If you have ever needed a dental restoration, such as a crown or a bridge, you probably remember an uncomfortable treatment process. In order for your dentist in Frisco to get an accurate impression of your teeth, you might have had to bite down on a tray full of goop. Not only was the tray bulky and uncomfortable, but you also had to stay perfectly still — otherwise, the impression could end up being inaccurate. Thankfully, manual impressions are becoming a thing of the past. Some practices have transitioned to digital impressions instead. Let’s talk about this remarkable dental technology and the benefits it offers.
No Goop
Digital impressions are completely goop-free. Instead of using a tray filled with an unpleasant manual impression material, digital impression machines use a small wand that a member of your dental team moves around your mouth. It captures thousands of images of your teeth, then assembles them into a three-dimensional digital dental model.
Comfort
If you have a sensitive gag reflex, the process of taking manual impressions may be quite uncomfortable for you. Digital impressions have a reduced risk of gagging because the wand used to capture them is usually relatively small.
Additionally, some digital impression machines have a remarkable scanning range. For example, the Carestream 3600 can accurately capture images of your teeth from up to 13 millimeters away, which gives your dental team room to adjust their scanning technique with the goal of optimizing your comfort.
Efficiency
As we mentioned at the outset, even a small mistake could lead to the need to retake manual impressions, which can extend your appointment time. Then, after the impression is ready, your dentist has to make sure it physically gets to the laboratory that will create your restoration. Digital impressions are much more efficient. They are quick to capture and highly accurate, so you probably won’t have to worry about retakes. Plus, your dentist can use software to immediately send the impressions where they need to go.
Dentist/Patient Communication
If you are curious about your oral health, a digital impression scanner can serve as a visual teaching aid to help your dentist explain the specifics of why they recommend a certain treatment. The impressions from the Carestream 3600 are even in full color, which makes it easier for you to digest what you are seeing on the computer screen.
Reduced Environmental Impact
The plastic trays and impression materials used in manual impressions contribute to environmental waste. Digital impressions are much more eco-friendly; choosing a dentist who uses them is just one small thing you can do to protect our planet!
Does your dentist use digital impressions? If so, you can look forward to treatment that is as comfortable and efficient as possible.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Deval Parmar is an experienced, caring, state-of-the-art Frisco dentist who is proud to feature the Carestream 3600 digital impression scanner in her office. It is just one of the many advanced instruments that she has invested in. If you would like to learn more about her or the technology she uses, contact Archway Dental at 972-972-4646.