5 Reasons you should be using Digital Oral Scanners

Kingsport, TN

Technological advances touch every industry, including dentistry. According to the 2022 Dental Industry Data Report, the dental industry is swiftly heading towards digitalization. Digital oral scanners or intraoral scanners record impressively accurate details, including each tooth’s shape and size. Furthermore, the computer program generates a 3D rendering of the patient’s mouth, including soft and hard tissues. Then, the digital images transfer within minutes to an off-site dental lab, where the meticulous details help create the perfect solution. Our expert dental lab technicians at Premier Dental Arts share the advantages of using updated technology, like digital oral scanners compared to traditional methods.

Digital Impression Advantages

1. Reduce errors

Traditional impression methods can be prone to human error. However, eliminating molding materials and adding powerful computer software has reduced human errors. Digital impressions are markedly accurate and extremely precise in measurements and image generation. Our professional dental lab techs love patient cases that have digital imaging available for restorations. Such oral detail reduces the need for additional impressions or adjustments, helps create high-quality restorations, and improves manufacturing times.

2. Save on expenses

Physical impression materials can be bulky, expensive, and messy. Furthermore, molds are prone to disfigure for various reasons, sometimes resulting in needing new impressions and using more materials. Additionally, shipping costs to send patient molds to a dental lab can add up quickly. Intraoral scans merely require the scanning wand and display screen. Although the initial financial investment may seem significant, most practices can recover the expense within a year because of reduced chair time per patient allowing more patient volume, reduced material use, and fewer shipping costs.

3. Efficient dental lab communication

Digital impressions are the most secure method of transferring patient data to a dental lab. Once the initial patient scan is complete, your office can send the patient file directly to our skilled dental technicians through a digital portal. There’s no longer a wait time for the impression to arrive at our lab, as we can review the impression results immediately and request rescans if necessary while the patient is still in the office.

4. Improved patient experience

Traditional impressions are often disliked by most patients because of the process, tastes, and feelings in their mouths. Using digital impression software removes the harsh side effects of traditional impressions. The wand-like oral scanner makes impression treatments more comfortable, detailed, and efficient. Patients prefer a painless experience that’s less likely to trigger their gag reflex and the size and maneuverability of the oral scanner allows dentists to provide a better experience.

5. Reduce patient chair time

Physical impressions require extra time to prepare materials, apply them, and allow setting time for the best mold results. An intraoral scanner quickly takes in-depth measurements and images with stunning details physical impressions simply fail to capture. Additionally, patients spend less time in the chair during the impression process, potentially avoiding adjustments due to accuracy, and increasing your practice’s ability to see more patients.

Dental Lab Experts in Kingsport, TN

The dental industry digitization for patient care will continue to grow and evolve, but with digital oral scanning, the process is already beginning.  Not only has it revolutionized dental lab production and possibilities, but it’s also helped dentists provide the best, most efficient treatments to patients. If your dental practice is researching digital imaging options, please contact our experienced digital dental lab experts at Premier Dental Arts at (888) 732-5221.