Intraoral scanners remain reliable in both upright and supine positions, but digital occlusal analysis may tell a different story.
One of the less discussed variables in digital dentistry is patient posture.
Most clinicians routinely capture intraoral scans with patients in varying positions depending on workflow, comfort, clinical setting, or operator preference. Some prefer the patient fully reclined, while others raise the chair before recording occlusion. But does head posture actually influence the accuracy of occlusal records?
A recent clinical study set out to answer precisely that question.
The Study at a Glance
Researchers evaluated 46 individuals to determine whether head posture influences the accuracy of occlusal contacts recorded at maximum intercuspal position (MIP).
Occlusal contacts identified using ultra-thin articulating film served as the reference standard. These contacts were then compared with those recorded using:
An intraoral scanner (Trios 4, 3Shape) A digital occlusal analysis system (T-Scan Novus, Tekscan)
Recordings were obtained in two chair positions:
Upright (90°)
Supine (0°)
The objective was simple: determine whether changing the patient's position alters the accuracy of digital occlusal recordings.
Good News for Intraoral Scanner Users
The most clinically relevant finding was that intraoral scanner accuracy remained consistent regardless of patient position.
Whether the patient was fully reclined or sitting upright, the scanner demonstrated comparable ability to identify occlusal contacts at maximum intercuspation.
For clinicians increasingly relying on digital workflows for:
Single crowns Veneers Implant restorations Full-mouth rehabilitation Clear aligner cases
this is reassuring evidence.
The findings suggest that practitioners do not need to significantly alter scanning workflows simply to accommodate chair position when capturing MIP records.
In practical terms, if the patient is comfortable and the operator can obtain a stable scan, the occlusal record is likely to remain reliable.
A Different Story for Digital Occlusal Analysis
The results were notably different for the digital occlusal analysis system.
While overall contact identification remained acceptable, recordings obtained in the supine position demonstrated a significantly greater number of false occlusal contacts compared with recordings captured in the upright position.
This suggests that head posture may influence how occlusal forces are distributed and interpreted by pressure-sensitive digital analysis systems.
For clinicians who routinely use T-Scan or similar technologies to evaluate:
Occlusal adjustments Full-mouth rehabilitation Implant occlusion Bruxism management Complex prosthodontic cases
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