MEDIUMResearchTier 1

Effect of lip line and registration method on the accuracy of 3-dimensional patient representation using professional and smartphone based facial scanners: A clinical study

SourceJournal of DentistryTier 1Peer-Reviewed Research

Originally at sciencedirect.com

Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.

Why it matters for dental

Digital smile design and full-arch implant workflows rely on accurate facial scans; this study quantifies how lip line and registration technique alter 3-D patient representation, giving practice owners and specialists a data-driven basis for choosing scanner hardware or protocols.

Key points

  • In-vivo study published December 2026 in Journal of Dentistry (Vol. 175) compares professional and smartphone-based facial scanners.
  • Lip line height and registration method each produced statistically significant deviations in scan accuracy, directly affecting virtual wax-ups and guided-surgery planning.
  • Findings apply to anterior esthetic cases and full-arch implant treatments where sub-millimeter facial soft-tissue fidelity influences final prosthesis design.
  • Academic centers and high-end cosmetic or implant practices can use the data to decide whether to invest in dedicated scanners or optimize smartphone workflows.

Who should care

SpecialistAcademiaOwner

Read the original on Journal of Dentistry

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