3D Intraoral Scanners vs. Traditional Impressions: Which Is Better?

There has been a lot of talk lately about the newer trend of three-dimensional intraoral scanners and the traditional impression methods of taking a dental impression. Both methods yield accurate impressions of a patient's dentition and are used for procedures such as crowns, bridges, aligners, and dentures. Impressions have been the gold standard for these procedures for many years; however, with the advent of digital technology, intraoral scanning is a faster, cleaner, and more efficient alternative. Let us compare and contrast how these two technologies differ and which one may be more suitable for one's dental care.

Comfort and Patient Experience

One difference between these two impression techniques is patient comfort. For traditional impressions, a tray filled with gooey impression material is placed inside the mouth for a few minutes, causing gagging and discomfort for some patients, especially those with dental anxiety. On the contrary, the procedure with the 3D intraoral scanner is relatively mess-free, using a small hand-held camera to digitally map the mouth. For many patients, this is better because it is more tolerable, faster, and less invasive.

Accuracy and Efficiency

Because 3D intraoral scanners in Cary provide accurate pictures of the mouth's interior with real-time feedback, the dentist sees on-screen the area just scanned. If some adjustments are needed, he does them right away, sends the file directly to the lab, and reduces the chances for errors, remakes, and delays. Although traditional impressions are still considered more accurate when done correctly, they are prone to distortions due to human factors, poor mixing, or movement during setting. Furthermore, digital files can be stored, shared, and duplicated easily compared to an actual physical mold.

Traditional impressions and 3D intraoral scanners have their respective roles to play in dentistry. For patients wanting comfort, speed, and high-tech computerized accuracy, these 3D scanners seem to win hands down. Traditional impressions remain a good, dependable, and cost-effective way of obtaining an impression. Which one is better will depend on the individual patient's dental needs, the technology available in the practice, and of course, the preferences of the patient.

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