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Dental photogrammetry records the relative three-dimensional positions and angulations of implants, usually from coded markers or transfers. In a common extraoral workflow, that dataset is not a complete anatomical impression: soft tissue and surrounding anatomy are captured separately, then aligned with the implant-position data in compatible dental CAD software. Integrated intraoral systems may combine capture steps, but their protocols are device-specific.
What does dental photogrammetry capture?
In implant workflows, photogrammetry identifies the relative locations and orientations of multiple implants by recording the geometry of system-compatible markers. The resulting implant-position dataset can support digital planning and restoration design, but it should not automatically be treated as a full model of the arch.
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PIC Dental describes its extraoral workflow as producing implant position and angulation data, while soft-tissue geometry is acquired separately and aligned in dental CAD software using shared marker geometry as a reference. This is a manufacturer’s description of its workflow, not independent validation of the system’s performance. See PIC Dental’s workflow explanation.
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|---|---|---|
| Implant-position data | Relative three-dimensional implant positions and angulations | Photogrammetry capture of compatible markers or transfers |
| Soft tissue and surrounding anatomy | Gingiva and other visible anatomy needed for the broader digital model | Usually an intraoral scan; a conventional impression may instead be digitized |
| Combined working model | Implant-position data related to the anatomical surface dataset | Alignment in compatible dental CAD software |
Some systems integrate intraoral photogrammetry into an intraoral scanner and have a device-specific process for capturing coded scan bodies alongside other scan data. Do not assume that an extraoral photogrammetry file, or a workflow from one scanner brand, includes the same information as another system.
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How is an extraoral photogrammetry impression assembled?
The workflow has three conceptual stages. They are not a universal chairside protocol: use the instructions for the specific device, implant interfaces, markers, software and laboratory workflow in use.
- Record implant positions. Attach the system-compatible photogrammetry markers or transfers to the appropriate implant or abutment interfaces, then use the device to record their relative geometry.
- Acquire the anatomy separately. Capture soft tissue and surrounding anatomy, commonly with an intraoral scanner. A conventional impression that is later digitized is another possible route.
- Align the datasets. In compatible dental CAD software, register the implant-position dataset to the anatomical surface data using the matching marker geometry, then inspect the resulting model within the clinical and laboratory workflow being used.
The alignment step matters because the two datasets describe different things. A file with precise implant coordinates does not, by itself, provide the gingival contours or the rest of the arch anatomy required for a complete working model.
How do coded scan bodies work in integrated workflows?
In coded scan-body workflows, marker geometry carries information used to identify implant position and angle. SHINING 3D’s support documentation says six dots around the hexagon of each coded scan body convey position and angle information. Its IntraoralScan version 3.5.6 documentation describes a brand-specific sequence involving jaw scanning, coded scan-body scanning, gingiva alignment, conversion and marking, and a bite check. Consult the coded scan-body explanation and the IntraoralScan 3.5.6 procedure for that system; those steps should not be transplanted to a different scanner.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Scan bodies and protocols are not interchangeable simply because parts look similar. The implant or abutment platform, scanner workflow and software library must be compatible. The International Team for Implantology (ITI) consensus recommendation is: “To optimize digital implant impressions for each clinical situation, device-specific intraoral scanning protocols must be followed.” See the ITI consensus statements.
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What should clinicians and labs check when choosing a workflow?
Compare systems by the information captured and the work needed to create a usable, aligned model—not by the word “photogrammetry” alone.
- Coverage: Does the system capture implant positions only, or combine that with surface and soft-tissue capture? Is a second acquisition required?
- Capture approach: Is the photogrammetry extraoral, or integrated into an intraoral scanner with its own coded-marker protocol?
- Case geometry: Consider the number of implants and their interimplant span. ITI consensus material notes that increasing span negatively affects accuracy, and that outcomes depend on the scanner and protocol.
- Component compatibility: Confirm the marker or scan-body type for the implant or abutment platform and the corresponding scanner and software library.
- Data handling: Establish how the implant-position and anatomy datasets are aligned, what files can be exported, and whether the lab’s CAD workflow supports the required references.
- Evidence behind performance claims: Distinguish independent clinical or laboratory studies from manufacturer specifications. A manufacturer’s stated precision or compatibility is a manufacturer claim; its conditions and current product version matter.
What does the accuracy evidence show?
Published comparisons are encouraging but heterogeneous. They do not establish a universal best system, a single error threshold suitable for every case, or guaranteed clinical fit.
Full-arch comparisons in a 2023 review
Rutkūnas and colleagues’ 2023 systematic review included nine studies—three clinical and six in vitro—comparing digital and conventional full-arch implant impression approaches. The review reported trueness differences of up to 162 ± 77 μm in clinical studies and up to 43 μm in laboratory studies. These are review-reported findings from heterogeneous methods, not expected error values for an individual case. The authors found intraoral scanning and photogrammetry comparable in accuracy for full-arch edentulous cases, while noting that tolerable misfit thresholds and objective assessment criteria need verification in clinical studies. Read the 2023 systematic review record.
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Broader digital-versus-conventional evidence in 2024
A 2024 Evidence-Based Dentistry review included 23 in-vitro studies: 12 favored digital methods, six favored conventional techniques and five found comparable accuracy. Because the review included both intraoral scanning and photogrammetry, those counts are not a photogrammetry-only comparison; in-vitro findings also do not establish clinical outcomes. See the 2024 review.
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Complete-arch photogrammetry versus intraoral scanning in a 2025 review
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis included 13 studies—three in vivo and 10 in vitro—comparing complete-arch photogrammetry with intraoral scanning. Photogrammetry performed better in 10 of the 13 studies, but the methods were heterogeneous and only three studies were in vivo. The authors called for more clinical trials and recommended rigid prototype try-in pending conclusive evidence. This supports cautious optimism, not a promise of passive fit. See the 2025 review record.
ITI consensus material also emphasizes protocol and scanner dependence and the negative effect of increasing interimplant span. Those recommendations reflect the evidence assessed for the consensus and should be considered alongside later reviews, rather than treated as an unchanging rule for every case. The consensus report is available at doi:10.1111/clr.13309.
What is the practical takeaway for a digital impression?
Use photogrammetry to capture implant positions and angulations, and confirm separately how the chosen workflow captures soft tissue and surrounding anatomy. Use compatible markers or scan bodies, follow the device-specific protocol, and verify that the software can align the datasets required by the case. Accuracy studies can inform workflow selection, but their varied methods and limited clinical evidence do not remove the need for case-appropriate clinical and laboratory verification.
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