Overview of Intraoral Dental 3D Scanners

This material is a translation of an article about intraoral dental 3D scanners that were exhibited at the IDS 2017 dental equipment exhibition.




Visitors to the International Dental Exhibition in Cologne, Germany, saw a lot of new devices and programs for the work of dentists.
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The abundance of new exhibits at the exhibition is no longer surprising, but this year we were shown an unprecedented number of digital applications, both with standard functionality and conceptually fresh ones. The exhibition reflected the growth of competition between manufacturers, which is a plus for the end user.



The article, published immediately after the exhibition in Chinese, was later supplemented with fresh information.



The article discusses the intraoral scanners presented at IDS 2017, a description is given for each device, based on first use impressions, and a comparative table of scanner characteristics.

Note:

Ratings in the article are subjective, they do not take into account such criteria as cost, device design, their programmable functions and differences in the question of the target audience for which they were originally designed.

Review Criteria

Scan speed

Most intraoral scanners use light to obtain images, the quality of this light is reduced when the device is actively working in the oral cavity. Also, the tissues of the oral cavity, often quite mobile, used solutions and the presence of metal surfaces in the scanner affect the scanning speed.

Fast scanning reduces the level of errors that occur with increased bleeding and interaction with soft tissues. An effective scanner should have a good signal-to-noise ratio — a parameter that determines the optimal scanning speed.

Scanning head size

The smaller size of the scanning heads makes it possible to scan hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity. Arguments in favor of larger scanning heads - greater grip, i.e. - increase scan speed.

Ease of use

Simplicity and ease of use depend on optimizing the firmware, the shape and weight of the scanner itself, and the controls. Some devices require the use of special powders. Evaluation of this criterion is associated with the elimination of delays and the need to pause the scan.

Image acquisition

We evaluated image acquisition by the quality of scanning from the first time, by the presence of complete software and the possibility to use the obtained model without additional processing.

Other features interesting to users were also taken into account:

• Existence of the touch control panel
• Do you need special powders?
• Remote control
• Color rendition
• Tint function

TRIOS 3 (3Shape)

• Very fast scanner;

  
  

• Updated software and filling line, introduced a wireless model;

  
  

• The wireless model works as briskly as the wired scanners of this manufacturer;

  
  

• Software update allows you to control the scanners remotely;

  
  

• There was a digital monitoring function, the scanner can be used to examine the oral cavity;

  
  

• More intuitive interface.

Price: 28,000 euros

CEREC Omnicam (Dentsply-Sirona)

• Omnicam scanners have increased in speed thanks to the new processor and software optimization;

  
  

• The scanning head has not changed - one of the smallest on the market, it is larger than the scanning elements in 3M and Dental Wings devices;

  
  

• Omnicam is not inferior in speed and efficiency even to the recognized leader in these indicators - 3Shape. This is achieved by lower resolution of the preliminary rendering, which reduces the load on the processor and speeds up the processing;

  
  

• In the CEREC software versions 4.4 and 4.5, the function of automatic cutting of tissues unnecessary in the scan is improved, in which 3Shape were previously ahead of the rest of the planet;

  
  

• In the latest CEREC software, post-processing is performed during scanning, which speeds up the production of the finished model.

  
  

51,000 euros

CS3600 (Carestream)

• Compared to CS3500, which scanned on the basis of static images, CS3600 uses video, which increases efficiency;

  
  

• Scan speed is not high, but acceptable;

  
  

• The size of the scanning head is small, but the resolution is good, with the function of format selection;

  
  

• The software still suffers from such shortcomings as the impossibility of simulating several restorations simultaneously.

  
  

Price on request

Emerald (Planmeca)

• Scanning speed increased compared to devices from this manufacturer of the previous generation;

  
  

• Scanning heads are still not removed. The manufacturer promises to make them smaller;

  
  

• Efficiency comparable to CS3600;

  
  

• The screen highlights areas that the software allows you to scan as accurately as possible, which means that the user will have to constantly look there during the work;

  
  

• The advantage over the device from Carestream is more optimized software, comparable to CEREC.

  
  

Price on request

DWOS (Dental Wings)

• DWOS scanning heads are distinguished by their original design and additional sensors located at an angle relative to the central chamber;

  
  

• Scan speed is low;

  
  

• The design of the scanner allows you to immediately cover the entire dental arch;

  
  

• Ability to control software by hand gestures: for example, it is enough to hold your finger in front of the screen to control the peripheral camera;

  
  

• The gesture control system resembles the 3Shape remote control system;

  
  

• The scanning head is equipped with light indicators that warn of difficulties in the scanning process - the user is forced to constantly look at the scanner during the work;

  
  

• Real-time data synchronization between the scanner and the computer provides automatic display of implants on the model;

  
  

• There are a lot of innovative ideas in DWOS scanners. We hope they will receive due development in the future.

  
  

Price on request

True definition (3M)

• 3M True definition comes with a control module with support for Microsoft Surface, it connects to the scanner via USB;

  
  

• Small scanning head;

  
  

• Speed ​​is acceptable;

  
  

• Powder needed for scanning, this is a minus;

  
  

• The software in the scanning process shows only the model, without projecting possible changes on it. This is the main difference from other devices - the user has no visual presentation where the scanner should be sent at the next moment. Especially inconvenient in case of interruption of the scanning process;

  
  

• To solve the above problem, the developers have provided the scanner with separate indicators on the screen, which are designed to indicate from where to continue scanning. Controversial decision;

  
  

• There is no possibility to directly fill the “holes” in the model. The user needs to memorize where these gaps are located and scan the area data again, after which the software combines the images;

  
  

• The main advantage is mobility;

  
  

• Disadvantages, including the need for powder and the lack of color, make you think about choosing a device from another manufacturer.

  
  

Price on request

Aadva (GC)

• Scan speed is acceptable;

  
  

• Almost no errors occur;

  
  

• The case design is ergonomic;

  
  

• Large and not very convenient scanning head;

  
  

• Developers do not recommend scanning large areas, this may affect the final accuracy of the model;

  
  

• There is no software for modeling: the data obtained must be exported to STL-format.

  
  

Price on request

iTero (Align)

• ITero scanners, along with 3Shape, are among the first devices that began to use confocal microscopy for imaging;

  
  

• They are used to obtain complete orthodontic pictures in the manufacture of "Invizalayn" aligners;

  
  

• Scan speed is high;

  
  

• Cumbersome and heavy, it will be difficult for an inexperienced user to scan with one hand;

  
  

• The developers promise to include in the software the ability to create denture models, which will expand the scope of application of these devices.

  
  

Price on request

MyCrown (Fona)

• Fona is very similar to the old Bluecam Sirona;

  
  

• Fona is a unit of Sirona that is used in the same way in software devices, but it is possible that there are separate additional functions;

  
  

• It is necessary to use powder;

  
  

• The scanner has a bright light source;

  
  

• Resembles early CEREC devices, with less optimized software and reduced scanning efficiency.

  
  

Price on request

VIZ (Adin)

• Scanner, the thickness of which does not allow comfortable to hold it in your hand;

  
  

• Probably the lowest scanning speed of all the devices presented;

  
  

• Model resolution after post-processing is low - polygons are well distinguishable;

  
  

• The main advantage is cost. According to the manufacturer, “This is the best scanner in its price range,” with which we fundamentally disagree;

  
  

• The software supports touch control, if it is supported by a laptop connected to the device.

  
  

Price on request

Conclusion

After the publication of the original version of the article, the authors received many comments from outraged suppliers, which is not surprising - such ratings always mean that some devices lose to others. We emphasize once again that the review is based on the first and very subjective impression from the use of certain intraoral scanners. In addition, the applied criteria are not able to give a complete picture of the devices - some users may like to work with the scanner, which is criticized here.


The table below contains data comparing various intraoral scanners with IDS 2017. The scores on the criteria give a general idea of ​​a particular device, its performance and ease of use. This review is devoted directly to scanners - all other stages of the workflow were not taken into account by the authors. Some devices, such as the Condor and 3M, are shipped without software and additional equipment, which is present in the case of other scanners such as Planmeca and Sirona.

We recommend not using this table to select the "best" scanner.

The main purpose of the review is not to identify winners and losers, but to provide information on the latest developments in the field of dentistry, which can be difficult for users to find.

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