Does partial adhesive preparation design and finish line depth influence trueness and precision of intraoral scanners?

Statement of problem: Intraoral scanners (IOSs) are widely used for partial-coverage adhesive restorations, but data on their performance in such preparations with complex geometries are sparse. Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate whether the partial-coverage adhesive preparation design and finish line depth affect the trueness and precision of different IOSs. Material and methods: Seven partial-coverage adhesive preparation designs (4 different onlays, 2 endocrowns, and 1 occlusal veneer) were tested on copies of the same tooth placed in a typodont mounted on a mannequin. Each preparation was scanned 10 times with 6 different IOSs (total 420 scans) under the same light conditions. Trueness and precision, defined according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 5725-1 standard, were analyzed with a best-fit algorithm by superimposition. The obtained data were analyzed by a 2-way analysis of variance to examine the effects of partial-coverage adhesive preparation design, IOS, and their interactions (α=.05). Results: Significant differences were found among different preparation designs and IOSs (P<.05) in terms of both trueness and precision. Significant differences were also found among mean positive and negative values (P<.05). Moreover, crosslinks observed between the preparation area and the adjacent teeth correlated with the finish line depth. Conclusions: Complex partial adhesive preparation designs affect the trueness and precision of IOSs, resulting in significant differences among them. Interproximal preparations should take into account the IOS's resolution and placing the finish line close to adjacent structures should be avoided.