
Digital Scanning
Digital scanning in dentistry is a modern technology that's revolutionizing how dentists diagnose, plan treatments, and create dental restorations. Instead of using traditional, sometimes messy and uncomfortable impression materials, digital scanning creates highly accurate 3D images of your teeth and oral structures.
How It Works
- Intraoral scanners: These handheld devices use laser or optical technology to capture detailed images of your teeth and gums. The scanner is moved around your mouth, and the images are instantly displayed on a computer screen, creating a 3D model.
- Extraoral scanners: These are used to scan physical models of your teeth (made from traditional impressions) or to capture images of your bite.
Benefits of Digital Scanning
- Improved accuracy: Digital scans are incredibly precise, leading to better-fitting restorations like crowns, bridges, and dentures.
- Increased comfort: Say goodbye to goopy impression materials! Digital scanning is more comfortable for patients, especially those with a strong gag reflex.
- Faster appointments: The scanning process is quick and efficient, reducing chair time.
- Enhanced communication: 3D images make it easier for dentists to show you what's happening in your mouth and explain treatment options.
- Better treatment planning: Digital models allow dentists to analyze your bite and plan treatments more effectively, including orthodontics and implant placement.
- Environmentally friendly: Digital scanning reduces the need for disposable impression materials.
What Digital Scanning is Used For
- Restorative dentistry: Creating crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays.
- Cosmetic dentistry: Designing veneers and planning smile makeovers.
- Orthodontics: Planning and monitoring orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign.
- Dental implants: Planning implant placement and designing implant-supported restorations.
- Oral surgery: Planning surgical procedures and creating surgical guides.
- Sleep apnea: Creating oral appliances to treat sleep apnea.
Overall, digital scanning is a significant advancement in dentistry that offers numerous benefits for both patients and dentists. It leads to more accurate diagnoses, more comfortable procedures, and better treatment outcomes.
Quick Overview
- •Modern dental imaging technology
- •Highly accurate 3D scans
- •Comfortable patient experience
- •Faster treatment planning
- •Environmentally friendly
- •Multiple dental applications