DENTAL IMPRESSIONS AND GYPSUM MODEL SCANNING ACCURACY USING A LASER SCANNER ARE COMPARED

This article presents a comparative analysis of the dimensional accuracy of digital models obtained throughdirect laser scanning of silicone impressions and scanning of Type IV and Type V gypsum models used in prostheticdentistry. A calibrated Johanssen gauge block with a nominal reference distance of 7 mm was employed as theexperimental standard. The results demonstrate that digital models derived from Type IV super-gypsum (Elite Rock)exhibit the highest dimensional accuracy. Direct scanning of impressions showed slightly greater deviations, primarilyattributed to the application of anti-glare spray required for optical scanning of reflective silicone surfaces. While directimpression scanning is clinically viable and offers workflow efficiency, its accuracy remains marginally inferior to gypsumbaseddigitization for high-precision prosthetic applications. The findings emphasize the importance of material selectionand scanning methodology optimization in modern CAD/CAM dental workflows