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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07705009

Intraoral Scanning Versus Alginate Impressions in Dental Students

Dental impressions are used to create a record of a person's teeth and oral structures. Conventional impressions are made using impression material placed in a tray, whereas digital impressions are obtained using an intraoral scanner.

This randomized clinical trial compared conventional alginate impressions with digital intraoral scanning using the TRIOS 3 and Medit i700 scanners among dental students aged 18 to 24 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three impression techniques. Each participant underwent recording of both the upper and lower dental arches using the assigned technique.

The study primarily compared the chairside time required for each technique and the participants' experience immediately after the procedure. Comfort, nausea, breathing, pain, dry-mouth sensation, perceived procedure speed, overall satisfaction, and preference for conventional or digital impressions were also evaluated.

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Key information

Conditions

Dental Impression Techniques

Age range

18 year–24 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University

Huế, 530000, Vietnam

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Undergraduate dental students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University.
  • Aged 18 to 24 years.
  • Willing to undergo one maxillary and one mandibular dental impression using the assigned technique.
  • Willing and able to complete the study questionnaire.
  • Provided written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Currently undergoing orthodontic treatment.
  • Presence of a systemic disease or acute condition that limited the ability to cooperate or increased the risk of discomfort during impression taking or intraoral scanning, including an acute respiratory disorder or frequent vomiting.
  • Limited mouth opening or an oral and maxillofacial condition that prevented correct impression-tray seating or scanner-tip placement according to the study protocol.
  • A maxillofacial abnormality that markedly affected the procedure or caused significant recording distortion.
  • An excessive gag reflex that prevented completion of the assigned procedure.

Treatment and study plan

Conventional Alginate Impression

Procedure

Maxillary and mandibular conventional impressions were obtained using Tropical alginate impression material and stock trays. The alginate was mixed, placed in the impression tray, and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

TRIOS 3 Intraoral Scanner

Procedure

Maxillary and mandibular full-arch digital impressions were obtained using the TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner according to the manufacturer's recommended scanning protocol. A bite-registration scan was also obtained.

Medit i700 Intraoral Scanner

Procedure

Maxillary and mandibular full-arch digital impressions were obtained using the Medit i700 intraoral scanner according to the manufacturer's recommended scanning protocol. A bite-registration scan was also obtained.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Chairside Procedure Time

    Time frame: During the assigned impression procedure at the single study visit

    Total chairside procedure time was measured in seconds using a digital stopwatch and calculated as the sum of the recorded procedural stages. For the conventional alginate group, the stages included maxillary mixing, maxillary impression taking, mandibular mixing, and mandibular impression taking. For the digital groups, the stages included patient and case information entry, maxillary scanning, and mandibular scanning. Bite-registration time was excluded from the total procedure time because there was no equivalent stage in the conventional alginate workflow.

  2. Patient-Reported Overall Comfort During the Impression Procedure

    Time frame: Immediately after completion of the assigned impression procedure

    Overall comfort during the assigned impression procedure was assessed immediately after the procedure using a 0-to-100 visual analogue scale. Higher scores indicated greater comfort.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Procedure Time and Patient Comfort of Intraoral Scanning Versus Alginate Impressions Among Dental Students: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 15, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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