May 09, 2023
Traditional teeth impressions, oh boy, where do we start? They have historically been one of the messiest, most unpleasant parts of the dental experience. People with a strong gag reflex have an even harder time having the goopy impressions we take of their teeth!
While traditional teeth impressions have been a staple in dentistry for years, they certainly have their downsides. With the advent of digital intraoral scanning, dentistry has come a long way in making the process more accurate, comfortable, and efficient. Say goodbye to the gooey mess and hello to the digital dental revolution!
Digital intraoral scanning has revolutionized dentistry by replacing traditional impression-taking methods with a more accurate and efficient digital solution. This technology uses a handheld wand to capture detailed 3D images of a patient's teeth and gums, providing a multitude of advantages over traditional impressions:
1. Enhanced Accuracy: One of the significant advantages of digital intraoral scanning is its superior accuracy compared to traditional impressions. Traditional impressions can sometimes distort, resulting in inaccurate representations of the teeth and gums. However, digital intraoral scanning uses high-resolution 3D imaging to capture precise measurements of the teeth, gums, and surrounding oral structures, resulting in highly accurate digital models that are far less prone to physical distortion. Any optical distortion that occurs is nearly completely eliminated by the complex AI algorithm that throws out any incorrect data. This increased accuracy can lead to better-fitting restorations, such as dental implants, dental crowns, bridges, whitening and Invisalign, and sleep appliances such as the Panthera D-SAD, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
2. Improved Patient Experience: Traditional impressions can be uncomfortable for patients, especially those with a strong gag reflex or dental anxiety. Digital intraoral scanning eliminates the need for messy impression materials and trays, providing a more comfortable and convenient experience for patients. The handheld wand used in digital intraoral scanning is non-invasive and allows for quick and painless scanning of the teeth and gums. Patients can also see the digital images in real-time, which helps them better understand their oral health and treatment options, resulting in improved patient satisfaction.
3. Better Communication and Treatment Planning: Digital intraoral scanning enables better communication and treatment planning between our dentists at Okanagan Dentistry, our patients, and the dental laboratory. The digital images can be easily shared and discussed with patients, allowing for a more collaborative treatment approach. Our dentists can also use the digital models to plan and simulate restorations, making adjustments and modifications as needed before finalizing the treatment plan. Schell Dental Ceramics, one of our primary dental lab partners, also benefits from digital intraoral scanning, as they can receive accurate digital models in seconds that can be easily integrated into their CAD/CAM systems for precise and quicker creation of restorations. Your crowns are often already in production while you are still in our office!
At Okanagan Dentistry, we strive to stay on the forefront of dental technology to ensure we can continue to improve lives through dentistry!