Patient comfort during intraoral scanning for digital imprinting

Abstract

Introduction: During intraoral scanning of prepared vital teeth without local anesthesia, the patient’s sensory experience may be influenced by the heating mechanism of the scanner tip. The Aoralscan 3 (Shining 3D) scanner uses a built-in microscopic heating element, whereas the Medit i500 warms the mirror surface via air circulation, which may potentially cause sensitivity, discomfort, or pain. Aim: To evaluate and compare the patient subjective comfort during intraoral scanning of prepared vital teeth without local anesthesia using two intraoral scanners – Aoralscan 3 and Medit i500. Materials and Methods: Between 2024 and 2025, a clinical study was conducted among 56 patients treated with fixed prosthetic restorations. Each patient was scanned with both the intraoral scanners before and after tooth preparation of vital teeth without the use of anesthesia. Comfort was assessed using a three-point scale (1 = no pain, 2 = discomfort, 3 = pain). Patients exhibiting hypersensitivity of unprepared teeth were excluded from statistical analysis. Data were processed using the Python environment (Pandas and Scipy.stats modules). Results: After excluding participants with pre-existing hypersensitivity (n = 8), statistically significant differences in the subjective perception of comfort between the two scanners were observed. With Aoralscan 3 (Shining 3D), 89.6% of patients reported no pain, 10.4% reported mild discomfort, and none experienced severe pain. With Medit i500, 22.9% reported no pain, 41.7% experienced discomfort, and 35.4% reported distinct pain, with a statistically significant deterioration in comfort after tooth preparation (p < 0.001). Comparative analysis confirmed higher tolerance with Aoralscan 3 (Wilcoxon W = 0.000, p < 0.001). Age and gender had no significant effect on the subjective comfort score (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Aoralscan 3 provides greater patient comfort during scanning of vital teeth without anesthesia compared to Medit i500, likely due to differences in the heating mechanism. Selecting an appropriate scanner technology is crucial for achieving optimal patient comfort and ensuring the successful implementation of digital impressions.