Digital impressions and handling of digital models: The future of Dentistry

Introduction New digital impression methods are currently available in the market, and soon the long-awaited dream of sparing patients one of the most unpleasant experiences in dental clinics, the taking of dental impressions, will be replaced by intraoral digital scanning. Both in orthodontics and restorative area (prosthodontics and restorative dentistry in particular), the use of plaster models is not only essential but routine practice in these clinical specialties. It has long been every dentist’s desire to be able to scan plaster models, or even patients’ teeth directly in the mouth. Avoiding discomfort, speeding up work, improving communication between colleagues and prosthetic labs, and reducing the physical space needed for storing these models, are some of the alleged benefits of this technology. Since the introduction of the first digital impression scanner, product development engineers in various companies have developed dental office scanners that are increasingly userfriendly, and produce images and restorations with growing accuracy. The use of these products represents a paradigm shift in the way that dental impressions are taken. This article addresses the technical aspects and applications of digital impressions in dentistry, with emphasis on orthodontics.