The use of digital impression technique among Swedish dentists and dental technicians : A questionnaire survey

Abstract: Background: Digital impressions are becoming increasingly favored among dentists and dental technicians in Sweden. The knowledge about the use of digital impression techniques is important to improve the clinical work for dentists and dental technicians. However, the conventional impression techniques are still widely used although the digital impression techniques have become more preferred nowadays. Aim: The aim of this survey study was to investigate the use of digital impressions among dentists and dental technicians in Sweden. Pros and cons with the digital impression techniques were investigated as well as the areas in which it is used.  Method: Questionnaires were sent by post to dentists and dental technicians with different questions suited to each profession. The questionnaires were distributed to four regions representing the southern, western, eastern, and northern parts of the country. The questions contained information about the use of digital impressions.   Results: Fixed prosthodontics and the production of mouth guards are areas in which the digital impression techniques are most frequently used. Dentists believed that precision, time saving impression procedure and patient comfort were the greatest advantages with the digital impression techniques. Dental technicians thought that time, cost, possibility to reuse digital impressions and the minimization of the sources of error were the greatest advantages with the digital impression techniques.    Conclusions: The digital impression techniques are widely used among dentists and dental technicians, specifically within fixed prosthodontics and the production of mouth guards.