Original researchdental arches without the need for impression trays, which can alleviate discomfort related to the gag reflex. 7Digital impressions eliminate physical materials, which may reduce stress, especially for patients with heightened sensitivities. 8Some studies suggest that digital impressions may be preferred over traditional methods due to greater patient comfort, especially among younger, anxious patients. 910]11 However, digital impressions are not without limitations.Studies indicate that digital methods may require more time than traditional alginate impressions, largely due to the operator's experience level with the technology. 12-14Additionally, digital techniques often involve a learning curve, as noted by Yilmaz et al., IntroductIonDental anxiety, especially prevalent among pediatric patients, affects approximately 43% of children and adolescents and remains a significant barrier to routine dental care. 122]3 Anxiety during dental visits is not only disruptive for patients but also complicates treatment, often leading to delays in receiving essential care and resulting in deteriorated oral health. 4 major source of anxiety in pediatric dentistry stems from dental impression procedures. 5Impression-taking is necessary for diagnostic and treatment purposes in pediatric dentistry. 6owever, traditional alginate impressions are often cited as a primary source of discomfort due to gag reflex, taste aversion, and breath obstruction sensations. 5he gag reflex, commonly triggered by traditional impression techniques, has been shown to contribute significantly to patient discomfort.Akarslan et al. found that nearly 30% of pediatric patients exhibit moderate to severe gag reflex reactions when undergoing conventional impressions, leading many patients to associate dental visits with negative experiences.Patients with heightened gag reflexes often experience discomfort due to the physical contact of alginate trays with the oral cavity, which can be challenging for pediatric dentists aiming to provide a positive and comfortable experience. 5ecent technological advances in pediatric dentistry, particularly with the advent of intraoral scanners (IOS), have introduced digital impressions as an alternative.IOS devices capture 3D digital models of 1,
Tabbal et al. (Wed,) studied this question.