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What Is Digital Dentistry?

Digital dentistry

In recent years, dentistry has undergone a remarkable transformation through the emergence of digital dentistry. This revolutionary approach, powered by cutting-edge technology, has completely reshaped dental care. It takes us beyond traditional diagnostics, planning treatments and crafting dental restorations. Dentists can now leverage advanced tools and technology to enhance diagnostics, treatment planning and patient care. 

 

Digital Dentistry

Digital dentistry encompasses technologies and practices using digital tools– hardware and software – to improve dental care. Dentists can create comprehensive digital scans of your mouth and teeth by incorporating sophisticated techniques using computer-aided designs (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), cone-beam computed tomography, intraoral scanning, and 3-D printing. These advancements use optical technology to capture high-resolution 3-D images of your oral structures, eliminating the need for physical impressions and allowing dentists to review your mouth more thoroughly.

 

Benefits of Digital Dentistry

Why is digital dentistry so exciting? Digital dentistry saves time and boosts accuracy, leading to better treatment outcomes. Furthermore, it eliminates many manual steps in traditional procedures, increasing accuracy and precision. Intraoral scanners capture detailed images of your teeth and oral structures, enabling precise measurements for treatment planning.

Digital dentistry also improves your experience by reducing discomfort and anxiety. The absence of impression materials and the swift nature of digital processes contribute to a more comfortable and efficient visit to the dentist.

In addition, it facilitates clear communication between dental professionals and laboratories. Digital impressions and treatment plans can be shared effortlessly, reducing errors and misinterpretations.

 

A Speedy Crown with CEREC

One prominent component of digital dentistry is Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC), a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system. CEREC technology has revolutionized dental procedures, offering a range of benefits for dentists and patients alike. It enables dentists to create same-day dental restorations, such as crowns,, inlays and onlays. Traditional dental procedures for dental restorations often involve multiple dentist visits, uncomfortable trays filled with messy materials, manual model-making and a longer turnaround time for dental restorations. 

CEREC technology expedites this process, allowing your dentist to take a digital impression of your tooth using the intraoral scanner, eliminating the need for messy impressions. The digital image is then used to design the restoration with specialized software. 

Once the design is finalized, the CEREC milling unit manufactures the restoration from a solid block of ceramic material – all during a single dental appointment. CEREC technology saves time and enhances patient satisfaction by minimizing discomfort and reducing the need for temporary crowns.

 

3-D Printed Night Guards

Another benefit of digital dentistry is the production of night guards. Night guards are essential for protecting your teeth from grinding during sleep. Like most dental restoration processes, the traditional approach involves creating moulds of the patient’s teeth and sending them to a dental lab for fabrication, which can be time-consuming and uncomfortable. Digital dentistry now uses 3-D printing, a revolutionized procedure, offering a more patient-friendly approach.

With 3-D printing technology, a digital scan of your teeth is converted into a detailed 3-D model. This model is used to 3-D print a customized night guard using biocompatible materials. It results in a night guard that is a perfect fit and aligned with your teeth, maximizing effectiveness and comfort. It also eliminates the need for manual moulding and speeds up the fabrication process.

 

Your Dental Clinic in North Vancouver

Peak Dental Arts in North Vancouver is at the forefront of the dental revolution. Our skilled dentists prioritize your comfort and ensure you are an active partner in your treatment journey. Armed with state-of-the-art equipment, we collaborate with you to craft a personalized dental strategy that aligns with your goals, ensuring you get a radiant smile that lasts a lifetime.

Embrace dentistry that resonates beyond mere service. Complete our contact form or call 604-670-5423 to book an appointment. 

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