Digital Dentistry
As computer technology is everywhere in the industry and everyday life, it is also a part of modern dentistry, promoting faster and more precise dental work. Below we summarise the most important areas where this technology is steadily at the service of odontology.
Computer-Controlled Surgical Design, Implantation and Bone Grafting
Three dimensional image that is obtained with CBCT is a wonderful supplement to the still essential surgical experience. Using CT images and software, it is possible to create a surgical template for the intended position of the implant with the highest degree of accuracy. In this way, we are able to observe the optimal position of future dental replacements, the most suitable areas in terms of bone reception, and to protect the important anatomical formulas from injury. All in all, patients benefit from less postoperative pain and the possibility of immediate dental replacement after surgery. (see: high- tech surgery/navigated implantation .)
Digital design can be very helpful in the most arduous cases of bone replacement also as it avoids the unpleasant consequences of bone transplantation. The natural bone is fixed by screws and it fits precisely into the bone defect shown in the CT. This precise fit eliminates the need for the long and difficult process of carving, hence, the surgery is much faster and a large fitting surface allows safe healing. (see: high-tech surgery.)
Temporary Prostheses
There have been significant changes not only on the medical side, but also in the technical background of dental implants. The once indispensable elements of prosthetics laboratories used for decades - wax moulding and metal casting tools - are slowly disappearing from the modern workspace. Nowadays, experts must be skilled in digital design and in operating computer-controlled carving machines, since this is our present.
Dental preparation is often done under a magnifying glass. For an adequately precise impression of these delicate prostheses we can use a mouth scanner now, which guarantees an even more explicit information process than the analogue impressions. Digital or digitalized data is designed on the computer screen with a high degree of anatomical accuracy. After this, the milling machine turn the information to a dental prosthesis using different materials.
Of course, the human contribution should never be neglected, as the final and customised masking and painting of the ceramics is performed by hand by the dental technician. This often requires a sort of artistic skill, and machines can only make at best a partial contribution to this process.
Temporary Prostheses
Precise design allows us to prepare a temporary replacement before surgery, and after careful initial planning, the patient can have it inserted right after the implantation procedure.
With certain treatments temporary dental replacements are recommended for the duration of the healing process, too. Thus, a temporary replacement can be made for own teeth as well using the digital design and carving process for a temporary replacement which is entirely the same as the final one will be.
Final Dental Prostheses
Unlike traditional technologies, computer design allows a more precise fit. Whether it is a crown or bridge designed for your own teeth or an implant-anchored dental work, frames or complete ceramic replacements designed with the help of digital technology give the most reliable and long-lasting results possible today..