When we need to create Invisalign® aligners, or possibly craft a custom TMJ appliance, we want to create one custom-fitted for your smile. To do so with accuracy and precision, our team doesn’t use physical impressions. Instead, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist will use the iTero® digital scanning technology.
Physical Impressions
In the past, if you were receiving a dental restoration, braces, or an oral appliance, you needed to undergo a physical impression. The process involves biting down on a metal mold that was filled with a gooey material that tasted terrible, despite having flavors like “bubble gum”. The process often had to be repeated to obtain a viable impression. While effective, we’re so glad our office has been using the digital alternative, which offers greater precision and accuracy, and no gooey materials!
The Digital Benefits
You don’t have to bite down on a mold at all! Instead, the iTero® system will have a tiny digital camera at the end of a thin wand. This allows us to take images from multiple angles quickly and comfortably. We then combine these images to create a full 3D model of your smile. The digital impression is far more detailed than a physical one is. The process also limits how long you have to be in the chair. We then use the detailed images to design and craft your appliances.
Possible Treatment
We can use the images to design and craft a series of Invisalign® aligners, so we can shift your teeth without the need for braces, as these custom appliances can gently reposition them, often in as little as one year. With braces, we can plan treatment and also design ceramic brackets that look natural and blend with your teeth, limiting the visibility of metal orthodontics. For those with TMJ disorder, we can craft custom appliances to reposition the jaw and ease pressure and strain, so you avoid painful symptoms. For children, we use the images to create phased orthodontics, such as retainers and teeth spacers. The custom nature helps facilitate treatment with precision.
If you have any questions about how we use advanced technology to design and implement your orthodontic treatment, or if you would like to schedule a visit for you or a member of your family, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DIGITAL SCANNING?
Our team wants to help you and your family maintain straight and even smiles. If you have any questions about the technology we use as part of your treatment, or if you would like to schedule an appointment soon, please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in White Settlement, North Fort Worth, and all surrounding communities.
