One of the simplest procedures carried out in daily dental practice is the dental impression. It is completely painless and takes only a few minutes to complete. However for many patients with an exaggerated gag reflex, this simple undertaking is actually their most dreaded thing about going to the dentist.
Everything in todays age is going digital. Dentistry is not any different. Where we used to take analogue impressions with alginate and putty we now have the ability to take the same moulds with a digital intraoral scanner.
Where the scanner is most useful is for those impressions to make a new crown or bridge, as these moulds were traditionally taken with a high accuracy putty (PVS) that required a longer time in the mouth to set. With the use of an intraoral scanner, we can perform the same ‘mould’ in the same time or less, but without the discomfort and messiness involved in using the putty. It also eliminates the chance of the mould being distorted and having to retake it.
Some procedures the scanner can be used are ,
-for orthodontic (braces) analysis
-for mouthguards
-for occlusal splints (nightguards)
-whitening trays
-crowns, bridges and implants.
We at the Dental Surgery - St Marys are always on the lookout for new technology and innovations to make our patients as comfortable as possible, as well to as deliver the best quality dentistry.