The Battle of Digital Verses Conventional Impression- A Systematic Review Analysis

Background-  Digital  impressions  have  revolutionized  implant  dentistry,  offering  advantages  in 
accuracy,  efficiency,  and  patient  comfort.  However,  conventional  impressions  remain  widely  used, 
particularly in cases requiring detailed soft tissue capture and full-arch rehabilitations.
Materials and Methods- The aim of this systematic review was to compare digital and conventional 
impression techniques in fully and partially edentulous patients based on accuracy, patient perception, 
time efficiency, technique sensitivity, and operator preferences. A systematic search was conducted in 
PubMed,  Scopus,  Web  of  Science,  and  Cochrane  Library  following  PRISMA  guidelines.  Eligible 
studies  included  randomized  controlled  trials,  clinical  comparative  studies,  and  in  vitro  research 
published between 2010 and 2025. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 
for randomized controlled trialsand the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-randomized studies.
Results- A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Digital impressions demonstrated comparable or 
superior accuracy to conventional impressions, particularly in single-implant and short-span prostheses. 
Studies reported that digital impressions reduced chair side time and improved workflow efficiency, 
with significant reductions in retake rates and errors. Patient satisfaction was notably higher with digital 
impressions due to reduced discomfort and gag reflex. However, full-arch digital impressions showed 
minor deviations and conventional impressions remained preferable in highly angulated implants and 
deep subgingival margin cases.
Conclusions- Digital impression techniques provide high accuracy, efficiency, and patient satisfaction, 
making them a reliable alternative to conventional techniquesin many clinical scenarios. However, 
conventional  impressions  remainnecessary  in  specific  cases  where  digital  scans  may  struggle  with 
angulated implants or deep tissue capture.