What exactly is digital dentistry?
Digital dentistry can be defined as the process of planning, designing and fabricating restorations and prostheses using digital technology.
What advantages does it have over traditional dentistry?
The main advantage of digital methods in dentistry is the improvement in the precision of treatments.
Digital dentistry allows us to plan each treatment in advance on a computer so that we can then execute it in less time and with greater accuracy, according to what was foreseen when diagnosing each case.
In what areas can this type of dentistry be applied?
Digital dentistry is applicable to all fields of dentistry. For example, in implantology we plan the surgery with software in which we integrate the patient’s 3D CT scan together with his virtual mouth model, so that we can plan the ideal position of the implants to be placed according to the teeth we need, taking into account their shape and size.
On the other hand, the substitution of taking measurements with pastes by the intraoral scanner has meant a before and after in our daily practice; it is a great advance in terms of comfort for the patient, as well as a great improvement in our final results.
Are there any phases that must be followed in this process of digital dentistry?
Of course, we must follow well-established protocols to avoid making mistakes. All possible patient information is necessary, first in the data acquisition phase (3D CT, intraoral scanner, facial scanner, photographs and videos) in order to arrive at a successful manufacturing process of the restorations either by CAD-CAM milling or by 3D printing technology, which we also have in the clinic.
How are the results?
As we mentioned before, the results with the use of new technologies are more predictable and allow us to achieve success in a simpler way, avoiding numerous interventions and finally achieving a successful treatment that meets the expectations of our patients.
For more information about digital dentistry, please consult a dental expert.