Digital Dental Impressions: Accuracy & Benefits
As a top-rated Brampton & Burlington orthodontist office, we customize each treatment to suit the needs, goals, and preferences of the individual. While one large part of this process is explaining the benefits and drawbacks of patients' treatment options, our thorough approach to treatment planning is equally vital. At Discover Orthodontics, we use digital dental impressions to inform our work.
The accuracy and multipronged benefits of digital dental impressions help our clients achieve the results they want with minimal discomfort and inconvenience. They also allow for orthodontic appliances that are custom-crafted to suit the needs and nuances of every tooth. We know that every smile, bite, and alignment issue is different, and we go out of our way to acknowledge this from a treatment's start to its end. Discover how digital dental impressions can optimize your treatment in our Brampton or Burlington, ON office.
What Are Digital Dental Impressions?
Digital dental impressions create accurate 3D models of patients' teeth. In orthodontic treatment, they promote effective tooth alignment planning. 3D scanning technology uses triangles or polygons to capture the shapes and dimensions of all teeth and the surrounding soft tissues. This data is then converted into 3D digital images. Our team can view these images on tablets and other screens. As needed, we can also use them to create tangible 3D replicas.
Are Digital Dental Impressions More Accurate Than Other Impression Types?
In orthodontics, the most common alternative to digital dental impressions is bite registration impressions. These are often made with polyether impression compounds or vinyl polysiloxane. Patients hold these putty-like materials in their mouths as they gradually solidify.
Even when expedited with light or heat, this process takes time. It can also stimulate the gag reflex as impression materials touch the back of the tongue or place unfavorable pressure on other intraoral surfaces. Unfortunately, even slight movements during curing can impact the accuracy of bite registration impressions. However, there are also material-specific and method-specific problems that can also distort results:
- Insufficient viscosity of materials to record minute details
- Contamination of materials due to unchecked saliva flow
- Poor tray selection
- Inadequate mixing of impression materials
Whether you wriggle with discomfort or your impression materials adhere to your teeth, your results might not provide an exact replica of your bite. Loss of accuracy in bite registration impressions can lead to both longer treatment times and unnecessary discomfort when wearing orthodontic appliances.
Less Time in the Chair and Increased Opportunity to Study Results
Digital impressions take less time to capture. As such, there's a far lower likelihood of patients' movements affecting their outcomes. Moreover, unlike physical impressions, digital impressions can be magnified and enhanced after capture. This allows orthodontists to identify discrepancies before sending impressions off to labs or fashioning appliances in-house.
Additional Benefits of Digital Dental Impressions
Digital dental impressions additionally limit steps in the workflow process. This leaves fewer opportunities for technicians to introduce errors and gives them more control over each stage of orthodontic appliance design. To find out more about our orthodontic appliance design, contact Discover Orthodontics today!
Shorter and More Comfortable Treatment Times
With our high-quality and highly accurate impressions, patients can get comfortable, well-fitted, and high-performing appliances. When orthodontic appliances are designed to reflect the exact position of each tooth, they can facilitate the most advantageous tooth movements. This allows for the rapid and all-around easy progression to a healthy and well-balanced bite.
Treatment planning for orthodontia doesn't have to be uncomfortable for patients. With digital dental impressions from Discover Orthodontics, you can get appliances that fit and feel good and quickly move you toward your treatment goals. Get in touch with our Brampton & Burlington orthodontist today to schedule a virtual consultation.
