WHAT IS DIGITAL DENTISTRY?
Digital dentistry design. With technology advancing at a high pace, many developments took place in the healthcare field. These developments in medicine also affected and sped up the treatment methods of dental care.
The advanced technology provided achieving better treatments in a shorter time with computer-assisted applications (CAD-CAM). As a procedure, it consists of two steps and two devices: Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM).
Digital dentistry is a modern technology that gives us the ability to digitally take an impression of the patient’s mouth via scanning and produce a suitable restoration for the patient.
Digital scanning (taking the impression); when the patient arrives at the clinic the procedure to be done is digitally scanning the teeth to be treated with a 3D scanner and transporting that impression to the computer.
Digital design; the process of digitally designing all aspects of the restoration on the 3D scan, such as tooth shape or soft tissue adaptation.
Manufacturing of the restoration; after the digital scanning and designing, the manufacturing of the restoration takes place via 3D printers (cad-cam supported milling devices).
Porcelain Restorations; Porcelain restorations are applied to the patient’s mouth following the manufacturing and the final checks.
With the technology of CEREC CAD-CAM system, every kind of restorative treatment can be made. Porcelain laminates which are a big part of esthetic dentistry, zirconia supported porcelain crowns, full ceramic crowns and inlay/onlay restorations especially for teeth that lost most of their healthy tooth structure, are easily manufactured in a short amount of time thanks to these systems.
IN WHICH AREAS CAN CEREC BE USED?
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain Laminates
Porcelain Bridges
Porcelain Inlay-Onlay
Zirconia supported Porcelains
Full Zirconia Restorations
Composite Inlay- Onlay
Composite Laminates
Composite Crowns
WHAT IS CHAIR-SIDE METHOD?
Chair-Side method means the completion of the restoration in one appointment which makes the use of a temporary restoration redundant. The whole process can be finalized in one appointment. This is the best point that digital dentistry has arrived in recent years.
HOW DIGITAL DENTISTRY IS APPLIED
With the help of a special camera which can easily scan intraoral structures, the impression of the tooth which will be restored is acquired.
In 10-15 minutes the design of the digital restoration is completed with high precision. This design is prepared and manufactured without human contact in 5-15 minutes depending on the type of selected material. Following the polishing, the restoration is ready to be applied in the mouth. The total amount of time for the treatment is determined by the number of restorations. Sometimes it can take 2-4 hours when more than a few restorations are produced. Most of the treatments are completed in one day.
THE ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL DENTISTRY
The most important advantage of digital dentistry is the fact that the treatment is completed in one appointment and high-esthetic results are achieved. The patients have ideally formed teeth in one appointment without rehearsing. Since the entire process is carried out on computers flawless results are achieved. With digital dentistry, the conventional impression methods are abandoned and the patient has a more pleasant treatment period.
DIGITAL DENTISTRY: POST-TREATMENT
Post-treatment, it is crucial to follow every guidance that the dentists give. Following the guidance of dentists will shorten the healing period and prevents the harming of the teeth. Generally after all digital treatments hot, cold and hard substances must be avoided. Also, good oral hygiene must be kept and the prescribed medications must be used if there is any.