Digital Impressions | Batavia

The Modern Approach to Dental Impressions

I recently treated a Batavia mother who had avoided needed dental work for years due to her strong gag reflex. During previous dental visits elsewhere, traditional impression materials had triggered such severe discomfort that she’d developed genuine anxiety about dental care. When I explained our digital impression system, she was cautiously optimistic but still nervous. As the slim scanner effortlessly captured detailed images of her teeth without any uncomfortable materials, her relief was immediate and profound. “I can’t believe how easy that was,” she remarked afterward. “If I’d known this technology existed, I wouldn’t have postponed my dental care for so long.”

This experience illustrates why I’ve invested in digital impression technology for our Batavia practice—it transforms what was traditionally one of dentistry’s most uncomfortable procedures into a quick, easy experience while simultaneously improving the precision of our restorations.

Advanced Technology for Superior Accuracy

Digital impressions represent a revolutionary advancement in how we capture the detailed information needed to create precise dental restorations. Unlike traditional methods that use messy putty materials that must set in your mouth, our digital impression system uses an advanced intraoral scanner about the size of an electric toothbrush to capture thousands of images of your teeth and gums.

As I guide the scanner over your teeth, its optical technology creates a highly detailed 3D model that appears instantly on our chairside monitor. This real-time visualization allows me to evaluate the impression immediately, magnify areas that need closer inspection, and ensure we’ve captured every critical detail before you leave the chair. If any area needs to be rescanned, we can do so immediately—no need to repeat the entire impression process as with traditional methods.

The precision of digital impressions surpasses traditional materials in several important ways. The technology captures details at a microscopic level, eliminating the potential distortions that can occur when traditional impression materials shrink or expand. This enhanced accuracy translates directly to better-fitting crowns, bridges, and other restorations that require less adjustment and provide superior long-term function.

Patient-Centered Benefits of Digital Technology

What sets our approach to digital impressions apart in Batavia is our focus on enhancing both the clinical outcomes and the patient experience. Every aspect of this technology has been implemented with your comfort and convenience in mind.

For patients with sensitive gag reflexes, the slim profile of the digital scanner eliminates the sensation of having your mouth “filled” with impression material. The quick scanning process typically takes just minutes—significantly faster than waiting for traditional materials to set. Additionally, there’s no unpleasant taste or smell associated with impression materials, making the entire experience more comfortable.

Beyond immediate comfort, digital impressions streamline your treatment timeline. Since the detailed 3D models are transmitted electronically to our dental laboratory, there’s no waiting for physical impressions to be shipped. This digital workflow can reduce the time between your preparation appointment and receiving your final restoration, meaning fewer temporary restorations and faster completion of your treatment.

For complex cases requiring multiple restorations, our digital system allows us to segment the treatment digitally and precisely plan how each restoration will fit together in your mouth. This capability is particularly valuable for patients undergoing extensive reconstructive work, ensuring predictable outcomes and optimized function across all restorations.

Experience the Future of Dental Care

For Batavia patients, digital impressions offer numerous advantages beyond comfort:

Enhanced precision—digital scans capture details at a microscopic level, resulting in restorations that fit better from the start and require fewer adjustments.

Improved treatment experience—eliminate the discomfort of traditional impression materials, particularly beneficial for patients with sensitive gag reflexes or dental anxiety.

Streamlined appointments—digital workflows reduce the number of visits needed and shorten appointment times for many procedures.

Better visualization—viewing the 3D model of your teeth on screen improves communication about your treatment, helping you better understand the recommended procedures.

Environmentally friendly—digital technology eliminates the need for disposable impression trays and materials, reducing waste in our Batavia practice.

If previous experiences with traditional impressions have made you hesitant about needed dental work, contact our Batavia office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Colella. Experience how our digital impression technology is transforming dental care—making it more comfortable, more precise, and more efficient than ever before.