Digital impressions are more comfortable and accurate than traditional impressions. At Schwartz Orthodontics in Algonquin, Illinois, Robert Schwartz, DDS, MS, uses digital impressions to create custom clear aligners and retainers for people of all ages. To learn more about the benefits of digital impressions, call Schwartz Orthodontics today.
Digital impressions create a virtual model of your mouth used to fabricate orthodontic appliances, such as clear aligners and retainers. They’re more accurate than physical impressions, which use goopy materials to create a mold of your mouth. Traditional impressions rely on your bite to build accurate molds and can feel very uncomfortable for people with sensitive gag reflexes.
To create a digital impression, Dr. Schwartz uses a handheld device, called the iTero™ intraoral scanner, to scan the inside of your mouth. Unlike physical impressions, digital impressions can accurately model all the hard and soft tissues of your mouth with extreme precision. You don’t have to bite down on a goopy material, so the process is quick and comfortable.
Once Dr. Schwartz creates your impressions, he stores them on a computer. From there, he can adjust your treatment plan using digital software.
The iTero intraoral scanner offers several advantages over traditional physical molds, such as:
Physical impressions can feel invasive and uncomfortable. To create a traditional impression, your orthodontist pours a thick liquid material into a tray shaped like a “U” and asks you to bite down.
Creating a digital impression is simple. Dr. Schwartz simply holds the handheld device in your mouth to display the impression on an in-office monitor.
When creating a traditional impression, your orthodontist must send your mold to an outside lab before you get a chance to see the impression. With digital impressions, Dr. Schwartz can display it on an in-office monitor, so he can start designing your treatment plan right away.
Physical impressions typically require multiple tries to ensure the mold retains the correct shape. The precision of digital impressions means Dr. Schwartz can take a highly accurate computerized mold without distortion.
When creating your digital impressions with the iTero digital scanner, Dr. Schwartz works with a single-use image shield to ensure maximum cleanliness.
Digital impressions can help fabricate a wide range of orthodontic appliances, including Invisalign® clear aligners, Spark™ clear aligners, and retainers.
To learn more about digital impressions, call Schwartz Orthodontics today.
