Over the years, oral health treatments like dental crowns have become more accurate and customizable thanks to compounds like dental putty allowing dentists to make detailed impressions of your smile. But while they say you can’t reinvent the wheel, digital impressions have essentially done just that by making dental imaging much easier, more precise, and even more comfortable than ever before. Here are a few key benefits to this advanced dental technology, and why your dentist prefers it to making impressions with old school putty.
They’re More Detailed
Although old-fashioned putty impressions still do provide a tremendous amount of detail, unfortunately they also leave a lot to be desired. Often, these impressions can become damaged or even be inaccurate based on the patient moving at the wrong moment or someone accidentally mishandling the model. Digital impressions can not only capture greater detail, but they’re also impossible to damage like a putty model, guaranteeing that they remain accurate at every step of the restoration creation process.
They’re More Comfortable
One of the chief complaints about putty impressions is that they’re uncomfortable to make. That’s because your dentist must fill your mouth with an awkward tray and strange-feeling material and then wait for it to harden. This can be bothersome to people with a strong gag reflex or to those who feel claustrophobic. Furthermore, removing the hardened putty can also be uncomfortable for some patients.
With digital impressions, there’s no need to fumble with messy goop in your mouth or sit uncomfortably with a tray in your mouth while it hardens. Instead, the digital impressions are taken with a comfortable wand that goes into the mouth but doesn’t completely fill it. This method is also much faster, so even if the patient is anxious, the entire process can be done very quickly.
They’re Easier to Share
With traditional putty impressions, if your dentist or the dental lab needed to forward them to another location, they would have to physically send them via courier or another method of delivery. Not only did this increase the risk of the model becoming damaged, but it also added time to the treatment schedule.
Today’s digital impressions can be shared instantly, cutting out the middleman and ensuring that treatment moves quickly, all without compromising the integrity of the images themselves.
They’re More Eco Friendly
Because your digital impressions can be sent online, there is less of a carbon footprint. You won’t have to use putty, which while nontoxic still creates waste. Your dentist also won’t have to use resources to pack and ship them, nor will they need to be driven or flown to a dental lab, making them the eco-friendlier option.
Remember, while older methods like dental putty have long been the go-to when making molds for dental treatments like crowns and dentures, today’s digital impressions are the more comfortable, faster, and more accurate alternative.
About Our Practice
At Burncoat Family Dental, our talented and caring team of dentists is proud to offer the latest in dental technology to make your treatment faster, more accurate and more comfortable than ever before. If you need a dental crown, digital impressions can help ensure that your restoration looks and feels more realistic than those made with old-fashioned putty. To see the difference for yourself, schedule an appointment for dental crowns by visiting our website or calling 508-852-0168.