Pediatric Patient Experience: Conventional versus Digital Impressions in a Crossover Randomized Trial

Objective: To compare digital impression with the traditional method in 6-year-old children, evaluating preference, comfort, and the time required for each technique. Material and Methods: A randomized, controlled, single-center crossover trial was conducted with 32 six-year-old children. Digital impressions were taken with a scanner, and conventional impressions were taken with alginate, with a 1-week interval between procedures. During each procedure, impression time data were recorded, and upon completion, data on comfort and method preference were collected. For statistical analysis, Pearson's chi-square test was used, followed by a paired Student's t-test or the nonparametric Wilcoxon test, with α=0.05. Results: Intraoral scanners offer a more pleasant experience for pediatric patients, with a significant reduction in discomfort, such as gag reflex and fear. 96.9% of the children preferred digital impressions, while only 3.1% preferred conventional impressions (p = 0.000). The average time for digital impressions was 128.2 ± 12.4 seconds, compared to 202.1 ± 10.8 seconds for conventional impressions, a highly significant statistical difference (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Digital impressions obtained with an intraoral scanner are an effective and promising alternative to conventional methods, especially in pediatric patients.