BACKGROUND
Facial digitization using mobile-device-compatible three-dimensional (3D) sensor cameras has been attracting a lot of interest in recent years.
OBJECTIVE
This article aimed to review the accuracy of mobile-device-compatible face scanners in facial digitization in comparison to professional 3D face scanning systems.
METHODS
Individual search strategies were employed in electronic literature databases to search articles published until May 27, 2020. Peer-reviewed journal articles evaluating the accuracy of 3D face models generated by mobile-device-compatible face scanners were included.
RESULTS
By automatic database searching, 3,942 articles were identified, of which 11 articles were considered eligible for narrative review, with six studies further subjected to meta-analysis. Overall, the accuracy of the face models obtained using mobile-device-compatible face scanners was significantly lower than that of the face models obtained using professional 3D face scanners (standardized mean difference, SMD = 3.96 mm; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 2.81–5.10 mm; z = 6.78; P < .0001). The difference between the two face scanning systems when the face scans were performed on inanimate facial objects was significantly higher (SMD = 10.53 mm, 95% CI = 6.29–14.77 mm) than that when the face scans were performed on living facial subjects (SMD = 2.58 mm, 95% CI = 1.70–3.47 mm, P < .001, df = 12.94).
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the mobile-device-compatible face scanners were not comparable to professional scanning systems in 3D face acquisition, but the deviations were within the clinically acceptable range of <1.5 mm. Significant differences between the 3D face scans performed on inanimate facial objects and living facial subjects were found; thus, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results from studies conducted on inanimate objects.