The traditional method for designing and creating dentures involves several dental appointments, some manual impressions, and lots of communication with a dental laboratory. Certainly, the process is effective and can yield beautiful restorations. However, it is far from ideal. That is why some dental practices have invested in digital denture technology. Let’s talk about what digital dentures are and how they can make your tooth replacement journey both easier and faster.
What Are Digital Dentures?
Essentially, digital dentures are designed and fabricated with digital processes rather than manual ones. Here is a basic overview of how they work:
- After any necessary preliminary treatments, your dental team uses Prime Scan technology to capture a digital, three-dimensional representation of your mouth. Or, if you already have dentures, your dentures will be scanned.
- You’ll meet with your dentist to review the digital model of your teeth.
- An in-office 3D printer creates your new denture out of high-quality materials.
- The design of your dentures is stored in the dental practice’s files. If you ever lose your dentures, you can get a replacement as quickly as possible.
Benefits of Digital Dentures
Some of the top benefits of digital dentures include:
- The process is faster than the traditional method for creating dentures. It also requires fewer visits to the dental office. In fact, in most cases, a patient will only need to visit the practice 2 – 3 times before their dentures are complete and ready for use.
- The quality of digital dentures is on par with what you would get from a traditional dental laboratory. Every detail of your prosthetic, including your bite, the color of your teeth, and more, is carefully planned with the help of advanced software.
- No messy, goopy manual impressions are necessary.
- If you lose or severely damage your non-digital dentures, you would probably have to start over with the denture design process — you might have to go weeks without your teeth. With digital dentures, you can get a replacement prosthetic much faster because your dentures’ design is securely stored and ready for use.
Are Digital Dentures Right for You?
If you will soon need to replace your teeth, or your old denture is nearing the end of its lifespan, it is certainly worth your while to find a practice that offers digital dentures. The dental team will learn about your goals for treatment and help you decide whether digital dentures are right for you — they probably are! Once you get started on the treatment process, you can expect an easy and efficient experience.
Digital dentures are the future of tooth replacement, but they aren’t yet widely available. To learn more about them, search for a local practice that offers them. You may soon be on your way to a complete, high-tech smile!
Meet the Practice
Harrisonburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry features three highly skilled dentists who are passionate about utilizing the latest technology to benefit patients. Digital dentures are just one of the many services that our practice offers. To learn more about your tooth replacement options, contact us at 540-432-6616.