Introduction: Many in vitro and in vivo techniques to diagnose and measure dental erosion are included in the literature, but none of the in vivo techniques could detect the early erosive enamel wear in microns.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if intraoral scanners could diagnose dental erosion when compared to a 3D confocal laser microscope.
Methodology: Thirty six 1 mm thick enamel samples were luted to labial surfaces of sound extracted anterior teeth. Baseline scans of the specimens were made by intraoral scanner (Carestream 3700) and 3D confocal microscope (KEYENCE VK-X100). Each enamel sample had a reference area created by applying a protective tape then the teeth were immersed in citric acid of 1% concentration (ph.: 2.7). After 1, 3and 6 hours teeth were removed and brushed with an electrical tooth brush for 2 minutes. To determine the enamel loss each follow-up scan was superimposed with the baseline scan and measured with the tools of the intraoral scanner's software. Same procedures were performed under the 3D confocal laser microscope where height difference between eroded and reference surfaces was measured. Values obtained were statistically analyzed.
Results: 3D laser microscope detected enamel loss at each time point, while the intraoral scanner detected the erosion only at 3h and 6h, values of loss varied between both methods. Bland Altman test was statistically significant.
Conclusions: Intraoral scanner was able to diagnose erosive dental wear on the samples after erosive acidic challenge with its internal software tools.