November 23, 2021
Written by:
Nicole Donnelly
Dental impressions provide the groundwork for all restorative treatments. Every dental restoration case is based on the quality of the impression. When you have a poor impression, it can lead to costly remakes, delays, and improper fit. While traditional impressions are still widely used today, the development of new intraoral digital scanners to produce digital impressions has thrived over the past decade. So how does this new technology stack-up? Let’s find out.
A digital impression is a technology that allows dentists to create a virtual, computer-generated replica of the mouth by using an oral scanning device. This technology can capture clear and accurate impression data in just a couple of minutes or less. Once the digital replica is complete, the information is then transferred to a computer and used to create restorations.
Typically, a traditional impression can take several minutes, include the use of several materials, and involves multiple steps. The traditional impression procedure is a highly delicate and skilled process. This makes it easier to introduce errors from either the human element or material defects such as air bubbles or improper setting. Offered as an alternative, digital impressions can take the uncomfortable and stressful impression-taking procedure out of the equation. Here are some benefits to consider about digital impressions.
As cutting-edge as it may sound, there are still challenges when it comes to digital impressions. Some of the top challenges of digital impressions are:
There are times when you’ll run into issues with a digital scanner. Often the solution is just an easy fix. Here are a few troubleshooting tips you can try before contacting technical support.
As technology continues to progress and become more prevalent, dental practices will be eager to take advantage of a digital impression system. Ultimately, digital impressions offer greater convenience, reduce margin of error, and allow you to treat more patients because patients spend less time in the chair.
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