Digital Impressions

Digital Impressions

Impressions of teeth have been an important step in the orthodontic process, but, in the past, they’ve required the patient to hold trays full of gooey impression material in their mouths. At Aerni Dental, we use an intraoral scanner to create digital impressions quickly, with less inconvenience for our patients.

Modern digital impressions are easier and more accurate than traditional impressions.

 

Q. How were impressions traditionally made?

A. The old method of making dental impressions required the patient to hold trays in their mouth using an impression material such as alginate or polyvinylsiloxane. They would need to wait for this to solidify enough to retain its shape once removed.

The resulting molds were often sent away to a third party to create a cast of the patient’s teeth, after which it would be sent back to the orthodontist’s office.

If there were any problems with the mold or resulting cast, the patient might need to come back again to have another impression taken.

 

Q. How do digital impressions work?

A. Digital impressions greatly simplify the process by reducing the need for making molds and casts. The scanner uses a small wand that captures thousands of images a second, feeding them to a computer that uses the images to assemble a 3-dimensional visualization of the patient’s teeth.

The scanning wand is small, allowing it to be easily moved around teeth—even the backs of molars—without requiring the patient to open their mouths wider than is comfortable.

The 3D image is assembled rapidly, making it possible to spot any missing parts of the impression as the scan is being done, eliminating the need for the patient to come in for a repeat visit.

 

Q. What are the benefits of digital impressions?

A. The 3D imaging created by the digital scanner has more detail than could be attained through 2D imaging, making for better planning of orthodontic treatment. The 3D scans can also be used for patient education, showing them how their teeth currently fit together and which areas are causing problems.

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11177 Pearl Road

Strongsville, OH 44136

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