Digital dentistry has made a tremendous impact on how dentists diagnose and treat patients for teeth replacement and restorative needs. Here, I would like to explain steps in digital dental implant placement all the way from diagnosis to delivery of different final restorations.
The first step is the digital impression of the teeth using an intra oral scanner which takes about 3000 photos per second to capture the anatomy of the teeth, gum tissue and the bite.
Next, a cone beam CT scan is obtained which precisely captures the anatomy of the bone and teeth providing a three dimensional picture in the bone and important structures such as nerves and sinuses. The cone beam CT scan is then merged with the oral scan essentially creating a 3-D model of the patients jaw bone, teeth and the gum tissue.
Now, dentist digitally designs the restoration in the required form and the position that fits patient’s bite and also meets the patient’s cosmetic requirements. With the virtual restorations in place, dentist place a corresponding dental implant and align it perfectly according to the position of restoration and the amount of available bone. They can select the exact implant type, diameter and length of the implant at this time. Once the design is approved by the implantologist, surgeon and restorative dentist, who proceed with the fabrication of CAD/CAM surgical guide which essentially translates all the digital work up to a plastic guide used during the procedure for precise placement of the dental implant exactly according to the design.
This guide is then placed in the mouth and the dental implant is placed. Following healing, the implant size is again scanned using intra-oral scanner to capture the shape of the gum tissue and also position of the implant. A special scan post is used to precisely record the position of the implant.
Next, a custom abutment is designed to specifications in order to develop the proper emergence and gum tissue anatomy that mimics a natural tooth. The restorative dentist will complete and approve this design and instruct the laboratory to proceed with its fabrication.
Next, the CAD/CAM customised abutment is milled and delivered to the restorative dentist for insertion. At the same time, final CAD/CAM restoration is also fabricated and placed on the custom abutments.
Digital work up and computer assisted dental implant planning allows safe and precise placement of dental implants. This in turn eliminates complications associated with poor implant positioning and orientation. Using this approach, the entire surgical and restorative treatment plans are designed before any procedures are performed on patients. In addition, patients can complete the treatment in less time, less number of visits and also with greater accuracy with remarkable results.
The first step is the digital impression of the teeth using an intra oral scanner which takes about 3000 photos per second to capture the anatomy of the teeth, gum tissue and the bite.
Next, a cone beam CT scan is obtained which precisely captures the anatomy of the bone and teeth providing a three dimensional picture in the bone and important structures such as nerves and sinuses. The cone beam CT scan is then merged with the oral scan essentially creating a 3-D model of the patients jaw bone, teeth and the gum tissue.
Now, dentist digitally designs the restoration in the required form and the position that fits patient’s bite and also meets the patient’s cosmetic requirements. With the virtual restorations in place, dentist place a corresponding dental implant and align it perfectly according to the position of restoration and the amount of available bone. They can select the exact implant type, diameter and length of the implant at this time. Once the design is approved by the implantologist, surgeon and restorative dentist, who proceed with the fabrication of CAD/CAM surgical guide which essentially translates all the digital work up to a plastic guide used during the procedure for precise placement of the dental implant exactly according to the design.
This guide is then placed in the mouth and the dental implant is placed. Following healing, the implant size is again scanned using intra-oral scanner to capture the shape of the gum tissue and also position of the implant. A special scan post is used to precisely record the position of the implant.
Next, a custom abutment is designed to specifications in order to develop the proper emergence and gum tissue anatomy that mimics a natural tooth. The restorative dentist will complete and approve this design and instruct the laboratory to proceed with its fabrication.
Next, the CAD/CAM customised abutment is milled and delivered to the restorative dentist for insertion. At the same time, final CAD/CAM restoration is also fabricated and placed on the custom abutments.
Digital work up and computer assisted dental implant planning allows safe and precise placement of dental implants. This in turn eliminates complications associated with poor implant positioning and orientation. Using this approach, the entire surgical and restorative treatment plans are designed before any procedures are performed on patients. In addition, patients can complete the treatment in less time, less number of visits and also with greater accuracy with remarkable results.