Is There a Difference Between Dental Measurements on Conventional Plaster Models and Digital Models?Background: Comparison of dental measurements between conventional plaster models and digital models. Methods: The sample consisted of 41 final models from

Abstract

Background: Comparison of dental measurements between conventional plaster models and digital models.

Methods: The sample consisted of 41 final models from the archive of the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ordu University. Mesiodistal tooth widths, intercanine and intermolar arch widths, and Bolton tooth size discrepancies were evaluated on both plaster and digital models. Digital models were obtained by scanning the plaster models using 3Shape Trios 3 Move+ and iTero Lumina scanners. The resulting standard triangle language files were imported into OrthoAnalyzer software for measurement. Tooth widths on plaster models were measured using a digital caliper. All measurements were performed by a single examiner. To assess the intra-observer reliability, a second set of measurements was taken from a random subset of models, and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated. Data from the 3 groups were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests. A P-value <.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Significant differences were found in the mesiodistal widths of several teeth, including the upper right first molar, canine, and lateral incisor; upper left second premolar and canine; lower right second premolar, first premolar, central and lateral incisors; and lower left first and second premolars and first molar. Mandibular intercanine and intermolar widths also showed significant differences. Digital measurements were generally larger than those from plaster models. No significant differences were observed between the 2 digital systems, or in total and anterior Bolton analyses.

Conclusion: Despite some discrepancies between manual and digital methods, digital models provided consistent and clinically reliable measurements.

Cite this article as: Alpaydın MT, Alpaydın T, Erzayın B. Is there a difference between dental measurements on conventional plaster models and digital models? Essent Dent. 2025, 4, 0019, doi: 10.5152/EssentDent.2025.25019.