TRIOS® #1 in ADA study for trueness and precision in intraoral scanners

The American Dental Association recently published a joint study conducted by the University of Maryland and University of Freiburg in Germany. The study evaluated the accuracy of the six leading intraoral scanners in the dental market.

The study found 3Shape TRIOS^® to be both the most accurate and consistent performer of the six intraoral scanners tested. The in-vitro study compared the iTero, True Definition (3M ESPE), PlanScan, CS 3500 (Carestream), TRIOS^®, and the CEREC AC Omnicam, scanning systems.

Interestingly, the study’s authors chose to use a TRIOS^® Standard – black and white model in its evaluation.

How scanner accuracy was tested

The study titled: “Evaluation of the Accuracy of Six Intraoral Scanning Devices: An in-vitro Investigation” was conducted by using an industrial grade, highly accurate reference scanner to create a digital reference dataset of an acrylic dental model. The acrylic model was then scanned on three separate occasions by a single trained, experienced dentist using each of the six intraoral scanning systems.

Each intraoral scanner was then evaluated in terms of its trueness and precision. Trueness (accuracy) was defined by superimposing the three digital datasets against the reference dataset, with 3D comparisons then performed. Precision (or consistency of the intraoral scanner) was defined by superimposing each dataset onto the other two obtained datasets and then evaluated for 3D deviations.

TRIOS scans the most accurate and consistent  

In both data tests, TRIOS^® was clearly the superior scanner. The study’s authors also commenting that “TRIOS^® scanning technology, in combination with the wand design, seems to be beneficial for capturing high-quality datasets with excellent trueness and precision values.”

The authors also cited usability challenges inherent with each type of scanner, i.e., 3M needs powder, CS 3500 must be kept very still etc... But named no such challenges with the TRIOS^® digital impression system.

STUDY RESULTS:

Trueness (accuracy):

1. TRIOS (6.9 ± 0.9 µm) (Black & White model)
2. CS 3500 (9.8 ± 0.8 µm)
3. iTero (9.8 ± 2.5 µm)
4. True Definition (10.3 ± 0.9 µm)
5. PlanScan (30.9 ± 10.8 µm),
6. CEREC OmniCam (45.2 ± 17.1 µm) (Fig. 2). 

Precision (consistency):

1. TRIOS (4.5 ± 0.9 µm) (Black & White model)
2. True Definition (6.1 ± 1.0 µm)
3. iTero (7.0 ± 1.4 µm)
4. CS3500 (7.2 ± 1.7 µm)
5. CEREC OmniCam (16.2 ± 4.0 µm)
6. PlanScan (26.4 ± 5.0 µm)

Study authors:

Gary D. Hack, DDS is Associate
Professor, Director of Simulation,
Department of Endodontics,
Prosthodontics and Operative
Dentistry, School of Dentistry,
University of Maryland, Baltimore,
Maryland.

Sebastian B. M. Patzelt, DMD, Dr
med dent is Associate Professor
and Managing Director, Director of
Predoctoral Prosthodontics Course II,
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry,
Center for Dental Medicine, Medical
Center–University of Freiburg,
Germany.

Disclosures. The authors reported no disclosures.