A full set of shining white teeth has a huge impact on your self-confidence and quality of life. Unfortunately, as people grow older, they face various dental issues that lead to tooth decay and loss.
This, in turn, can take a toll on your self-esteem, self-worth, and ultimately your mental health. It could even affect your personal and social relationships, as well as your performance at work.
The good news is that restorative dentistry has come a long way ever since the first porcelain dentures were invented in the 18th century. Today, it’s possible for edentulous patients to get their smiles back in just a few appointments with a certified dental practitioner.
From mini dental implants to full-arch dentures - various breakthroughs in dental technology have made it easier for dentists and orthodontists to offer better services to their patients. But the introduction of digital dentures is likely one of the most crucial developments in restorative dentistry.
So, what are digital dentures? Are they any better than conventional dentures? Would it be a good idea for you to get a digital denture? What if you misplace your existing set of digital dentures and need to replace them?
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the concept of digital dentures and find out whether they’re worth the hype. Let’s get started.
What Are Digital Dentures?
Simply put, a digital denture is a set of artificial teeth that’s designed and manufactured using a digital workflow. This means there’s no need for a dental technician to build a physical model of your prosthetic teeth before they can be converted into an actual denture.
Instead, they can use CAD/CAM software to generate a precise 3D model of the denture. The technician prepares this model based on your oral impressions, which are recorded by a dentist during your first appointment.
A dentist can use intraoral scanners or traditional cast trays to record the impressions. Your dental records are then sent to the lab, where a technician digitizes this data and inputs it into a proprietary CAD/CAM-based software application.
Once they’ve built the 3D model, the next step is to create the actual denture. This can be done using additive manufacturing (3D printing) or milling. In either case, you end up with a set of tight-fitting and natural-looking prosthetic teeth.
You can either get a removable digital denture, which works just like a regular set of artificial teeth or have them permanently secured to your gum line using dental implants.
Should You Use Digital Dentures?
While digital dentures offer numerous benefits over their traditional counterparts, there’s no easy way to determine whether these are the right solution for your dental problems. It’s always a good idea to consult an experienced dentist or orthodontist before finalizing your decision.
Make sure you visit a reputed dental clinic, such as The Tooth Spa, to access the right treatment and solutions for your dental problems.
Having said that, digital dentures offer a plethora of awesome benefits that set them apart from other prosthetic teeth solutions. Let’s take a look.
Better Fit & Aesthetics
This is likely the biggest benefit for patients who are tired of the improper fit and appearance of conventional dentures. The use of software to design the dentures provides more accuracy and eliminates room for human error. Also, digital dentures closely resemble the appearance of natural teeth.
Speed
With digital dentures, you no longer have to visit your dentist for multiple appointments involving scanning, refitting, and adjustments. Instead, your dentures are ready in as few as two appointments. This is because most of the work is done in the first appointment. Also, the use of computer-generated models ensures your dentures offer a precise fit in one go.
Cost
Yes. Digital dentures might seem like a hefty investment upfront. But they’re more durable because they’re milled from a single block of hardened resin. It ensures that the denture doesn’t bend, distort, or chip as it cures. This makes digital dentures more durable and cost-effective in the long run.
Customizability
Digital dentures offer a wide range of customization options to ensure that you get a proper fit and bite. Also, the digital workflow makes it easier to implement any customization.
Replication
The biggest struggle that edentulous patients face is when their prosthetic teeth get damaged or misplaced. With traditional dentures, you’d have to go through the entire process of scanning, modeling, and refitting before your new prosthetic teeth are ready.
On the other hand, in a digital workflow, dental practitioners and technicians can quickly redesign your dentures as long as they’ve got access to your oral impressions. This makes it easier and faster to replicate digital dentures.
Have you ever considered using digital dentures? Share your experience in the comments section below.