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Volume2 Issue3
S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
clinical preparation. It essentiallyacts likea
virtual loupe.
A slim, ergonomicallydesigned lightweight
wand isused tocapture3Ddata inavideo
sequence. Theuser scans imagesof the teeth
whilemoving thewand.
Howdoes thisfit into theoverall
workflow?
Thereare2workflowoptions: adigital,model-
freeworkflowaswell as adigitalworkflow
which incorporates aphysicalmodel. The
initial steps are the same for both.
Thepreparation is isolatedanddriedanda
light dustingof powder is applied (
➋
)
.
(Note: notall systems require theuseofpowder.)
The scanner captures thedigital impressionof
the intraoral preparation.
Theclinician reviews the3D imageon the
screen toconfirm that thepreparationhas
beencapturedaccuratelywith the required
details (
➌
).
Thedigital impressionfilealso
includes an impressionof theadjacent teeth,
theopposingarchand the teeth inocclusion
toensureadequateocclusal clearance (
➍
).
Once the imagemeets theclinician’s approval,
the information is sent toadigital hub (in
this example, the3MConnectionCenter).
Thishub stores andconverts thedigital
impressionfiles intoSTLfiles. TheSTLfiles
canbedownloadeddirectly from thecloud
byanydental laboratory that accepts this file
typeand thedesired restoration is fabricated.
Alternatively, theSTLfiles canbe sent to
other trustedworkflowconnection systems
including (but not limited to): chairsidemills,
Biomet 3i, Straumannand Invisalign for
orthodonticcases.
The lab fabricates the restorationviaCAD/
CAMworkflows (
➎
).
If theuseof aphysicalmodel ispreferred,
amodel anddiecanbe fabricatedat the
same timeas theCAD/CAM fabricationof the
prosthesis (
➏
).
How can dentists learn more about
digital technologies?
At ProsthodonticAssociates,wehavea
continuingeducationcentrecalledPACE
wherehands-onand
onlinecourses areoffered invarious topics,
includingdigital technologies indentistry.
Clinicians arealsowelcome toemailme
directlyat
with
anyqueriesor comments.
a
Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinions
orofficialpoliciesoftheCanadianDentalAssociation.
Theauthordidnotreceiveanycompensation fromthemanufacturer.
➊
The3M™TrueDefinition
Scanner system.
➋
A lightdustingofpowder
on thepreparation, as
well ason theadjacent
teeth.
➌
The scan is reviewed to
ensure the imagehas
beenproperlycaptured.
➍
The scan is reviewed for
inter-occlusal clearance.
➎
The labdesigns thecrown
basedonaprescription.
➏
Fabricationof SLAmodel
withcrown toallowfine-
tuningof the restoration.
➋
➌
➍
➎
➏
