan does not automatically produce better digital data.

Relevance for the laboratory, dental practice and technical support

For full-arch scanning, it is advisable to evaluate not only the technique but also the specific scanner, scanning strategy and available methods of data validation.
Splinting may be useful in some protocols, but it should not be regarded as a universal solution to full-arch distortion.
The topic links directly to Scan Transfer, ScanLogiQ and the broader need to validate a full-arch STL* file.

Limitations and cautious interpretation

This is an in-vitro study using specific scan bodies, scanners, a reference model and a laboratory methodology. The result is therefore not an argument against splinting, but an important reminder that scan validation involves more than the presence of a splint.

Original source article

Original title: Effect of splinting scan bodies on the trueness of complete-arch digital implant scans with 5 different intraoral scanners

Download the original PDF

The source document remains available so that the original wording, methodology and results can be checked.

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Glossary of abbreviations and specialist terms

An asterisk next to a term in the text refers to its explanation below.

full-arch: Full-arch means the entire dental arch, typically a scan or reconstruction of a complete edentulous arch.
trueness: Trueness describes how close a measurement result is to the true reference value.
STL: STL is a common file format for 3D data used in scanning, CAD design and 3D printing.
IOS: IOS means intraoral scanner, a scanner used directly inside the patient's mouth.

Splinted scan bodies and full-arch digital-scan accuracy