Digital Techniques

Teeth Scanning

Optical impressions in modern dental care make use of an intraoral camera that captures a video feed of your teeth and soft tissue. The recorded information is converted into a 3D model on the computer immediately.

Intraoral scanner

Design

The dental 3D design of your teeth made with the help of optical impression is digitally transferred into the design software. With the help of the software, each desired structure is converted into a 3D model, which is a complete replication of the predicted physical outcome of your teeth. CAD allows mixing of facial and dental photographs, 3D radiographs (CBCT images), or 3D facial images, for example, to support a symmetrical and esthetical design. After the completed design, the structure will be transferred into computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) for machining.

3D facial image = three-dimensional surface image of face
CBCT image = image captured by using Cone Beam Computed Tomography, three-dimensional radiograph of osseous structures

Milling

The designed structure is transferred from the computer to the 3D milling machine to be processed (CAM). The 3D milling unit either mills or grinds the structure from a hard raw material according to the design (CAD). The final product is a complete replication of the designed structure measured at an accuracy of a few microns.

CAD = Computer-Aided Design
CAM = Computer-Aided Manufacturing

3D printing

The various data scanned from the mouth can be used in digital design (CAD) in versatile ways. Today, most of the work can be done using CAD and manufactured using CAM with the help of a 3D milling machine without printed models. Consequently, this makes for fitting and fine-tuning the dental structures while doing the attachment. Three-dimensional printing allows minimal fine-tuning in your mouth as the milled structure is fitted on a 3D printed model and the final adjustments are made using the model.
Three-dimensional printing has many advantages. It enables rapid testing of structures on a concrete level. Furthermore, a large variety of dental structures, like bite guards, surgical guides, diagnostic wax-ups, and fitting models can be fabricated using this technique. At its best, 3D printing is the only available technology for manufacturing a certain final product. For example, plastic foils used to straighten teeth with clear aligners cannot be manufactured without 3D printed dental models as yet.