Intraoral scanners have been available for a while, but many patients do not know their importance and why they should opt for a dentist that uses an intraoral scanner. Below is information about intraoral scanners and their benefits. If you have other questions about how an intraoral scanner can improve your treatment, ensure you consult your dentist.
What is an intraoral scanner?
An intraoral scanner is a dental scanning device that shows the orthodontist detailed images of the gums and teeth. Intraoral scanners are one of the breakthroughs in the orthodontics, and it has brought improvements in dental imaging. The device helps your orthodontist know the condition of your soft tissues and teeth to ensure they recommend the right treatment for your dental issue.
Some benefits of intraoral scanners in dentistry include the following.
- Reducing dental appointments
Whenever you need mouth guards, diagnostic models, braces, or other dental devices that need impressions, an intraoral scanner is the best option. The scanner will create an accurate 3-D image of your teeth, which the dental technician will use to make the dental device you need. This process saves you from the stress of visiting the clinic multiple times as the scanners produce images that make the dental device fabrication faster than physical impressions.Even if you have brackets on your teeth, the orthodontist can digitally remove them to get images to create your dental appliance.
- Faster treatment
Since there is no need to ship digital impressions to a lab to make the dental device, the turnaround time is shorter. The average time needed to manufacture an orthodontic device using a physical impression is two weeks and, in some cases, longer.However, with an intraoral scanner, the orthodontist can send the digital images to the lab on the same day, so you can get your orthodontic device within a week. This is more convenient for the orthodontist and patient.
Sending digital impressions also reduces the risk of dental impressions getting damaged in transit. In many cases, physical impressions get damaged or lost in the mail, and the patient would have to come to the clinic to re-do their impressions.
- A more accurate fit
Dental appliances like mouth guards and clear aligners need to fit the teeth perfectly for them to work correctly. If these devices do not fit properly, you can suffer from gum soreness, headaches, tooth pain, jaw pain and sinus pain.When you get your dental impressions with an intraoral scanner, your dental appliance will fit perfectly, but physical impressions can become altered if you move while the orthodontist takes the impression. This increases the risk of error and having a less fitting dental appliance.
For this reason, more orthodontists are opting for intraoral scanners instead of physical impressions.
- Comfort
Using an intraoral scanner is more comfortable for the patient than taking physical impressions. If you experience tooth sensitivity, the pressure from taking physical impressions can trigger your teeth sensitivity and cause discomfort.Intraoral scanners create digital images of your teeth and gums faster, and the process is less invasive. You can also request to have the scans taken in parts if you feel uncomfortable. The scanner attachments are available in different sizes, which allows you to feel more comfortable during the process.
- More cost-effective
Most dental treatments are expensive, and many patients do not have dental insurance, so the cost of undergoing treatment is usually a concern for most people. Intraoral scanners are not just accurate but more cost-effective.Taking physical impressions cost more and may need to be re-done if they do not fit comfortably. This can double the cost of your dental treatment and, in some cases, triple it. With intraoral scanners, you would need fewer visits to the dental practice, which means you would be saving money and have a more productive time at work.
The rate of patients satisfied with their dental appliance is higher for intraoral scanners than for physical impressions. To know more about the benefits of intraoral scanners on your orthodontic treatment, contact Adult Braces London today on 020 3173 3179 to speak to an experienced dentist. This is especially important if you need a dental appliance that requires taking your dental impressions.
You can also visit us for dental treatments like Invisalign or call us now to know more about our Invisalign discount in London.
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