Trueness of complete arch intraoral implant scans using splinted and non-splinted scan bodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Statement of problem: Although splinting implant scan bodies has been proposed as a strategy to enhance the accuracy of complete arch intraoral implant scans, its effect on trueness has not been systematically investigated. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of splinted versus non-splinted implant scan body configurations on the trueness of complete arch intraoral implant scans. Material and methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and structured according to the Participant, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) framework. Electronic searches were performed in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases for studies published between January 2015 and December 2025. Quantitative outcomes related to trueness, including linear deviation, angular deviation, and root mean square (RMS) deviation, were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model with standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Splinting implant scan bodies demonstrated a statistically significant effect on trueness for linear deviation (SMD=0.49; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.88; P=.016). No statistically significant differences were observed between splinted and non-splinted techniques for angular deviation or RMS deviation (P>.05). Moderate to high heterogeneity was identified across outcomes, and scanner-specific performance characteristics were found to contribute to variability among studies. Conclusions: Splinting implant scan bodies significantly improved trueness in terms of linear deviation for complete arch intraoral implant scans. However, no consistent benefits were observed for angular deviation or RMS deviation.