Aim: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy of scanning stock abutment versus scan bodies on a single implant using two different intra-oral scanners.
Methodology: A printed cast model of a partially edentulous maxilla installed with a single implant at the second premolar area was fabricated to serve as reference cast. Two scannable components were used in this study; a scan body (control group) and a stock abutment (intervention group). For both groups, the cast was scanned once with an extra-oral scanner and five times with two different intraoral scanners; Medit i700 and Prime scan. Geomagic X- software was used to compare the trueness and precision in the two groups. Precision was recorded twice (with full model scans and after segmentation of the scannable components from their corresponding models). RMS values were recorded, tabulated and analyzed.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences in trueness between the 2 groups (scan body and stock abutment groups) for both intraoral scanners. There was no statistically significant difference in trueness between the two intraoral scanners within each group. Primescan IOS showed significantly lower precision than Medit i700 in the full model scans of the scan body group.
Conclusions: Trueness was significantly comparable for both groups and was not significantly affected by the type of IOS used. However, precision of Medit i700 was higher than that of Primescan IOS when scan bodies were used especially in the full model scans.