Digital Impressions
Menasha, WI
 Dental impressions are an important part of many dental procedures. With impressions, we can design indirect fillings, veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures, dental implants, and so much more. Traditionally, impressions have been done using impression putty, a material that can be both messy and unreliable. At Mid Valley Dental, we have taken advantage of the latest dental technologies and take impressions of your mouth with digital impressions.
What are Digital Impressions?
For decades, the way dental impressions were taken required the use of an impression putty. This putty could be both messy as well as uncomfortable. It could cause patients to gag during the process, which could then lead to anxiety about the need for future impressions. Additionally, traditional impressions are not always completely accurate. Restorations created using these impressions may not fit properly, resulting in the need for multiple adjustments and several more impressions.
Today, we can address all of these issues and take accurate impressions using digital impression technology. Instead of impression putty, we use a handheld optical scanner. As the scanner passes through your mouth, it captures a digital scan of your teeth and gums. A 3D impression is then displayed almost instantly on the computer monitor. The whole process takes only a few minutes to complete.
How Can Digital Impressions Used?
Digital impressions may be taken for many reasons. Common reasons include:
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Designing and creating dental restorations. Digital impressions provide exact one to one measurements of your mouth so that we can create accurate restorations, such as veneers, crowns, and bridges.
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Faster dental restorations. There are some digital impression technologies that come with in-house milling units. This means that restorations can be created in much less time. In many cases, restorations can be completed the same day, in the same appointment.
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More effective orthodontic treatment. Digital impressions allow us to accurately plan your orthodontic treatment to provide you with optimal results. |
Benefits of Digital Impressions
Digital impressions provide many significant benefits. These benefits include:
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Quick scanning. It only takes a few minutes to take your digital impression.
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A more comfortable process. We do not need to use any type of impression putty. The process is mess free and much more comfortable. This makes getting impressions a much more pleasant experience.
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Greater accuracy. Digital impressions provide exact one to one measurements of your mouth. This enables us to create accurate, properly fitting restorations.
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Fewer appointments are required. Because we can create more accurate restorations, there is much less of a chance that you will need additional appointments for adjustments and new fittings.
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Much less anxiety. Traditional impression putty can trigger anxiety for some patients because it can cause gagging. The handheld optical scanner does not cause this issue, making the entire process much more pleasant.
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Digital storage of your impressions. Your impressions can be stored as part of your digital file. We do not have to worry about storing physical impressions that can get lost or damaged. Your digital impressions can be accessed as necessary and sent to the lab or specialists as necessary. |
Digital impressions allow us the ability to take much more accurate impressions, providing you with accurate restorations in much less time. For more information on our digital impression technology, call Mid Valley Dental at (920) 215-4160 today. |
