State of the art digital dentistry
Here at Infinity Dental Clinic, we are proud to be using the revolutionary, state-of-the-art digital intra-oral scanners and CBCT imaging to ensure we are leading the way in Digital Dentistry. We are one of only a few Dental Practices in the UK to provide all of these facilities in-house. This means we can ensure our standards are maintained at the highest level of dental care provision.
Benefits of digital dentistry
Within Dentistry, there have always been certain surgical procedures, such as the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth and the placement of Dental Implants, that carry a small risk of post operative complications. Patients will have been made aware of these risks should they present. However, with more recent advances in technology and the use of 3-dimensional CBCT scanning with digital guides, we can minimise these risks even further. In fact, some of these risks can be totally eliminated by utilising this technology in the planning and treatment stages.
It is a great tribute to modern dentistry that we are striving for safety and success rates that are edging ever closer to the 100% mark. This is largely due to the utilisation of digital technology within dentistry.
We are proud to be using these latest protocols at our clinic.
Digital dental technologies
Trios intra-oral digital scanner
Our intra-oral scanner is used to create a real-time digital 3D model of your teeth without the need for impressions. The small scanner tip is placed against your teeth taking a series of digital photographs from each angle of the tooth. These photographs are then pieced together to instantly create a 3D image of your teeth.
Dental cone beam ct scan
Infinity Dental Clinic has the latest CBCT scanning technology to provide the most precise and advanced Dental treatments to our patients. We are one of only a few Dental Practices in the UK with all of these facilities in-house to ensure that our standards are always maintained at the highest level of dental care.
Why Use an Intra-Oral Scanner?
Not only is the scanner more comfortable for patients, the accuracy and precision of a digital scan eliminate any of the inaccuracies resulting from a traditional impression. The restorations are all created digitally meaning the highest-quality restorations every time!
It also helps improve our consultations, as seeing your own teeth in a 3D image in front of you will ensure you have a thorough understanding of any dental treatment and what it will do to your smile.
The state-of-the-art software can even show what straightening your teeth with Invisalign would look like!
No More Gagging!
Our intra-oral scanner allows us to replace traditional uncomfortable, sloppy impressions. The scanner works like a camera – there is no impression material required, which makes it a lot more comfortable for patients. Therefore this avoids the feeling of impression material dripping down the back of your throat and the feeling of choking whilst waiting for it to set. In addition, you can stop scanning at any time allowing you to take a break – though this is often unnecessary with the average full mouth image scan taking just a matter of minutes.
Is a Trios Intra-Oral Scan Safe?
Yes, completely. The 3D image is merely made up of a series of intra-oral photographs pieced together.
Book a consultation
At Infinity Dental Clinic we offer a wide range of treatments to improve the appearance, function and health of your smile. Whatever your dental requirements, start today by booking your New Patient Consultation with one of our expert Dentists online now.
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What is a CBCT Scan?
A CBCT scanner is a compact version of the full sized CT scanners used in major hospitals. This compact CBCT scanner allows us to localise the xray field to the particular area of your jaws that we are examining. This significantly reduces radiation time for our patients.
Our CBCT scanner is the safest available method of performing a CT scan on a patient.
Information gathered from a CBCT scan for dental use
Unlike a conventional dental radiograph, a 3-D CBCT scan will provide us with a huge amount of information. In some cases, the level of information gathered is comparable to taking up to 1000 individual x-ray images which are pieced together to formulate a 3 dimensional image of the patient’s jaw anatomy.
The information must be carefully interpreted and reported upon to assess the patient’s suitability to have the proposed treatment, which in most cases could be for the placement of a suitably sized Dental Implant and bone grafting.
What happens during a CBCT Scan?
You will be positioned next to the CBCT machine and you will be asked to maintain this position for approximately 1 minute whilst the scan is being taken. The arm of the scanning machine will circle around the outside of you to complete the image.
The scanned image is then developed instantly using our digital computers to allow for thorough assessment and planning by our expert dental team.
Medical Use – Information is Only Useful When it Can be Understood
Our CBCT scan also provides crucial information of the health of the sinuses, nasal anatomy, orbital areas, major nerves and vessels. When assessed carefully, we can use the CBCT scan report to detect the presence of certain medical conditions or pathology. We take great pride in our thoroughness when reporting on our CBCT scans and although patients will be attending our clinic for ‘dental treatment’, we feel it is our duty as healthcare professionals to report on any other medical abnormalities when we have an opportunity to do so.
This is a very interesting point for many patients to consider. We have found that some patients may be travelling to ‘scanning facilities’ or to ‘cheaper clinics’ to have their CBCT scans performed. In many of these cases, the scan is performed without an in-depth report which may potentially leave medical pathology undetected and undiagnosed. The opportunity to refer to a specialist in secondary care is often missed if the CBCT scan has not been fully reported.
At our clinic, we welcome Dentists to refer their patient’s to us if they requires a CBCT scan or for a full report to assess their patient’s scan. As well as helping us to provide higher standards of dental care, this revolutionary machinery could also help detect and treat sinister medical problems early.
