To compare and analyze the effect of pressure steam sterilization times on the trueness of the polyetheretherketone-Ti (PEEK-Ti) scanbody scanning data.

A maxilla stone master model with one analog at the right first molar was fabricated. A brand-new PEEK-Ti scanbody was installed with 10 N·cm torque onto the analog as the "reference model". The reference model was then scanned with a dental laboratory scanner (D2000) to obtain the "reference model scanning data". A total of 10 repeated scans were obtained with an intraoral scanner and referred as the group of "no scanbody unscrew". The scanbody was reinstalled with consistent torques and obtained 10 repeated scans which referred as the group of "no sterilization". The scanbody was reinstalled with consistent torques after each sterilization cycle repeated for 10 times, and 10 repeated scans were obtained which referred as the group of " (10, 20, 30, 40, …, 100) sterilization". Totally 10 sterilization cycles were repeated. The files were imported into inspection software for assessment. Repeated-measures One-Way ANOVA was used to assess the values. The significance level was set at α = 0.05.

With the increase in the number of times of pressure steam sterilization, the linear deviation of the PEEK-Ti scanbody was 4.3-7.0 μm (F = 1.363, P = 0.210) ; the angular deviation of the PEEK-Ti scanbody was 0.101°-0.131° (F = 1.339, P = 0.222) ; the congruence of the PEEK-Ti scanbody was 10.8-12.0 μm (F = 1.532, P = 0.141). There was no statistically significant difference between groups.

For the PEEK-Ti scanbody tested in the present study, the sterilization did not significantly influence the trueness of single-implant digital impressions and the scanbody congruence. After 100 times of pressure steamsterilization, the trueness of the PEEK-Ti scanbody scanning data can still meet clinical needs.