Why Digital Impressions Lead to More Effective Treatment

It used to be that if you needed impressions made of your teeth and gums for things like dentures, dental implants, retainers, and clear aligners, you’d have to sit with an awkward mouthful of dental putty for a few minutes. Not only was this method uncomfortable and messy, but the results weren’t always as accurate as they could be, either. That’s because things like human error, slight movement during the curing process, and damage during shipping frequently occur. Today, however, digital impression systems have taken much of the frustration out of this process. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of using these systems, and how digital impressions lead to better fitting restorations!

What Are Digital Impressions?

Digital impressions are images taken of your oral structures to aid in the creation of restorations like dental crowns, bridges, and dental implants. They are also helpful when making retainers, mouth guards, and orthodontic aligners.

Using a small camera that fits comfortably in the mouth, your dentist carefully takes digital impressions of the entire oral cavity. These images are more accurate than dental putty, easier to transfer to the dental lab, and because they’re digital, they are more hygienic and create less waste, so they’re better for the environment, too.

Are Digital Impressions More Accurate?

While it may seem like a putty impression would be a better way to capture the intricate details of your smile, the truth is that it’s actually easier to make mistakes with this type of material. Models can become broken in transit to the lab, and any slight movement while the putty hardens can make the models less accurate. In fact, even removing them from the mouth a moment too soon can change their accuracy.

With digital impressions, the images are taken with a wand that fits comfortably in the mouth with plenty of wiggle room. This means that they can be maneuvered to a variety of angles, ensuring they’re accurate and detailed. Furthermore, they can be transferred to a dental lab instantly, without getting damaged in the shipping process, arriving late, or getting lost in the mail. This means you likely won’t need to return to redo them, either!

How Digital Impressions Help Treatment

Although it may not seem like a big deal if your impressions are even a millimeter off, the truth is that when it comes to minute details, everything counts. Placing a dental implant even slightly out of balance can increase the likelihood of failure, make your smile look uneven or your bite feel uncomfortable. Thus, for the most accurate and ideal placement, digital impressions can make a world of difference.

Remember, while the old-fashioned putty dental molds of yesterday were extremely helpful in creating prosthetics and orthodontic equipment, they still left much to be desired. The great news is that today’s digital impression systems comfortably and conveniently provide more accurate results, ensuring that your newly improved smile looks and feels its best!

About Dr. Reintjes

Dr. Byron Reintjes earned his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University and his dental doctorate at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry. In his nearly 30-year career, he has also taken numerous continuing education courses on topics such as orthodontics and Invisalign. To schedule an appointment for anything from dental implants to cosmetic dentistry, visit our website today or call 559-438-6684.