Rationale and technique for controlling the movements of soft tissues
Introduction
Thestabilization of tissues in the intraoral scanning of edentulous areasis one of the most critical factors for achieving accurate and repeatable results.
The presence of mobile soft tissues, combined with limited access to the scanning field, is often the main cause of errors in the intraoral scanning of edentulous arches and loss of tracking, resulting in the inability to correctly perform image stitching.
👉 For a comprehensive view of the issue, consult theguide on intraoral scanning of edentulous arches: feasibility, accuracy, and clinical strategies
Why is it essential to stabilize the tissues?
During intraoral scanning, soft tissues (tongue, lips, cheeks) can move continuously, causing:
loss of tracking
stitching errors
local distortions
artifacts
👉 Theseproblems are among the most common in the intraoral scanning of edentulous areas and related errors
The main issues related to lack of stabilization
1. Instability of the scanning field
An unstable field makes it difficult to:
maintain the continuity of the scan
acquire reliable data
avoid artifacts and distortions
2. Limited access
Without proper tissue retraction:
some areas are not visible or accessible to the scanner
the scan is incomplete or altered
3. Cumulative errors
Instability leads to progressive errors during the acquisition process.
👉 These aspects are also related to theworkflow of intraoral scanning of edentulous areas
Techniques to stabilize tissues in intraoral scanning
1. Retract the soft tissues
It is essential:
to move the tongue, lips, and cheeks away
to fully expose the edentulous ridge
2. Keep the field stable
Throughout the scan:
avoid movements
maintain a constant position of the tissues
3. Optimize access
Good access allows for:
better visibility
greater accuracy
👉 Questo è uno degli aspetti chiave nelle strategie di scansione intraorale degli edentuli
4. Use dedicated tools
Specific tools for tissue retraction and stabilization allow you to:
improve clinical control
reduce errors
increase predictability
Discover howdedicated tools for tissue retractioncan facilitate the management of the scanner, which can be placed on them, allowing for the maintenance of an optimal distance from the tissues, and can be slid over them to optimize the standardization of movements and their sequence
Impact of stabilization on accuracy
Proper stabilization allows for:
improving tracking
reducing distortions
achieving more accurate scans
completing the scan in subsequent steps without loss of accuracy
👉 This aspect is also fundamental in evaluating accuracy in full-arch intraoral scanning
Conclusions
Thestabilization of tissues in the intraoral scanning of edentulous patientsis not a technical detail, but a central element for the success of the procedure.
👉 Controlling access and stability helps reduce errors and significantly improve clinical outcomes.
💡 Scopri come ottimizzare ulteriormente la tua scansione intraorale utilizzando strategie e strumenti dedicati alla gestione dei tessuti molli.