Accuracy, reproducibility, and time-efficiency of dental measurements using different technologies

Abstract

Background: Historically, orthodontists have taken dental measurements on plaster casts. Recently, technological advances have given orthodontists the ability to take dental measurements on digital models. It was the goal of this study to assess the accuracy, reproducibility, and time-efficiency of measurements taken on three digital models and compare them to the gold standard plaster casts. Methods: Three operators measured tooth widths on 30 sets of dental models. Toothwidth measurements were recorded and timed for plaster casts, SureSmile diagnostic casts (OraMetrix, Richardson, Texas), emodels (Geodigm, Minneapolis, Minnesota), and AnatoModels (Anatomage, San Jose, California). To assess accuracy and reproducibility, the Altman-Bland agreement and mean squared error were calculated for individual teeth. Differences in time-efficiency among the types of dental casts were tested for statistical significance using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s method as a post hoc pairwise comparison procedure. Results: SureSmile diagnostic casts were most accurate when compared to plaster casts followed by emodels and AnatoModels. SureSmile diagnostic casts were also the most reproducible dental casts. emodels were the quickest to complete tooth-width measurements, followed by SureSmile diagnostic casts, plaster casts, and AnatoModels. Conclusions: Tooth-width measurements were most accurate and reproducible on SureSmile diagnostic casts. Measurements taken on emodels and SureSmile diagnostic casts were clinically significantly faster when compared to plaster casts and AnatoModels.