February 2016

2015

PERSPECTIVES
ON DIGITAL IMPRESSIONING
Learn from experienced clinicians how digital impressioning really works for their restorative and dental implant based practices - with
improved efficiency, communication, accuracy and patient outcomes. Digital dentistry is enhancing patient care while improving productivity.
 THE PROSTHODONTIST PERSPECTIVE
Jonathan A. Ng, BMedSc, DDS, MSc, Dip. Pros., FRCD(C)
As a prosthodontic practice, complete treatment planning is an essential
component. Now that I’m able to connect the various parts of that clinical
workflow digitally, I’m able to plan projected outcomes with significantly more
predictability. I’m now able to plan positions three-dimensionally, for more
successful implant placement. While the CBCT helps me visualize hard tissue,
the ability to overlay intraoral scans allows me to see soft tissue profiles and
plan implant placement in more restoratively driven positions.
In addition, I have the ability to do some of these restorations in the office with
the digitally captured information —for example, long-term provisionalization
to develop occlusion and esthetics. I can use the scan as the actual overlay of
the final restoration, so it exactly replicates the contour form.

30 %
overall reduction in remakes when
comparing Digital Impressions vs.
Conventional Impressions*.
*Data provided by Glidewell Laboratories, based on
123,757 BruxZir crowns manufactured from digital
impressions through June 2013.

THE LABORATORY ADVANTAGE

When we can provide the lab with digital information, we circumvent the errors that
can arise from impression taking. The laboratory once told me that their remake
rate for a crown is approximately 5% for conventional dentistry, but since the
introduction of digital impressions, the rate has gone down to 0.5%. That translates
into decreased chair time for patients. I think that we can attribute that to the fact
that now we’re able to see our preparations almost instantaneously, magnified.
 THE PROSTHODONTIST PERSPECTIVE
Jonathan A. Ng, BMedSc, DDS, MSc, Dip. Pros., FRCD(C)
Digital technology has significantly improved referral-based
practice growth, because I can collect the data in a more easily
transferrable way and communicate with the referring dentist
or the patients. I’m now able to propose treatment options, implant
positions, wax mock ups in an instantaneous fashion. I can have
real-time discussions with the other dentists, wherever they’re located.
The conversation is better between everybody.
Another amazing aspect of digital dentistry is that I can present all of
my treatment plans to my patients using tablets and touchscreens.
I have found this improves the patient’s overall dental experience,
because now when I scan my patients in the initial examination I’m
able to capture the state of their oral condition at that time. So, in
subsequent scans are taken over time, we’re able to monitor tooth
wear and migration, gingival tissue position, and shade changes by
overlaying these scans. In general, my patients are extremely impressed
with the ability to see their own teeth on a screen and monitor these
changes. That’s a huge advantage.

OCCLUSAL ACCURACY
t e c h n ol og y m ov e s , there’s
I think the way
One major advantage from the scanning devices versus the analog impressions
a n d e x p on e n t ia l growth.
linear growth
growth.
is that teeth are generally captured in their natural state, not pushed by
e p a s t t h a t s lo w
impression trays or setting material. With digital scanning, the dentition is in a
I think we’r DS, MSc
true occlusal position, representing the patients’ bite posture more accurately, Jonathan A. Ng, D
Columbia
and so fit is better and adjustments are reduced significantly. Vancouver, British
 THE IMPLANTOLOGIST PERSPECTIVE
Clint Stevens, DDS, FAGD, FICOI
The return on investment with digital technology
is more than just the impact it has on cost savings with
time and materials. Patient satisfaction is much higher
with digital impressions, as they feel like they are receiving
state-of-the-art treatment. This creates loyal patients who
actively refer other patients to the practice.
Digital impressioning allows my practice to complete
cases more predictably and in significantly less time.
The workflow is cleaner and more efficient, and the
ability to integrate digital impressions with other digital
technologies, such as CBCT scans, has totally changed
the way we diagnose and plan cases. We can manage the
vast majority of our casework digitally with files that can
interface with whichever software the laboratory uses. In
addition, resolving issues is simpler because everything
is digital. If a technician encounters a problem or has a
question, I can instantly pull it up on the screen for review.
My experience is that digital impressions are much more
accurate than conventional impressions. Since transitioning
to digital workflows, we have had fewer problems and
remakes, especially with bigger and more complex cases.
This doesn’t surprise me, as digital technology removes a Optimize clinical
significant amount of potential sources for error present in workflow by combining
conventional workflows. Accurate impressions are easier
to obtain and transmit to the lab, which ensures stress-free 3D Conebeam CT
surgical and delivery appointments for the patient. Imaging with Intraoral
Scanning.
 THE IMPLANTOLOGIST PERSPECTIVE
Clint Stevens, DDS, FAGD, FICOI
Traditionally, impression making has meant four-handed
or even six-handed dentistry, depending on the patient and the
situation, to get an accurate result. Now the majority of our
impressions are made with two-handed dentistry. Thanks to digital
impressions, there’s a lot more that I can delegate to auxiliary staff,
making accurate impression making more efficient than ever.
For anyone who has not yet committed to a digital workflow,
I would say that now is the time. We know that digital
impressioning works and that it’s here to stay. I encourage clinicians
to look for a solution that’s right for their practice and that
accommodates everything they want to do. Keep in mind that digital
dentistry is constantly changing and evolving. Be sure to invest in a
system that can adapt to these changes and one that lets you as the
clinician choose the best solutions for your patients.

OPEN COMMUNICATIONS
Digital Dental Exchange or DDX is an open digital workflow highway that
enables you to communicate with your dental laboratory as never before.
DDX improves accuracy, efficiency, security and patient scheduling. Utilizing
DDX with your lab cases makes submitting, receiving, tracking and processing
Source: Patzelt SB et al. The time efficiency of intraoral scanners: An in vitro
dental lab cases automatedcomparative
and completely
study. J Amsecure.
Dent Assoc. 2014;145(6):542-551.
 SPEED OF CASE TURNAROUND
Daily Efficiencies Add Up to Major Savings

23
In a statistical analysis, dental
practitioners and researchers
determined digital
impressioning can be up to 23
minutes faster than conventional
MINUTES impressions, when taking the total

ADDS UP time needed for preparation and

clean up into consideration.
Source: Patzelt SB et al. The time efficiency of intraoral scanners: An in
vitro comparative study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2014;145(6):542-551.

WHAT IS DIGITAL WORKFLOW WORTH?

x 2 impressions per day 11,040 minutes / 60
Save 23 minutes = 46 minutes saved x 240 workdays a year = 184 hours saved 184 hours / 8 hour
per impression = 11,040 minutes saved workdays = 23 DAYS

The average cost of Digital The average practice Material costs saved by $1,200 savings
Impression materials + trays performs 2 impressions/day using Digital Impressioning per month x 12 months
according to the ADA = 40 per month = $1,200 = $14,400 A YEAR
= $30 per impression per month savings
 ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jonathan A. Ng, BMedSc, DDS, MSc, Dip. Pros.,
FRCD(C), obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery
Degree from the University of Alberta and his
Prosthodontic specialty at the University of British
Columbia. Dr. Ng is on staff as an Associate Clinical
Instructor at the UBC Department of Dentistry and
also maintains a position as a Staff Prosthodontist
Jonathan A. Ng, at the BC Cancer Agency where he treats medically
DDS, MSc compromised patients. He currently maintains his
private practice in Vancouver, Canada. 
Clint Stevens, DDS, FAGD, FICOI graduated from
the University of Texas Health Sciences Center San
Antonio, and completed a one year Advanced Education
in General Dentistry residency at the University of
Michigan. He is a Fellow in the Academy of General
Dentistry and the International College of Oral
Implantologists, and he is a member of the Southwest
Clint Stevens, Academy of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Stevens maintains
DDS a full time private practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

re e x tr e mely impressed d ig it a l im p re s s io n ing allows

My pa ti e n ts a
te eth on a For our practice, bly and in
s e e th e ir ow n e s m or e p re d ic ta
with the ability to us to complete cas is cleaner
it or changes. That’s m e . T h e w or k fl ow
sc re e n a n d m on significantly less ti
.
a huge advantage n A. Ng, DDS, M
Sc and more efficient. D S, FAGD, FICOI
Jonatha
Columbia Clint Stevens, D
Vancouver, British Tulsa, Oklahoma
 ABOUT HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSIC) is the world’s largest provider of health care products and
services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners. The Company also serves
dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites.
Henry Schein employs more than 18,000 Team Schein Members and serves more than one million
customers. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 33 countries.
The Company’s sales reached a record $10.4 billion in 2014. For more information, visit Henry Schein
at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein and @HenrySchein on Twitter.

The preceding material was provided by the manufacturer. Statements and opinions are solely those
of the manufacturer and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dentistry .

T H A N K YO U TO O U R S P O N S O R : H E N R Y S C H E I N

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