Ten years ago, same-day digital dentures are a thing you’d imagine existed only in science fiction movies. Today, this instant technology is now a reality that chews off a significant amount of waiting time for clinics and patients alike.
How do you help your patients get their ideal smile in minutes? How does this affect your clinic’s workflow? Here’s a fundamental guide on why you should consider adopting the technology.
What are Digital Dentures and How Do They Work?
Digital dentures are exactly what they sound like—dentures created via scanning of the mouth and manufactured through 3D printing technology.
This digital workflow employs the use of a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) which provides better customization and fabrication for your dentures. As such, patients can expect a more comfortable fit with room for flexibility.
What makes these dentures such a life-saver for clients is that they can be manufactured on the same day that they are scanned. No more waiting time for patients, which means less visits for them as well.
For patients who may have accidentally damaged their dentures, having them replaced immediately is now possible too. Unlike traditional dentures that take weeks or even months to finish, you can now walk into your clinic and have your dentures 3D printed in minutes.
The Process of 3D Printing Digital Dentures
The technology may be intricate but the process of creating digital impressions for dentures is actually simple and easy to understand.
First, a digital impression of your mouth and gums is made via an intraoral scanner. This device is often shaped as a large pen or wand and captures highly detailed images of your mouth. If a patient has existing conventional dentures, the process may start by relining them and having them scanned.
The digital data collected from these scans is then transferred to a design software. With the technology, designers then conceptualize the best shape based on a number of factors like the occlusal plane, the size and shape of the teeth, and other nuances described by the lab technician.
What’s amazing about this digital impression for dentures is that you can really zero in on the littlest of details and get everything customized exactly the way the customers want it.
Once the design is optimized and finalized, the dentures are now ready to be crafted from a hard resin material. Compared with the materials used on traditional dentures, this resin material doesn’t shift while it is cured. This allows for a more precise fit to the palate.
Why Go Digital for Dentures?
In an industry that demands everything to be instant, digital is the way to go.
No longer do patients have to wait days or weeks to get their dentures. No longer do dentists have to spend an enormous amount of time on the fabrication of materials. It’s a win-win situation for everyone and for dental practitioners, this setup brings significant returns to your investment.
Here are compelling reasons to add this to your services now.
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Cost-Effective
Using this tech is so affordable that digital dentures cost just around 10 USD to print. This leads to a whole lot of savings compared with your traditional dentures, which in reality is even longer and more expensive to manufacture.
You can even choose to design the dentures yourself or you can outsource the design for a relatively small fee. With the printing technology, you can gain up to 1000 USD of profit per case depending on how you set your fees.
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Efficiency and Faster Turnaround Time
Conventional dentures take months to finish while 3D printing digital dentures can happen on the same day.
What does this mean for your clinic? Faster turnout and less visits from patients mean more patients you can service. This is especially important too when a client’s drive or commute to your clinic could take several minutes to hours.
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Precise and Better fit
Have you ever had patients complain to you about their denture’s fit or comfort? Going digital addresses these common concerns and with expert design, you can really dial in to adjust best to your patient’s demands. Better fit means better bite for these 3D dentures.
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Comfort for the Patients
Anyone who has undergone traditional composite impressions can attest that the experience can be messy and uncomfortable. Digital scanning provides a smoother and easier experience which leads to more satisfied customers.
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Durability
The material used for these dentures are processed under high pressure and temperatures which leads to greater strength. They are typically made of resin which is considered to be exponentially stronger than conventional acrylics. And if they do get damaged, replacement is easy as digital files are stored and accessible.
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Standout from the Rest
Most clinics probably have the same labs that service their dentures. Having the control to print your own 3D dentures enables more customization to suit your patient better. And with such control, you bring your own signature to distinguish yourself from your competitors.
How Do You Start Today?
There’s so much improvement in clinical workflows that’s hard to ignore. If you do decide to take the digital route, you have to be aware of industry-standard materials and equipment that work best in your practice.
You see, the kind of printer is essential, as is the type of resin material. In addition, design centers must be able to adapt exactly to the littlest details of a patient’s specific case. The dental industry is about deep customization after all.
If you plan on catching up with today’s technology or are interested to learn more about digital dentures, Evident is a good place to start whether or not your clinic is already digitally capable.
As one of the leading global design centers, the company has established a name for itself as a reliable partner for digital labs and clinics. They zero in on calibrating specifically to your preferences and offer a ton of services that range from scanners, design services, and management softwares.
For inquiries and other concerns about the dental industry, feel free to send a message on their Contact Us page.
