3D Facial Scanning in Full-Arch Implant Prosthodontics: Time Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction

August 5, 2026 updated by: Lamiaa Farouk, Ain Shams University

Effect of Integrating 3D Facial Scanning in Full-Arch Implant Prosthetics: Time Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction

This study compares two ways of planning the bite (jaw-relation) stage of full-arch, implant-supported dental prosthesis treatment: a standard digital approach, and the same approach with the addition of 3D facial scanning, which lets the dental team plan the new teeth against a scan of the patient's own face. The study measured how patients felt about their treatment using a validated questionnaire, and also tracked how many clinic visits and adjustments each approach needed. Twenty-two patients took part, randomly assigned to one of the two approaches.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Full-arch implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation requires accurate jaw-relation recording, which determines both the functional relationship between the arches and the esthetic integration of the final prosthesis within the patient's face. Conventional digital workflows rely on intraoral scanning and wax-rim jaw-relation techniques without reference to extraoral facial anatomy. This prospective, randomized, single-center pilot trial compared a conventional-digital hybrid workflow (Group A) with an enhanced digital workflow incorporating 3D facial scanning (Group B) in patients undergoing full-arch, implant-supported maxillary prosthetic rehabilitation (All-on-6 configuration). All patients received six implants placed using a fully guided surgical protocol with a stackable surgical guide, followed by an immediately loaded PMMA provisional prosthesis during a three-month osseointegration period. Following healing, patients were randomly allocated (computer-generated sequence, allocation concealed by an independent third party) to Group A or Group B for the prosthetic (jaw-relation recording) phase. In Group B, 3D facial scanning was merged with intraoral scans and CBCT data to guide prosthetic design against facial reference planes. The primary outcome was patient-reported oral health-related quality of life, measured using the validated short-form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire, administered after four weeks of intraoral trial wear of the try-in prosthesis (T1) and again four weeks after delivery of the definitive prosthesis (T2). Secondary outcomes included the number of clinical appointments and chairside adjustments required to complete the prosthetic phase, and implant/prosthesis survival at six months. The definitive prosthesis in both groups consisted of a milled cobalt-chromium framework with layered zirconia, with a mutually protected occlusal scheme. Outcome assessment (clinical/technical evaluation and statistical analysis) was blinded; blinding of patients and the treating clinician was not feasible given the visibly different nature of the two workflows.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
22

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt
        • Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults (≥18 years) indicated for full-arch maxillary implant-supported fixed prosthetic rehabilitation
  • Completion of the surgical phase with stable implant osseointegration
  • Presence of healthy peri-implant soft tissues
  • Adequate oral hygiene status
  • Sufficient bone and soft-tissue conditions compatible with full-arch prosthetic rehabilitation
  • Ability to comply with all scheduled follow-up visits
  • Capacity to maintain natural head position during facial scanning procedures
  • Absence of significant gag reflex interfering with scanning/impression procedures
  • Ability to communicate effectively and complete questionnaires
  • Provision of written informed consent
  • Physically and psychologically fit for the planned treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe skeletal or orthognathic discrepancies
  • History of significant facial trauma or surgery affecting facial symmetry
  • Prior maxillofacial pathology affecting the surgical/prosthetic site
  • Uncontrolled systemic diseases affecting healing or treatment tolerance
  • Use of medications that alter osseointegration or facial soft tissues
  • Active oral or peri-implant infection
  • Neuromuscular disorders or temporomandibular joint dysfunction affecting jaw positioning
  • Conditions affecting the ability to maintain stable head position for scanning
  • Severe psychomotor limitations
  • Known hypersensitivity to materials used in bite registration or prosthesis fabrication
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
  • Pregnancy or lactation, if deemed a contraindication by the supervising clinician
  • Poor compliance or demonstrated unreliability in past dental or medical care

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Conventional-Digital Hybrid Workflow
aw-relation recording using intraoral digital scanning, digitally fabricated bite blocks, and a traditional wax-rim jaw-relation technique with facebow transfer and mechanical articulator mounting, without facial scanning.
Procedure: Conventional-Digital Jaw-Relation Workflow
Jaw-relation recording using intraoral digital scanning, digitally fabricated bite blocks, and a traditional wax-rim jaw-relation technique with facebow transfer and mechanical articulator mounting, w
Experimental: Enhanced Digital Workflow with 3D Facial Scanning
Same base digital workflow as Group A, with the addition of high-resolution 3D facial scanning (Shining 3D structured-light scanner), merged with intraoral scans and CBCT data via Exocad software to guide prosthetic alignment against extraoral facial landmarks.
Procedure: 3D Facial Scanning-Guided Jaw-Relation Workflow
Integration of 3D facial scanning into the jaw-relation recording stage of full-arch implant prosthetic rehabilitation, merging facial, intraoral, and CBCT datasets to guide prosthetic design against facial reference planes. Performed in addition to the same base digital workflow described in Intervention 1.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) Score at Trial-Wear Timepoint
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Patient-reported oral health-related quality of life, 14 items across 7 domains, scored 0-56 (higher = worse). Assessed after the patient had worn the try-in (trial) prosthesis intraorally for four weeks (T1).
4 weeks
Total Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) Score at Post-Delivery Timepoint
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Patient-reported oral health-related quality of life, 14 items across 7 domains, scored 0-56 (higher = worse). Assessed four weeks after delivery of the definitive prosthesis (T2).
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Clinical Appointments to Complete the Prosthetic Phase
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Total number of clinic visits from jaw-relation registration through prosthesis delivery.
up to 12 weeks
Number of Try-In Adjustments
Time Frame: up to 8 weeks
Number of chairside occlusal corrections (selective grinding, material addition, or jaw-relation re-verification) required at try-in before definitive fabrication.
up to 8 weeks
Implant and Prosthesis Survival / Complications at 6 Months
Time Frame: 6 months post-delivery
Clinical review for implant failure, prosthesis fracture, or other mechanical/biological complications.
6 months post-delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Ain Shams University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 31, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • FDASU-Rec IR/M102515

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared. The original informed consent obtained from participants covered their participation in this study but did not include provisions for the public sharing of individual-level, de-identified data with third parties or external researchers. In addition, given the small sample size (n = 11 per group) within a single department, there is a meaningful risk that even de-identified individual-level data could be re-identified. No data-sharing repository or access infrastructure has been established for this dataset. Aggregate, de-identified results are reported in the published thesis and any resulting publications.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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