Traditionally, dentists have relied on messy, uncomfortable impression trays and putty to capture the shape of your teeth and gums. These impressions are then shipped to a laboratory, where a model is created using the impressions. However, the process is time-consuming and can be inaccurate, leading to the need for multiple appointments and adjustments.
Digital scanners are changing all of that. These scanners use advanced sensors and software to create highly accurate digital impressions of a patient’s mouth in just a few minutes, which can be used for a wide range of dental procedures.
Digital scanners do not require impression trays or putty. The handheld scanner, which looks like a small wand, is positioned inside the your mouth and moved around to capture detailed images of your teeth and gums. Software then stitches these images together to create a highly accurate 3D model of the mouth.
Once the digital impression is captured, it can be immediately sent to a laboratory or other dental professional for further analysis or to create custom-fit restorations. This saves time and improves communication, ultimately improving the quality and speed of dental care.
There are several benefits of using intraoral digital scanners in dental care. These benefits include:
- Improved comfort: Intraoral digital scanners provide a more comfortable and less messy experience than traditional impression methods. These scanners do not require putty and trays, which can be uncomfortable and difficult to manage inside the mouth. This can make the experience of getting a digital impression much more pleasant for you.
- Time-saving: Traditional physical impressions need to be shipped out, and sometimes get lost in transit. Intraoral digital scanners are received immediately by the laboratory to begin work on your custom-fit prosthetic so you can start smiling again!
- Fewer visits: Problems are easier to detect with digital scans. If any issues are found in the scan, they can be adjusted immediately without needing a new impression.
- Highly accurate: Intraoral digital scanners provide highly accurate 3D models of the mouth, which can be used to plan and execute complex dental procedures with greater precision. This can help reduce the risk of errors and complications during a dental procedure and ultimately improve the quality of dental work.
- Better for the environment: Traditional physical impressions need to be packed and shipped out, while digital scans are sent electronically. In this way, digital scans reduce waste and are better for the environment.
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