Intraoral Scanners

Over the last two decades, intra-oral scanners (Fig. 35) have become increasingly popular for making digital impressions and recently, they have been recommended as novel tools for digital shade determination.^65-67 They have inbuilt high-resolution cameras that can capture images detailing both the shape and the color of the dentition in real-time. The images are then analyzed using the imaging software. Scanners permit color determination without the need for additional equipment.

Fig. 35 - Intraoral Scanner

Fig. 35 - Intraoral Scanner

Image: © 3Shape A/S

Current literature on the use of scanners for digital shade determination is controversial. AKL et al. have suggested that intraoral scanners set to the Vita 3D Master shade guide may be used for shade matching, however; they indicated that the shade determined by the scanner should be verified with visual shade matching.⁶⁷ Similarly, Tabatabian et al. reported that intraoral scanners demonstrate acceptable precision but unacceptable accuracy for shade matching.⁶⁸ Thus, it can be concluded that intraoral scanners should be used as adjuncts to the visual color determination process rather than as standalone tools.