An overview of intraoral scanners and computer-aided design software programs used in scan design stages in digital dentistry

Abstract

In prosthetic dental treatments, obtaining the negative of the prepared area in the most accurate way directly affects the success of the restoration to be made. Therefore, it is necessary to give importance to the impression material and the impression technique used. Impression materials have undergone changes over the years in order to record the most accurate and sensitive detail. Studies have tried to improve many physical and chemical properties of the impression material. Despite this, it should not be forgotten that there are numerous external factors such as the skill of the clinician, environmental conditions, and storage conditions for the impression to be obtained. Developments in computer-aided design and design (CAD/CAM) technology have significantly increased the use of these systems in dentistry in recent years. In dentistry, many companies in the market aim to minimize the problems that may occur in the laboratory and clinical environment by adding intraoral or extraoral scanners to CAD/CAM systems. The first step of dental CAD-CAM systems is digital scanning with an intraoral or laboratory scanner. This step is followed by the construction phase of restorations with digital design and production devices on the computer. Therefore, the success of these restorations depends largely on the accuracy and precision of the scanning devices. This review will discuss CAD/CAM systems and intraoral scanners and software programs.