Digital Dentistry – Dental Design
What is Digital Dental Technology?
Digital dentistry has a broad concept. This concept includes 3 main topics. The first one is aesthetic dentistry. Within aesthetic dentistry; there are prosthetic applications such as aesthetic leaf porcelains, coatings. These applications used to take a very long time. Now these applications can be done in a very short time. The second topic is implantology. In the implant application, which is a surgical procedure, it used to take quite a long time to first place the implant and then seat the prostheses on it. The implant treatment time has also been significantly shortened with digital dentistry. Finally, there is the topic of orthodontics. Orthodontic treatments, which used to take a long time with wire treatments, can now be solved very quickly with special plates within the concept of digital dentistry.
What is its Advantage?
The most important advantage of digital dentistry is shortening the treatment times. This is an important advantage for both the patient and the doctor. Especially those coming from outside the city or abroad could have to extend their holiday periods. Unfortunately, the treatment processes could be quite long with classical prostheses, which we call conventional dentistry. With digital dentistry, the doctor can now create time to work effectively and of high quality in a short period of time. In short, treatment also gives the opportunity for a long holiday for people who come for treatment and vacation at the same time as their treatments are short. For example; people who determine a period of 10 days for treatment and vacation, if their treatment is completed in one day, they can spend the rest of their days as they wish.
Let’s exemplify the treatment of a patient coming from abroad. First, an implant is applied to the area. Then, if the patient’s condition is suitable, a prosthesis is applied on it according to the doctor’s evaluation. The process of making the implant takes an average of about 15 minutes. Then, a measurement is taken in the mouth with a special camera optical receiver and transferred to the digital laboratory with a special imaging method. The dental prosthesis is applied within approximately 1 hour and the process is completed.
In the normal process, after the doctor makes the implant, if it is considered appropriate to make a prosthesis on it, first measurements are taken with what is called a silicone measure in the mouth with spoons. A special silicone dough-like substance is used for this measurement. In the classic measurement method, some patients can experience nausea reflex. After the measurement is taken, the information is sent to the laboratory and the construction phase for the tooth begins in the laboratory. The tooth is made and sent within an average of one week and if the trial is made and controls are ensured and the rest of the procedures are also completed, it is completed within a period of 10 days.
In which situations is it not applied?
Digital dentistry applications can provide prostheses for every patient who is appropriate to make prostheses with classical methods. It is important that the person has a sufficient amount of teeth and does not have significant gum and bone problems. If the patient meets the appropriate criteria for making a prosthesis; that is, if the area where tooth loss occurred is suitable for prosthetics, digital dentistry is applied. Having previously made dental prostheses of the patient also indicates that we can apply a prosthesis with digital dentistry.
Digital dentistry is a system that allows you to act according to the person’s measurements completely and draws up a personal plan. In the classic method, since a measurement was provided with a silicone measure, the plaster model was shaped by the technicians in the laboratory. Unfortunately, in this manual work, there was no opportunity to see if the measurements fit the patient’s facial structure. In the digital system, the patients’ photos are taken and uploaded digitally from all angles. Face analysis is done on the photos and personalized treatments are produced. The most important point here is that manual intervention is minimized. The patient’s eyes, nose, lips, the whole facial structure is analyzed and reflected in the patient’s teeth with a golden ratio in the computer environment. Because it is reflected in the computer environment, it is produced in the computer environment without any need for manual intervention by a technician.
With all the information we upload to the computer, we can discuss everything with the patient and decide before starting the treatment. Patient’s expectations for treatment are also important for us. We also transfer whatever their expectations and requests are regarding tooth color and shape to the system. We can decide on the smile design together. They can see in advance whether they like it or not with temporary teeth production and trials. In short, they can decide by both experimenting in the computer environment and in their own mouth. After the patient approves, another measurement is taken in the computer environment and the teeth that are identical are produced and applied.
