Digital Dentistry

Digital Smile Design

Digital smile design assesses tooth shape, color and alignment alongside the gums, lip structure and facial proportions using digital records.

Photographs, intraoral scans and other necessary records may be used to create a design. The patient and dentist can review the planned appearance before treatment. This is a preliminary study. Possible procedures and results depend on the clinical condition of oral and dental tissues.

Intraoral Digital Scanning

Intraoral digital scanning records teeth and surrounding tissues in three dimensions using a dedicated scanner.

The digital model may be used to assess teeth, gums and the bite. Specific areas can be rescanned when needed to update the record. Scanning suitability depends on treatment and oral conditions. The dentist selects the appropriate recording method.

Digital Impressions

Digital impressions record teeth and oral tissues with an intraoral scanner instead of physical impression materials.

Three-dimensional data can be sent to a laboratory to design crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, onlays and prostheses. Digital impressions alone may not be sufficient for every treatment. They may be combined with conventional impressions in suitable cases. The planned restoration determines the method.

Digital Implant-Supported Prosthesis Design

Digital implant-supported prosthesis design uses recorded implant positions and surrounding tissues to plan a prosthesis on a computer.

The data may support designs for single crowns, bridges, full-arch fixed prostheses or suitable removable dentures. Planning considers implant positions, gum structure and the bite. The scope varies with implant number, position and prosthesis type. Clinical assessment determines the recording and fabrication methods.