To compare digital and conventional impression techniques in terms of comfort time and accuracy

Over the years, diagnosis and treatment procedures have relied on plaster models , though the plaster models used in diagnosis and treatment procedures , they have their own disadvantages .Such as , plaster models involves multiple steps, including taking impressions, pouring plaster, and waiting for it to set. This process can be time-consuming and may delay treatment planning.Plaster models are physical objects that require storage space and can be bulky to transport. They can also be fragile and may break during handling or shipping.Plaster models may not always capture fine details accurately, especially in complex cases or with delicate structures like margins or interproximal areas. Plaster models can distort over time due to changes in humidity or temperature, potentially affecting their accuracy and usefulness for treatment planning.Taking impressions for plaster models can be uncomfortable for patients, especially those with a strong gag reflex or sensitivity to materials.Plaster models require materials like gypsum, which can have environmental implications due to mining and manufacturing processes. Additionally, the disposal of used models can contribute to waste.Overall , while plaster models have been a staple in dentistry for many years, advancements in digital technology offer several advantages over traditional methods, including improved accuracy, efficiency, and patient comfort .

Given this, digital intraoral scanners have emerged as a dominant trend in dentistry, transforming the viability of intraoral scans and digital models as an alternative to traditional impressions. An intraoral scanner is a handheld device used to directly create digital impression data of the oral cavity. Light source from the scanner is projected onto the dental arches, and then a 3D model processed by the scanning software will be displayed in real-time on a touch screen. The device provides accurate details of the hard and soft tissues located in the oral area through high-quality images. This technology offers several advantages, including patient comfort, particularly beneficial for anxious children or those sensitive to gagging or nausea. Additionally, it facilitates improved communication between colleagues and laboratories, reduces waste, lowers shipping costs to laboratories, eliminates the risk of disease transmission, and eliminates the need for articulation of casts for occlusal corrections.

As intraoral scanning technology continues to advance with smaller scanners and faster acquisition times, patients and paediatric dentists may show an increased preference for digital impressions.

Despite the promising aspects, research on the use of digital impression is limited to paediatric dentistry and studies evaluating the concordance of the images obtained from intraoral scanning and the impact of this technique on children.Hence, this study aimed to compare digital and conventional impression methods regarding comfort, accuracy, and time in children aged 7 to 9 years of age .