Digital dentistry
Understanding digital impressions
What a digital impression is, how it compares with a putty impression, what it is used for, and what happens after your scan.
What Are Digital Dental Impressions?
Digital dental impressions are a 3D model of your teeth made with a small scanning wand instead of a tray of putty. Cleveland Clinic explains that the dentist takes intraoral pictures of your teeth with the wand, a computer combines the images into a 3D model, and the model is sent electronically to a dental lab.
An impression of either kind gives your dentist a replica of your teeth and mouth. It shows how your teeth fit together and is used to plan treatment and design custom work such as crowns, aligners and dentures.
How Do Digital Impressions Compare With Traditional Impressions?
Digital impressions compare well with traditional putty impressions: Cleveland Clinic rates them equally or more accurate, more comfortable, often faster and free of residue. A traditional impression is also very accurate, but the putty sits in a tray pressed onto your teeth for a few minutes while it sets.
The difference matters most if you have a strong gag reflex. A tray of putty can feel bulky and trigger it, while a scanning wand is more comfortable for people with a strong gag reflex.
What Are Digital Impressions Used For?
Digital impressions are used for the same work as any dental impression: restorations, orthodontic appliances and other custom appliances. At Smile Care Valencia, intraoral scanning is used for crowns, clear aligners, implant restorations and other customised work.
- Restorations: crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures and implants
- Orthodontic appliances: clear aligners and retainers
- Other custom appliances: mouth guards, teeth-whitening trays, sleep apnea appliances and fluoride carriers
Do Dental Impressions Hurt?
Dental impressions do not hurt, but Cleveland Clinic notes the material can feel uncomfortable or trigger a gag reflex for some people. If that worries you, tell your dentist, who can recommend ways to make it easier.
You do not need to do much to prepare. It helps to avoid sticky foods right before your visit, brush and floss beforehand, and let your dentist know if you have a strong gag reflex or dental anxiety.
What Happens After a Digital Impression?
After a digital impression, the scan goes to a dental lab, where a technician makes your crown, aligner or other appliance, a process Cleveland Clinic says takes one to several weeks. If you are waiting on something like a crown or bridge, your dentist may offer a temporary solution in the meantime.
There are no eating or drinking restrictions after an impression unless your dentist says otherwise.
Digital Dentistry at Smile Care Valencia
Our office uses the Medit i700 intraoral 3D scanner, which builds a three-dimensional model of your mouth without bulky impression trays. It is one of several digital tools at the practice, each with its own job:
- Intraoral scanning and digital impressions, for crowns, clear aligners, implant restorations and other customised work
- Digital X-rays, which give clear images within seconds so Dr. Robert P. Hedvat can show you what he sees, with typically less radiation than traditional film
- 3D cone beam CT imaging, an in-office scanner used to evaluate complex concerns and plan implant treatment with greater precision
Common questions
Digital Impression Questions
Do dentists still do traditional dental impressions?
Dentists still do traditional dental impressions, using a soft putty such as alginate or polyvinyl siloxane in a tray, alongside digital scanners. Both are accurate; digital impressions are rated equally or more accurate and tend to be more comfortable.
Are digital dental impressions accurate?
Digital dental impressions are accurate: Cleveland Clinic rates them equally or more accurate than traditional putty impressions, which are themselves very accurate. The scan is combined into a 3D model that the lab uses to make your restoration or appliance.
Is an intraoral scan the same as a 3D dental X-ray?
An intraoral scan is not the same as a 3D dental X-ray. An intraoral scanner takes pictures of the surfaces of your teeth with a small wand, while a cone beam CT scan is an X-ray that shows teeth, jawbone, sinuses and nearby nerves.
How long does a lab take after a digital impression?
A dental lab usually takes one to several weeks to make your appliance after a digital impression. If you are waiting on a crown or bridge, your dentist may offer a temporary one in the meantime.