With digital 3D scanners, dental impressions are more efficient than ever.
If you are in need of dental work like crowns, dental implants, or dentures, your dentist will first take an impression of your teeth and mouth. Traditionally, this has involved biting down on dental putty to create a mold – which can be an unpleasant experience for patients with sensitive teeth or a strong gag reflex. With digital impressions, however, dentists can use a scanner to create a digital 3D image of the mouth.
How Does It Work?
Your dentist will use a wand-like scanning tool to capture all the details of the hard and soft tissues of your mouth. As the device scans, computer software creates a highly accurate, 3D replica of your mouth that can be used for a variety of dental work. The entire process typically takes less than two minutes.
The Benefits of Digital Impressions
More enjoyable experience.
Digital impressions eliminate the need to sit with unpleasant dental putty in your mouth. Many patients dislike dental putty for its taste, the way it triggers their gag reflex, or how it irritates their sensitive teeth.
Efficient process.
The scanner can create a 3D impression in under two minutes, much faster than waiting for dental putty to harden.
Accurate results.
Your dentist is able to monitor the impression as the device scans your mouth and ensure that there are no errors in the scan. Additionally, a retake of the scan is far easier than redoing a dental putty impression if something is not right.
Faster restoration.
While traditional impressions involve creating a physical cast of your teeth after the mold is set, a digital 3D image is ready immediately after the scan is complete, expediting the restoration process.
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in advertising. While attending Lee, Rachel served as editor-in-chief and creative director for the school’s biannual publication Vindagua and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. Since joining CMC Publications as editor, Rachel has assumed the role of managing editor, where she is responsible for the annual development and completion of seventeen publications involving health, wellness, and lifestyles articles that are published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia.
