Dental impressions are bad enough to make anyone i hate going to the dentist. If you’ve ever needed a crown, bridge or veneer, then you’ve experienced the agony of a dental impression. There’s nothing worse than waiting those two to five excruciating minutes for spontaneous footage to stabilize.
But it’s the 21st century. There has to be a better way to make dental impressions, right?
The alternative traditional impression
Dental impressions are very common procedures used in dentistry, but if you’re one of the many patients who absolutely can’t stand the traditional impression material (alginate) sitting in your mouth, you’ll be happy to know that there’s an alternative.
Digital impression systems such as 3M’s Lava Chairside Oral Scanner, Sirona’s CEREC and Cadent iTero system, take digital “impressions” of the teeth instead of the glossy impression material that has long been used to get the final impression of a crown, bridge or veneer.
Dr. Leonard Tau of the Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence introduced the Cadent iTero system to his general dental practice and experienced some positive results.
“It eliminates dark dental impression material that makes patients gag and not enjoy their visit,” says Dr. Tau. “It also allows for a better fit of the final restoration, which in turn allows for a faster appointment, so the patient spends less time in the dental chair.”
When your dentist has fully prepared the teeth that need restoration, a stick is used to take a digital image of the teeth. Dr. Tau explains that taking a digital impression of prepared teeth takes about a minute and a half, and taking an impression of the teeth in the opposite arch takes just 45 seconds.
Pros and cons
How accurate is the iTero? According to Dr. Tau, a lot.
“The iTero digital impression system creates an exact replica of what’s in your mouth. This results in a more accurate crown or bridge. I’ve never had restorations that fit better.”
However, researchers are still looking into the effectiveness of the technology. A 2008 article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) determines that digital impression systems are a promising technology, but further research is needed to fully distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of the two impression-taking methods.
One of the most common areas of concern when creating a crown, bridge or veneer involves the tiny space between the tooth and the gum tissue that surrounds the tooth, known as the subgingival margin. Without an accurate impression of this area, the final restoration may not fit the tooth properly, resulting in a myriad of problems down the road.
The JADA article notes that digital impression technology will not necessarily improve the outcome of the final impression, and there is still a need for more careful isolation of soft tissue before taking the digital impression.
Please note that not every dentist uses this type of digital impression technology. Many dentists prefer to use traditional methods because there is not enough research to indicate that digital impressions are superior. This type of digital technology also comes with a hefty price tag that some dentists can’t justify.
Other dentists who have switched to digital impression systems would never consider going back, like Dr. Tau.
“[My] Patients love the iTero, especially the patient who cannot take the dental impression due to a severe gag reflex,” says Dr. Tau. “If you’ve ever had a conventional impression done, you know how uncomfortable the process is. Putty is messy, has an extremely unpleasant taste, and in many patients can cause gagging.”
Patients interested in learning more about digital impression systems should talk to their dentist about this technology.
