title: Intraoral Digital Impression Technique Compared to Conventional Impression Technique. A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare digital and conventional impression techniques in a randomized clinical trial; specifically, procedure times, patient-centered outcomes, and clinical evaluation of the restorations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients in need of tooth-supported single crowns and/or fixed partial prostheses up to six units were randomly allocated to one of the impression techniques. The procedure times, dentists' and patients' assessments using a visual analog scale (VAS), and clinical evaluation of the restorations were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total procedure times for digital and conventional impression technique were 14:33 ± 5:27 and 20:42 ± 5:42, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean impression times were 7:33 ± 3.37 and 11:33 ± 1.56, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean VAS scores for the dentist's assessment of difficulty (0 to 100; very difficult = 100) were 24.00 ± 18.02 and 48.02 ± 21.21, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean VAS scores for the patients' assessment of discomfort (0 to 100; very discomforting = 100) was 6.50 ± 5.87 and 44.86 ± 27.13, respectively (p < 0.0001). Occlusal contacts showed a better result for the digital technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrated that the digital technique was more efficient and convenient than the conventional impression technique.
authors.affiliation: Folktandvården Skåne AB-Centre of Dental Specialist Care Malmö, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gjelvold
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bruno Ramos
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Chrcanovic
authors.affiliation: Folktandvården Skåne AB-Centre of Dental Specialist Care Malmö, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva-Karin
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Korduner
authors.affiliation: Folktandvården Skåne AB-Centre of Dental Specialist Care Malmö, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Collin-Bagewitz
authors.affiliation: Folktandvården Skåne AB-Centre of Dental Specialist Care Malmö, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenö
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kisch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003442:Crowns; D003761:Dental Impression Technique; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CAD/CAM; Digital impression; clinical efficiency; computer-aided impression; intraoral scanner; patient perception