Could a 3D camera replace the Dentist's mirror for kids?
NCT ID NCT06829550
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a 3D intraoral scanner can detect cavities, tooth wear, and fluorosis in children's baby teeth as accurately as a traditional visual exam. Thirty-six children aged 3 to 12 had their teeth cleaned, then examined both visually and with a 3D scan during a single dental visit. The goal is to see if digital scanning can be a reliable, comfortable alternative for spotting tooth problems in kids.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 3D intraoral digital scanner
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a faster, more comfortable way to spot tooth problems in children without poking or prodding.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 36 children, so results may not apply to all kids. The 3D scan might miss some lesions that a visual exam catches.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
36 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2025
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
3 to 12 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Children aged between 3 and 12 years old, presenting at least one fully erupted primary tooth. Exclusion Criteria: * Unerupted primary teeth. * Restored teeth. * Children under 3 or older than 12 years old. * Children using medication.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD)
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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