title: Digital Versus Conventional Impressions in Fixed Prosthodontics: A Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a systematic review to evaluate the evidence of possible benefits and accuracy of digital impression techniques vs. conventional impression techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reports of digital impression techniques versus conventional impression techniques were systematically searched for in the following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Web of Science. A combination of controlled vocabulary, free-text words, and well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria guided the search.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Digital impression accuracy is at the same level as conventional impression methods in fabrication of crowns and short fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). For fabrication of implant-supported crowns and FDPs, digital impression accuracy is clinically acceptable. In full-arch impressions, conventional impression methods resulted in better accuracy compared to digital impressions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Digital impression techniques are a clinically acceptable alternative to conventional impression methods in fabrication of crowns and short FDPs. For fabrication of implant-supported crowns and FDPs, digital impression systems also result in clinically acceptable fit. Digital impression techniques are faster and can shorten the operation time. Based on this study, the conventional impression technique is still recommended for full-arch impressions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Bachelor of dentistry, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ahlholm
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Bachelor of dentistry, Kuopio, Finland.|Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.|Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Medical Research Centre, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sipilä
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials Science and Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre - TCBC, Turku, Finland.|Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland, Turku, Finland.|Welfare Division, City of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallittu
authors.affiliation: Health Centre of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakonen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Bachelor of dentistry, Kuopio, Finland.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kotiranta
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003761:Dental Impression Technique
keywords: CAD/CAM; conventional impression; digital impression; impression accuracy