DIGITAL IMPRESSIONS with Cadent iTero
From cell phones with built in cameras to cars that park themselves, technology has revolutionized the way we live. It has also revolutionized the way we practice dentistry and the services we provide to our guests. We are embracing new technology which greatly enhances the patient experience and eases anxiety about dental treatments. Many people don't look forward to a trip to the dentist, and some assume all dental procedures are going to be uncomfortable or painful. In an effort to make going to see the dentist a more pleasant experience, modern dental offices have been designed to include many "extra touches" to keep you relaxed and comfortable, including massage chairs, paraffin wax treatments, iPods, virtual movie glasses and most importantly, virtually painless dentistry. Lasers allow us to perform some surgical procedures without the need to use a scalpel and stitches, digital x-rays significantly reduce exposure time for dental x-rays, and now a common dental procedure known as a dental impression has an amazing new technological advancement.
The Cadent iTero Digital Impression System is a revolutionary new tool in the quest for better smiles.
Many patients cringe at the thought of having a mold of their mouth taken. The putty is messy, tastes unpleasant, and in many patients can cause gagging. This is far from a perfect science and if the impression has an air bubble or other imperfection, it may not be suitable and unfortunately the process may have to be repeated.
iTero replaces the unpleasant taste, drooling and gagging associated with traditional impression taking methods. By using a hand-held wand to optically scan the area to be restored your entire impression is created 100% digitally. This device enables the dentist to create an exact replica of what is in the mouth using only a laser scanner. The only thing that touches your mouth is the tip of the handheld wand. Guided by voice prompts, we take several scans of the teeth until a complete digital image is captured. Once the scanning process begins it can be stopped and started as many times as necessary, unlike the physical impression that must set for as long as 5 to 6 minutes before it is removed from your mouth. Never again will you be stuck gagging, with a mouth full of dental impression goop. Each scan takes only a few seconds.
The impression is then electronically transmitted to a remote CAD/CAM facility where the laboratory models are precisely milled. Next, the models are returned to the dental laboratory where your custom restoration is fabricated.
The patented 3-D digital technology enables the dental laboratory to create restorations with unmatched precision and accuracy, all of which translates to a superior restoration that looks and feels natural.
We all know first impressions make a huge difference - make your next one digital!
