Digital scanning for braces and Invisalign treatment is a huge advance in orthodontic technology, which makes it an important part of what we do here at Boschken Orthodontics. (I believe in staying up to date with the latest technological advances – and I often pioneer and assist in the development of new orthodontic technologies).
One of the best advances in recent years has been digital scanning for both braces and Invisalign cases. My practice was 1 of the 1st in the Bay Area to adopt the iTero digital scanning technology. We have updated to the most recent model, the sleek and comfortable iTero Element.
So, when it comes to Invisalign and braces, what does digital scanning mean for you as a patient? Keep reading to find out.
Before Digital Scanning
Before digital scanning, braces or Invisalign treatment meant taking a set of awful gloppy, goopy impressions. Orthodontists would fill large metal or plastic trays with sticky, gooey material, you’d open your mouth wide, and the doctor would stretch your mouth to fit it all the way back. The tray would be pressed against your teeth, and you’d have cold, wet ooze all in your mouth, and possibly drool down your chin.
For any patients with a sensitive gag reflex, this was a nightmare and often resulted in choking and coughing, not to mention panic and anxiety. It was a terrible experience for these patients, and not too pleasant even for those less sensitive.
And the worst part of all was, most often we’d have to take several different impressions! It’s critical to get an accurate anatomy of the mouth – as exactly as possible – and with the manual difficulty and discomfort to the patient, it could be challenging to get it on the 1st try. You can imagine that the anxiety and discomfort would increase for most patients with each successive impression. Not to mention, if we couldn’t capture an exact impression, it could bring challenges to the patient’s overall treatment.
Digital Scanning and What It Means to Patients
I’m so happy that we’ve been able to offer patients a much better experience than traditional orthodontic impressions! One of the things I find most exciting about new orthodontic technology is how it makes my patients’ experience far better during their orthodontic treatment.
Instead of the goopy manual impressions of the past, we now have a sleek modern digital scanning machine. When you start treatment in our office, you’ll lie back in one of our comfy dental chairs, and an assistant will take a quick digital video scan of your teeth by using a small wand to wave over the surface of your teeth and gums. You get to see the digital model of your teeth created right in front of you!
It’s a short scan, and the majority of patients never gag. The wand is designed to feel small and comfortable in your mouth during the scan. Our assistants are the best at making our patients’ scans quick and easy, and a great experience for our patients.
There are also clinical benefits of digital scanning outside of our patients’ comfort. It helps us deliver an even better treatment outcome because of the level of accuracy and detail we can capture with a digital scan versus a manual impression. This allows me to treatment plan with attention to every small detail to give my patients a perfect smile.
Digital Scanning for Invisalign and Braces in Our Office
At Boschken Orthodontics, you can always rest assured that you’re getting the latest and best technology for your orthodontic treatment – I’m passionate about new technology in the orthodontic field!
When you start braces or Invisalign treatment in your office, you won’t have to endure those gloppy impressions of the past that are so uncomfortable. Instead, you’ll get to experience the comfort and accuracy of the newest model of the iTero Element digital scanner.
Did I mention that with this scanner, we can even show you a simulation of how your teeth will finish after orthodontic treatment? More on that later.
Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation for your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign or braces!
