Digital dentistry is any dental technology or device that uses digital or computer-based components instead of older mechanical or electrical methods. Computer-aided dentistry streamlines many processes and removes several formerly manual steps that can now be automated.

Like many other global industries, dentistry has benefited from the computerization of many processes, and opened new doors to improved patient care. It is a very exciting time to be a dental professional and a dental patient. At Tracey Bell we pride ourselves on understanding (and keeping up with) the innovative changes happening in dentistry


Examples of Digital Dentistry at Tracey Bell

Computer technologies now assist with several kinds of imaging, including radiography and pixelated images.

Formerly, if a dentist wanted images to choose a porcelain or resin shade, they would take the images on film and send them away for processing, then on to the lab for shade choice. Now, images are taken with intraoral cameras and processed immediately into the computer to be sent directly to the lab.

Conventional dental impressions are made by placing an impression material loaded on to an impression tray over the dental arches. This may cause the patient to gag whilst this material is setting.

Digital intra oral impressions are made using an Intra Oral camera and this is able to recreate the impression of the patients dentition and other structures into a digital format on a computer instantly

Dental CAD/CAM machines and digital 3D printing has advanced the manufacturing and milling of metal, resin, porcelain, and zirconia for dental prosthesis creation, Patients can receive care faster, and often with fewer dental appointments, using these digital dentistry advancements

Digital radiography allows for higher quality images to be taken with 70 percent less exposure to radiation compared to traditional X-rays.

Improvements in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machines have allowed for more private dental offices to afford systems that provide opportunities for computer-aided implant dentistry, occlusion evaluation (to check for bite problems), and TMJ analysis. The ability to see oral structures in 3D with CBCT machines allows for greater treatment success, and for guided placement using an electric and surgical implant handpiece and additional dental software programs.

Digital dentistry has also allowed for the earlier detection of dental diseases, such as earlier cavity identification and oral cancer screening diagnosis, Once found, these diseases can be treated at an earlier stage, giving the patient an improved prognosis and a shorter recovery time.

Read more about Digital Dentistry HERE

 

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