It’s all too easy for us to take the power of digital technology for granted. Yes, the technology makes our lives easier, but digital doesn’t guarantee perfection.
Even in your skilled hands, there are always difficulties associated with impressions of any kind.
Digital scanning systems offer some of the easiest and most accurate results possible, but they face their own set of challenges.
Let’s take a look at some of the common problems and solutions associated with digital impressions.
The Challenges Associated with Digital Impressions
- Moisture: Intraoral scanners are great, but they aren’t foolproof. One of the major drawbacks is that they can’t account for saliva or other fluids. This means any type of moisture will compromise the scan.
To avoid this, make sure to suction the area completely dry before scanning. Also, keep in mind that the scanner lens must be dry as well. If it’s not, the scan simply won’t be accurate enough.
- Bite scan misalignment: Generally, the lower arch and upper arch scans tend to be quite good, but problems often arise during the buccal view. It’s here that the cheeks or tongue get in the way and compromise the scan.
One of the best ways to avoid the issue is to gently remind patients of their role. Getting them to relax and hold a steady position is often enough to overcome this obstacle.
In addition, gathering as much information as possible from the maxillary and mandibular scans is also important. This helps clarify the scan overall.
- Simple error: Intraoral scanners are powerful, but must be placed in specific locations to guarantee they gather the correct information. And that can mean aligning them at difficult angles.
If your scanner provides you with a thumbnail image of the scans, study them; you’ll likely see the places where required information is missing
By looking at them in real-time, you’ll be able to adjust and re-scan if necessary. Closely related to this is …
- Comfort level with equipment. The learning curve for intraoral scanners can be steep. Unless you and your team are getting plenty of repetitions with the scanner, the potential for a lack of confidence can inhibit results.
This is something that gets easier the more training and practice you and your staff have.
- Purchase and Maintenance Costs: Intraoral scanners generally require a significant initial financial commitment. This can be prohibitive for small or independent dental practices.
Granted, the scanner likely will be used for a variety of purposes, which assist in any cost-benefit analysis, but you’ll need to ensure there are no additional costs (i.e., equipment upgrades).
Fortunately, there are alternatives. Although buying a scanner outright seems daunting, leasing programs are available. These help your patients get the care they need, comfort they want, and keep your practice under budget.
Importance of Mouthguards
- Costs Resulting from Mistakes: According to one estimate, overhead costs run close to $375 per hour in the typical dental practice. If your patient needs to come back to correct a scan, who ends up footing the bill? That’s right – it’s probably you and your practice.
Minimizing errors saves you time, aggravation, and money.
- Responsibility: If your dental lab needs to redo work as a result of your errors, who bears the cost? That’s a conversation no dentist or technician wants to have. Avoiding these issues is the best route to take.
- Reputation: You can place a dollar amount on items 1 and 2, but not on your reputation. It’s impossible to predict how your professional reputation will degrade when patients believe their time was wasted redoing dental work.
Getting accurate results the first time is the best result possible.
Bringing It Together
It’s easy to think of digital scanners as a magical solution to the problem of taking impressions. However, it’s not always that simple.
Pay attention to the details and follow through with the real-time data you see.
Above all, remember to never stop training and practicing.
Using this powerful technology in the right way will help bring your practice to its full potential. Your patients, your staff, and your bottom line will thank you.
About First Choice Dental Lab
First Choice Dental Lab is a full-service dental lab with locations in Downers Grove, Il. & Wauwatosa, Wi.
We manufacture & customize quality dental restorations for general dentists. We create smiles based on your needs and budget.
We’re here to help you give your patients a reason to smile!
