As digital dental technologies gain traction, an increasing number of dentists are using intraoral scanning techinique instead of traditional tray impressions. While both techniques have their place in modern practice, scanners undoubtedly provide advantages to the operatory, such as speed, convenience, digital data capture, and, perhaps most importantly, patient acceptance. There could also be a marketing advantage in using dental intraoral scanners. Given that many patients associate the use of technology with precision and better outcomes, experts believe scanning technology could give practices a competitive advantage. Here in this article, we will learn something about intraoral scanning and 8 advantages of using it in dental clinics.
What Is Intraoral Dental Scanning?
The modernized method for taking full-mouth digital impressions is intraoral scanning, which is a cutting-edge technology. A trained dental assistant can complete full-mouth 3D scans in minutes using intraoral scanners. These scans produce a full-color, high-resolution digital image in real time. You can also view, enlarge, and distribute it to team members or specialists to go along with the treatment.
Dental staff can use an intraoral scanner to monitor patient gum health and quickly identify the location and extent of tooth fractures, calculus, deteriorating restorative work, and inflammation. Dentists can also use intraoral scanners after treatment. They offer a simple and accurate way for both doctor and patient to view and track the treatment’s results.
Why Is Learning How to Take Digital Impressions Important?
Firstly, intraoral dental scanning is faster and cleaner than taking physical impressions. Secondly, it’s also much more comfortable for patients and especially beneficial for people with prominent gag-reflexes and sensitive teeth. Lastly, the images captured are detailed, accurate and easy to read. If there’s an error with the scan, it’s immediately apparent. So the patient can be quickly re-scanned right then. With all these advantages and many others, more dental offices are switching to taking digital impressions.
8 Advantages of Using Intraoral Scanning Technique with our intraoral scanner INO100
1. Say goodbye to alginate or plaster
You can avoid the time-consuming use of alginate by using an intraoral scanner. And you’ll have a 3D printing model in only two or three minutes.
2. Avoid discomfort to your patients
Along the same line as the previous point, you can get the images without bothering the patient by taking physical impressions. Thus, you don’t have to react to the patient’s gag reflex. And don’t need to hear their complaints about how much the taste or smell of alginate or silicones annoy them. Therefore, the process will be faster, more pleasant and more comfortable for both the patient and the doctor. Probably, this is one of the advantages that favors the patient most. It is likely that they will thank you for the more efficient processes, which reduce the time of waiting for them.
3. Get high accuracy models
If there is one thing about intraoral scanning that matters most, it must be the accuracy of obtaining the models. The errors are reduced to the greatest extent, because there are no inconveniences such as bubbles, setting, wrinkles or cracks during the process of taking impressions. After proper training and practice, the operator can obtain the models of natural teeth, pre-teeth and implants accurately and quickly with the scanners.
4. Correct defects instantly
If an image becomes distorted for any reason, you can easily correct it by reviewing the affected area and scanning it again.
5. Create 3D files
If you use intraoral scanner to obtain the impressions, you can have access to 3D digital files whenever you want. And you’ll be able to easily create and locate them, which helps a lot in saving space for plaster or plaster models.
6. Save on shipping costs
You will save money that you would have spent on shipping models and impressions to dental laboratories. Instead, digital files of models and impressions can be sent in seconds via the Internet. And it basically costs nothing.
7. Act as a Marketing tool
You can set yourself apart from the competition with others by using the intraoral scanning technology. And it can act as one of the fundamental marketing pillars of your dental clinic. After all, many patients associate intraoral scanning technology with precision and improved outcomes. In addition, it will also allow you to show the state of caries, fractured teeth, presence of calculus and the current position of their teeth to the patients. This offers them an easier way to understand the situations about their teeth, which is a kind of patient education.
8. It simplifies the process of treatment
Intraoral scanning makes diagnosis easier, makes getting models faster, and makes treatments more effective. The whole workflow can be much simpler with the use of intraoral scanners.
In general, intraoral scanning has become more and more popular along with the tide of dental digitalization. This is a kind of inevitable trend that caused by the global atmosphere of internalization and digitalization. Dental clinics, as well as patients, can benefit a lot from this transition. So, let’s learn and start the exciting work of bringing your dental clinics to the new digital dentistry era with intraoral scanner INO100! We at BLZ Dental are looking forward to be your trustworthy partner in this great transition!