Dental Technology: Top Benefits of Digital Crowns
- Feb 21 2023
Dental crowns are a widely used treatment option for restoring damaged or decayed teeth. Over the past decades, there have been many advancements in how dental crowns are made and placed. Along with new materials and placement methods, the technology used to plan and customize dental crowns has changed as well.
What are digital impressions?
Dental crowns are custom-made to provide the perfect fit. Traditionally, the way to do this has been by taking a physical impression. Your dentist would have you bite down on a special putty to imprint the shape of your teeth. They would then send that physical impression to the dental lab that makes the custom porcelain crown.
Today, new technology provides an alternative to physical impressions. Digital impressions rely on high-resolution 3D scans to provide the same level of detail as a physical impression. This technology accurately captures both hard and soft tissue, so they are used in a wide range of treatment planning scenarios.
Digital impressions provide a wide range of benefits over physical impressions. You can enjoy a better experience, more accurate results, and faster treatment.
Durable and Long-Lasting Crowns
Before your dental crown is placed, the dentist will remove excess material from the affected tooth. This removes decay and also prepares a solid base for the crown. To ensure longevity and strength, crowns need to be a perfect fit.
Physical impressions have long been the standard for getting that fit, but digital impressions do even better. The precision and accuracy of the scans let the dental lab craft your dental crown to fit better. This makes crowns less likely to come loose over time or suffer physical damage.
A Comfortable Treatment Experience
Most patients would rather avoid having physical impressions. Patients have to bite down on the awkward mouthpiece as the impression sets. While they understand the importance of their treatment, it’s very unpleasant.
Digital impressions are much more comfortable. They take just a few minutes, and you don’t have to bite down on putty during that time. You’ll spend less time in the dentist’s chair preparing for your dental crown. The higher accuracy of the digital impressions also means you’re less likely to have to do the whole process over due to errors.
Reliable Digital Records
With physical impressions, your dentist has to physically ship the impression to the dental lab. This takes time, delaying how soon you’ll get your crowns. Damage during shipping and handling could require you to have impressions taken all over again.
Digital impressions create reliable digital records that are easy to handle safely and securely. The dental lab receives your digital impressions immediately, cutting out waiting time. Your dentist will also have them available for future reference in their records.
Same-Day Treatment Options
With conventional dental crowns, patients have to wait between the time their tooth is prepared and when the crown arrives. This means they’ll need at least two visits to complete their treatment. A temporary crown is typically placed during the first appointment until the final crown is ready.
Digital impressions make same-day treatment options possible. Specialized equipment lets dentists create dental crowns on-site rather than waiting for the dental lab. This method only works for certain types of crowns, but it can be a convenient option for many patients.
Digital Crowns in Queens, NY
If you need a dental crown for a damaged or decayed tooth, you can make the most of modern dental technology by choosing Payam Cohen, D.D.S., P.C. We implement digital impressions and other technologies to improve outcomes for crowns and other cosmetic treatments. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment.
Categories: Digital Crowns