Features and performance of an ideal scanner for scanning edentulous arches
Introduction
The choice of theintraoral scanner for edentulous patientsis a determining factor for achieving accurate and predictable results in digital prosthetic rehabilitation.
Not all scanners are optimized for scanning edentulous arches, where the presence of mobile soft tissues and reduced geometry pose a significant challenge.
👉 To understand the clinical basics of intraoral scanning for edentulous patients, refer to theguide on intraoral scanning of edentulous arches
Why is the choice of scanner critical for edentulous patients?
Unlike dentate arches, in edentulous cases the scanner must:
capture surfaces with few references
perform stitching of images captured on unstable soft tissues
capture images quickly
greater risk of loss of tracking
👉 These factors are the basis of themain errors in intraoral scanning of edentulous patients
Fundamental characteristics of a scanner for edentulous patients
1. Tracking stability
The scanner must maintain tracking even in the presence of poorly defined surfaces.
2. Acquisition speed
A quick scan reduces:
tissue movements
errors
artifacts
3. Detection of surfaces with unaccentuated textures
It is essential that the scanner is effective in detecting soft tissues and surfaces with poor surface textures.
4. Accuracy on full-arch
Full-arch scanning requires:
high precision
reduction of cumulative errors
availability ofvalidated scanning strategies especially for the lower arch
👉 This is closely related to theaccuracy in full-arch intraoral scanning
Scanner vs clinical conditions: the real point
It is important to emphasize that the scanner alone is not sufficient.
Clinical conditions, in particular:
access to the scanning field
tissue stabilization
are crucial for the outcome and must be created and managed withappropriate retraction and stabilization tools.
👉 Learn more about howto stabilize tissues in intraoral scanning
Intraoral scanner or traditional impression?
The comparison between digital and conventional depends on:
type of case
tissue conditions
prosthetic goal, particularly for removable prosthetics
👉 Also read the comparison betweenmucostatic and mucocompressive approaches
How to choose the right scanner
To choose the most suitable scanner:
evaluate performance on edentulous
consider theclinical workflow
analyze ease of use
demonstrated accuracy and precision
integrate tools to stabilize tissues
Conclusions
The choice of theintraoral scanner for edentulousis important, but cannot disregard the control of clinical conditions.
👉 The true determining factor remains the management of access and tissue stability.
💡 An integrated approach between technology and clinical control is key to achieving reliable results. Learn more about how to facilitate the use of the scanner by facilitating themaintenance of its distance from the tissue and optimizing scanning paths.