Factors influencing the efficiency of intraoral scanners in dental prosthesis: Narrative review

Abstract

The objective of this literature review is to critically analyze the factors that influence the efficiency of intraoral scanners. Searches in electronic databases were performed using indexed keywords and free terms. The research was limited to full articles written in Portuguese and English and published in journals between 2011 and 2024. Intraoral scanning systems can be used reliably for diagnostic purposes and for short-span areas. However, for full-arc scanning, this system is more susceptible to distortion. Regarding the different scanner systems, the studies indicated variable results that do not allow a preference for the system to be realized. It is concluded that for the performance of prosthetic rehabilitation, the accuracy of the scanners is higher when the extension of the scan is reduced and when the scanned surfaces have minimal irregularities.