Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study

Abstract Background Intraoral scanners are an essential part of modern digital dentistry, yet the influence of calibration on their accuracy remains underexplored. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of calibration on the scanning accuracy of the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner after a noncal...

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Main Authors: Mehmet Gümüş Kanmaz, Genta Agani Sabah, Melin Balcı, Müfide Bengü Erden
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06584-0
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author Mehmet Gümüş Kanmaz
Genta Agani Sabah
Melin Balcı
Müfide Bengü Erden
author_facet Mehmet Gümüş Kanmaz
Genta Agani Sabah
Melin Balcı
Müfide Bengü Erden
author_sort Mehmet Gümüş Kanmaz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Intraoral scanners are an essential part of modern digital dentistry, yet the influence of calibration on their accuracy remains underexplored. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of calibration on the scanning accuracy of the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner after a noncalibrated period of 324 days. Methods Digital impressions of upper and lower full-arch phantom jaw models were obtained before and after calibration using the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark; software version 22.1.1). A total of 20 scans (five before and five after calibration for each jaw) were acquired by a single experienced operator. Reference scans were obtained with an extraoral scanner (E4, 3Shape, Denmark). Linear measurements (intermolar and interpremolar) and three-dimensional superimposition parameters (Absolute Average, Root Mean Square, and (90–10)/2) were used to assess trueness and precision. All measurements were performed using Medit Link software (version 3.3.6; Medit). Results Assessment of method error demonstrated excellent intrarater reliability for all trueness and precision parameters (ICC > 0.994, P < 0.001). Statistical analyses revealed minor differences in linear measurements and three-dimensional superimposition values before and after calibration, none of which reached statistical significance (P > 0.05). Regarding trueness, the upper jaw showed slightly increased Absolute Average (0.068 ± 0.004) and (90–10)/2 values (0.093 ± 0.006) after calibration compared to before calibration (0.065 ± 0.003 and 0.087 ± 0.006, respectively), while the lower jaw exhibited higher Root Mean Square values after calibration (0.088 ± 0.008) than before (0.076 ± 0.006). Precision results showed a slightly increased Absolute Average (0.029 ± 0.003), Root Mean Square (0.064 ± 0.006) and (90 − 10)/2 (0.036 ± 0.006) values in the upper jaw, and Root Mean Square (0.095 ± 0.010) values in the lower jaw after calibration. Trueness and precision of linear measurements also showed a general decrease after calibration in both jaws, though the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions The findings of this study show that the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner maintained its accuracy without calibration for up to 324 days, suggesting that occasional deviations from manufacturer-recommended calibration intervals may not compromise scan quality. However, adherence to routine calibration is recommended until further evidence is available.
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spelling doaj-art-6d026cd9c67b4b45bd6c9538e62c44582025-08-20T03:46:29ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-07-012511810.1186/s12903-025-06584-0Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro studyMehmet Gümüş Kanmaz0Genta Agani Sabah1Melin Balcı2Müfide Bengü Erden3Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Tinaztepe UniversityDepartment of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Tinaztepe UniversityOperative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, European University CyprusDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Tinaztepe UniversityAbstract Background Intraoral scanners are an essential part of modern digital dentistry, yet the influence of calibration on their accuracy remains underexplored. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of calibration on the scanning accuracy of the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner after a noncalibrated period of 324 days. Methods Digital impressions of upper and lower full-arch phantom jaw models were obtained before and after calibration using the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark; software version 22.1.1). A total of 20 scans (five before and five after calibration for each jaw) were acquired by a single experienced operator. Reference scans were obtained with an extraoral scanner (E4, 3Shape, Denmark). Linear measurements (intermolar and interpremolar) and three-dimensional superimposition parameters (Absolute Average, Root Mean Square, and (90–10)/2) were used to assess trueness and precision. All measurements were performed using Medit Link software (version 3.3.6; Medit). Results Assessment of method error demonstrated excellent intrarater reliability for all trueness and precision parameters (ICC > 0.994, P < 0.001). Statistical analyses revealed minor differences in linear measurements and three-dimensional superimposition values before and after calibration, none of which reached statistical significance (P > 0.05). Regarding trueness, the upper jaw showed slightly increased Absolute Average (0.068 ± 0.004) and (90–10)/2 values (0.093 ± 0.006) after calibration compared to before calibration (0.065 ± 0.003 and 0.087 ± 0.006, respectively), while the lower jaw exhibited higher Root Mean Square values after calibration (0.088 ± 0.008) than before (0.076 ± 0.006). Precision results showed a slightly increased Absolute Average (0.029 ± 0.003), Root Mean Square (0.064 ± 0.006) and (90 − 10)/2 (0.036 ± 0.006) values in the upper jaw, and Root Mean Square (0.095 ± 0.010) values in the lower jaw after calibration. Trueness and precision of linear measurements also showed a general decrease after calibration in both jaws, though the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions The findings of this study show that the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner maintained its accuracy without calibration for up to 324 days, suggesting that occasional deviations from manufacturer-recommended calibration intervals may not compromise scan quality. However, adherence to routine calibration is recommended until further evidence is available.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06584-0Intraoral scannerCalibrationAccuracyPrecisionTruenessDigital impression
spellingShingle Mehmet Gümüş Kanmaz
Genta Agani Sabah
Melin Balcı
Müfide Bengü Erden
Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study
BMC Oral Health
Intraoral scanner
Calibration
Accuracy
Precision
Trueness
Digital impression
title Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study
title_full Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study
title_fullStr Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study
title_short Comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration: an in vitro study
title_sort comparison of intraoral scanner accuracy before and after calibration an in vitro study
topic Intraoral scanner
Calibration
Accuracy
Precision
Trueness
Digital impression
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06584-0
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AT melinbalcı comparisonofintraoralscanneraccuracybeforeandaftercalibrationaninvitrostudy
AT mufidebenguerden comparisonofintraoralscanneraccuracybeforeandaftercalibrationaninvitrostudy