Within digital dentistry and intraoral scanning, a central skill to master is to have a correct scanning technique. It is the first step of a complex, fine-tuned process, and if you get that step wrong, nothing else you do afterward can fix it.
As a Customer Success Manager at 3Shape, as my job title suggests, I have the luxury of guiding and instructing dental teams on this all day long. So read on and let me share the TRIOS scan technique best practices and ways to tackle the most common challenges.
As my colleague Svitlana from our Support team (which I used to be a part of) has done in her blog posts on TRIOS scanner support and TRIOS software support, I will now in this blog post proactively help all users who are ready to improve their TRIOS scan.
Are you ready to improve your intraoral scanning technique, to get the very best results out of every single TRIOS scan?
And are you ready to “fix” the part of your intraoral scanning workflow that all the other parts fully depend on?
Why wait? Let’s do it.
First, a ready-made formula that you’ll get presented in all 3Shape TRIOS training:
The above steps should be easy enough to follow - and even easier with TRIOS 5, as that comes with ScanAssist. But we’re only getting started. To truly get perfect scans, there are a few non-negotiable rules that every TRIOS training will address.
And let us get them out there right now:
If not on the wall, then nail these rules to the wall of your mind. They make or break scans. And now that we have established the ground rules, let’s dig into the most common challenges users face, and of course how to overcome those.
If you see a ghost image, you probably moved the scanner too abruptly while scanning.
As a result, you accidentally started adding new images in the incorrect area, creating a “new tooth”.
When you see a ghost image, stop the scanner and select the Trim tool. Delete the ghost image and begin scanning on the same molar you previously scanned.
If the error is too big, clear or delete the whole scan and start the scanning process from the beginning.
This can occur if you don’t follow the scanning strategy correctly, and some data is missing.
As a result, the 3D model won’t represent the correct tooth shape once you are done with post-processing. This is less likely to happen with TRIOS 5 and it’s intelligent ScanAssist engine.
Stop the scanner and turn off the colors. Then select the Trim tool and remove the area. Return to scanning, beginning on the previously scanned tooth and move forward slowly to the trimmed area. Then continue scanning until the whole area is properly scanned.
If the error is too big, clear or delete the whole scan and start the scanning process from the beginning.
The reason why an area is missing is that there is that information is lacking while scanning. Missing areas will be highlighted in color after you complete the scanning.
Re-scan those missing areas. And do so slower, putting the scanner closer, to ensure that the correct morphology of teeth is preserved after post-processing.
This happens when the surface wasn’t properly dried before scanning. It may distort the image.
If it happens, dry the surface of the teeth carefully and re-scan the area.
The jaws may not always snap into position automatically. There are different reasons for this. The teeth may have complex anatomical shapes, the scans may be insufficiently trimmed (gingiva, in particular, after the last molars), or force may be applied during biting. But you can fix this manually.
If you want to do this manually, you can choose either the 1-point or 3-point manual alignment option. Select the option within the software, and simply follow the instructions.
Please keep this in mind when scanning the bite with TRIOS:
The next illustration shows you how to align the bite manually when TRIOS scanning:
Scanning multiple implants can be difficult if you don’t have a great scanner. The implants may look similar, are small and surrounded by soft tissue. Luckily, if you have a TRIOS you do have a great scanner.
Make sure to disable the color before scanning scan bodies. And when scanning neighboring scan bodies, scan them one by one, using the lock surface tool. This will prevent gingiva from collapsing.
Certified by 3Shape: 3 implants and a 22 mm gap between them
If you havent had the chance to be onboarded by me or one of my colleagues, but are keen on getting digital dentistry training, then the place to go is our 3Shape Community, where you can find the following: