Clinical Evaluation of an Enhanced Intraoral Scanning Wand

Objectives: Evaluate ease of access and capability to capture data in areas of the mouth with limited access (distal to terminal molars) with a modified wand design for 3M™ True Definition Digital Scanner and assess subject comfort during scanning procedures.
Methods: Eleven dentists/clinicians with experience using original wand participated in the IRB approved study. Consenting adult volunteers (n= 30) were enrolled. Clinicians were asked to scan distal surface of terminal molars and as much soft tissue as was comfortable to subjects on maxilla and mandible that would be required in typical clinical settings using a 5-point scale (1=very easy, 5=very difficult). Subjects rated comfort during the scanning procedure on a 5-point scale (1: very comfortable, 5: very uncomfortable). The data were analyzed via Confidence Interval tests for one and two proportions.
Results: 29 subjects completed the study; one subject had only the mandibular molars scanned due to time constraint. In 86% (CI: 68-96%) of scans, clinicians stated access to distal areas was either “very easy” or “easy” to access. In 93% (CI: 78-99%) of scans, the clinicians stated to capture data was either “very easy” or “easy” on distal of mandibular terminal molars, and in 86% (CI: 68-96%) of scans, to capture data was either “very easy” or “easy” on distal of maxillary terminal molars. Results for mandibular and maxillary molars were statistically not different (p=0.364). All clinicians stated they did not have to apply significant lateral pressure to complete the scans. In 93% (CI: 78-99%), subjects reported the scanning process to be very comfortable or comfortable.
Conclusions: Results showed the areas tested were easy to access and obtain data from the distal terminal molars with the modified wand. The modified wand was comfortable for the subjects during the scanning process.