The discomfort associated with manual dental impressions is certainly an element that patients have never looked forward to, which is why the introduction of digital impressions has been such a significant milestone in the field.
Dental impressions are moulds of your teeth, providing a basis for the design of your brace and in the past, it was not possible to take these digitally. In many practices traditional impressions are still used though here at Park Lane, we now use the iTero scanner to take digital impressions for all patients.
Difference between digital and traditional (alginate) impressions
Taking traditional impressions requires a steady hand and the likelihood of human error is thrown into the mix, along with material defects such as air bubbles in the material. The digital system eliminates the chance of error, as it does not rely on the patient’s ability to stay as still as possible or the orthodontist’s ability to meticulously apply the impression material to the teeth (the material often induces a gag-reflex in the patient, rendering accuracy less likely than with the digital system). Phobic patients are generally much more at ease with digital impressions as the process is less intimate, takes less time, and involves minimal contact with your teeth.
What are the benefits of digital impressions?
- Less chair time
- No need to undergo uncomfortable impression material that can induce a gag reflex
- Less anxiety for the patient
- State-of-the-art technology is generally widely appreciated by patients, who therefore become more engaged with their treatment
- More environmentally friendly, as the impressions are stored electronically, saving space and resources. Digital impressions also eliminate the need for your orthodontist to use plastic trays, which would otherwise be taking up landfill space.
- Eliminates the need for any re-takes, as the digital system is accurate first time
- Quicker turnaround when sending to the lab or to Invisalign as the scans are delivered in seconds
If you would like more information about treatment at Park Lane, please do not hesitate to contact us.