Why Are Impressions Taken in Dentistry?

We can divide the applications performed in dentistry into two classes: direct applications such as fillings and root canal treatments that we apply immediately in the mouth, and indirect applications such as veneers and night guards.

In order to be able to perform applications that we cannot complete directly in the mouth, we take measurements in dentistry in order to replicate the oral environment using various methods.

In measurements taken with traditional methods, fluid impression materials are placed in the mouth with special spoons. After these impression materials harden in the mouth for a while, they are removed from the mouth and the model is obtained by pouring plaster into the resulting negative copy. This model is then scanned and transferred to the computer environment to begin the design and production stages.

With the introduction of digital measurement into our lives, this procedure has changed and the process has been greatly shortened.

How to Take Digital Measurements?

How Long Does the Digital Measurement Process Take?

In the traditional impression process, a minimum of approximately 1 hour is required to prepare the impression material, place it in the mouth, harden and remove it, and prepare it for casting into plaster and processing.

Although there may be differences in digital measurement processes depending on factors such as the device used, software, and the doctor's experience in this regard, the duration is short enough to be expressed in seconds. Thanks to developing devices and accelerating software, it takes an average of 1 minute for a single jaw to be scanned and the digital model to be ready.

Is There Pain During the Digital Impression Procedure?

Our patients do not feel any pain while digital measurements are being taken. You can roughly think of the process as taking pictures of your teeth with a small camera.

Is There Exposure to Radiation During Digital Measurement?

The intraoral scanning devices used today operate in the form of cameras and do not expose the person or the environment to any radiation.

What operations can we perform with digital measurement?

• Smile design applications,
• All ceramic crowns
• Zirconium crowns
• Metal-supported porcelain crowns
• Transparent orthodontic plates
• Laminate restorations
• Implant supported dentures
• Surgical plates used in implant operations
• Inlay/Onlay restorations

What are the advantages of digital measurement over traditional methods?

• The measurement taking time is considerably shortened.
• Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence, restorations can be produced by taking measurements with micron precision.
• It allows us to take measurements comfortably in patients with nausea reflex.
• It allows the treatment to be completed in a very short time by eliminating the intermediate stages.
• Measurements can be recorded on the computer and re-examined if necessary.
• By using the digital measurement method instead of impression materials, chemical residues are prevented. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly application.

Specialist Dt. İlkay Gül
Prosthetic Dentistry Specialist