Benefits of a 3D Scanner for our Patients

Imaging technology has enhanced dental care for many decades. Traditional X-rays allow your Niles dentist to see where your teeth are located in your jaws, where your wisdom teeth are and whether you have any cavities at or below the gum line or between your teeth, which are difficult to see with a visual exam. When it comes to state of the art dental technology, a 3D scanner offers an enhanced imaging capacity that increases the quality and types of images that can be taken of your jaws and mouth.

When you need a restoration such as a crown or a filling, making one that matches the contours of your tooth could be challenging with a two-dimensional X-ray image. The three-dimensional scanning system shows all the curves of the tooth, making it easier to get a better fit for your restoration. The dentist could also use the scan of your teeth to provide you with preventive dental care options. If your teeth show deep crevices, the dentist might recommend that you get dental sealants or fluoride treatments.

The 3D scanner’s images are more accurate than traditional X-ray images. The increased accuracy means that the dentist will be able to detect a cavity while it is still in its early stage. Traditional X-rays are not always able to capture a tiny cavity in a tooth. By catching dental decay as early as possible, you may need a simpler restoration process. The chances of the cavity going deep into your tooth or affecting your gum tissue are lower if it is detected at an early stage.

With traditional dental X-rays, you have to be very still and wait for the X-ray films to be developed. Developing the films can take a while. If you moved slightly during the X-ray process, the whole thing would need to be repeated. The 3D scanner is able to tolerate a little movement and still provide accurate results. The images are immediately displayed on a computer monitor in the patient treatment area. If you are having a dental emergency, this means that the dental care team can see what is going on in your mouth without any delay. If you injured a tooth, the 3D scanner could show how deep the injury is and whether it gets to your tooth’s root. With an X-ray, all the dentist can see is the surface of the tooth.