Most people aren’t too happy when they’re told that they need to have a dental impression taken before they can get dental crowns in Kittanning. Many of them are expecting the traditional way of taking impressions, which involves sitting frustratingly still for up to five minutes while waiting for the bad tasting, uncomfortably gooey impression material to harden. But here in the 21st century, you now have the option of having a digital impression taken instead. Not only is this much more pleasant for you as a patient, but it also helps ensure that you’ll get a higher-quality, better-fitting restoration.
How Do Digital Impressions Work?
Digital impressions involve taking a series of digital photographs of your teeth and gums via lasers or digital scanning. Once all of the necessary images have been captured, your dentist in Kittanning can combine them into a single three-dimensional model of your mouth. Said model will capture the details that will be relevant when designing a crown. Afterwards, the digital impression is sent to a dental laboratory so that the process of making the restoration can begin.
Benefits of Digital Impressions
Many dentists have switched to digital impressions largely for their improved efficiency and accuracy. Some of the benefits they offer include:
- A Faster Process: It takes very little time to complete the scans, so patients aren’t left sitting in the dental chair waiting for the process to complete itself. This is especially good news for anyone who might feel anxious about sitting in a dentist’s office for long periods of time.
- More Accurate Results: Taking physical impressions is a delicate process, and errors can occur at any point for various reasons, such as air bubbles and other material defects. Digital impressions are far more precise and are less likely to need to be retaken later, and as such they lead to restorations that fit properly the first time.
- Enhanced Comfort: People tend to dislike the way dental impression putty feels in their mouth. In particular, many find the taste to be very unpleasant. Meanwhile, there’s no discomfort associated with the scans used to capture digital impressions.
- Convenience: A digital impression can be stored safely in a computer for an indefinite amount of time, and it can be transmitted directly to a dental laboratory right away instead of being sent through the mail.
The difference between digital impressions and physical impressions is a prime example of how much of a difference finding a dentist that uses the latest technology can make. Does your dentist take digital impressions? If so, you can be assured that you’ll receive a high-quality restoration that’s been expertly designed and fitted for your specific smile.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Voller is an enthusiastic lecturer who enjoys speaking to fellow dentists, students, and lay groups about different aspects of modern dentistry. He makes a point of keeping up with the latest advancements – including digital impressions for restorative dentistry – so that he can keep bringing high quality care to his patients at Voller Dentistry. To schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (724) 543-4948.