Mmmm, there’s nothing so tasty as a big tray full of soft, sticky putty — said no one ever. But until recently, biting down on a couple of putty-filled trays was the only way for your orthodontist to get impressions of your teeth, and those impressions were (and still are) vital to mapping out your treatment.
Fortunately, Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, takes a better approach to impressions. At Freedom Orthodontics in Cedar Park, Texas, Dr. Smith uses digital impressions to obtain detailed images and measurements of your teeth.
With digital impressions, you can get the same level of custom treatment without the “yuck” of putty and trays. Here’s why impressions are important, and what to expect during your digital impression appointment.
Even though alignment issues can be divided into different “types” — like a crossbite or overbite, for instance — every person’s mouth is unique, and that means every orthodontic treatment plan has to be unique too.
Impressions form a model of your teeth that Dr. Smith uses to plan your treatment, depending on your jaw shape, teeth locations, alignment issues, and other factors. Your impressions enable Dr. Smith to customize your treatment every step of the way.
If you’re one of the millions of teens and adults having orthodontic treatment, you’ll need impressions first, whether you’re getting braces or aligners. In addition to mapping out your treatment at the beginning of care, Dr, Smith can use your impressions to monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Digital impressions use a wand-shaped device called an intraoral scanner to capture images and measurements inside your mouth. The wand is slim, so it fits comfortably in your mouth.
The scan takes just a few minutes, and since there are no putty-filled trays to deal with, you don’t have to worry about discomfort or gagging. When your scans are complete, the images are uploaded to a computer that creates a highly detailed three-dimensional image of your teeth and gums.
The impressions made by an intraoral scanner are very precise, which makes it easier for Dr. Smith to fine-tune your treatment. Plus, the images can be stored on a computer for easy reference throughout your treatment.
Digital impressions are just one way Dr. Smith makes orthodontic treatment more pleasant for his patients. He and his team are dedicated to using the most advanced techniques and technology for treatment plans that help every patient achieve their smile goals.
To find out more about the digital impression process at Freedom Orthodontics or to learn how orthodontic treatment can improve your confidence and oral health, book an appointment online or over the phone today.
