For Dental Hygiene Theory IV, students had to create a virtual table clinic about a trending or controversial topic in dentistry. I chose to present over the different impression methods, digital and traditional. I compared the two methods to see which type of impression provided the best overall patient experience.
7. PROS AND CONS OF TRADITIONAL IMPRESSIONS
Price
Patient
Acceptance
Setting Time
Patient
Comfort
PRO CON CONPRO
8. PROS CONS
Price: A container of
alginate will cost a dental
office approx. $15,
depending on the brand.
Cost per patient is less.
Setting time: Regular-
set alginate sets in 2-5
minutes. Fast-set alginate
sets in 1-2 minutes. To a
patient, this can feel like
an eternity.
Patient Acceptance:
Go with what you know.
Traditional impressions have
been around for a long time.
Patients are more accepting
of methods they have heard
of or experienced.
Patient comfort:
Long set time and amount of
alginate needed to take
impression can lead to the
patient feeling
uncomfortable. Hard for
those with a gag reflex.
(Alginates, 2020) (Curtis, 2020) (Grubheid, McCarthy, & Larson, 2014) (Hatrick & Eackle, 2016)
10. PROS AND CONS OF DIGITAL IMPRESSIONS
Less
Equipment
Patient
Comfort
Software
Required
Price
PRO PRO CON CON
11. Less Equipment: No
need for impression materials
(alginate, trays, mixing bowl,
water, etc.). All that is needed is
the digital system and sensor.
Software Required: iTero
devices require specific
computers and operating
systems to work. Many older
dental offices may not have the
proper equipment.
Patient Comfort: Lack
of alginate and impression tray
makes the process more
comfortable for patients with a
gag reflex or tori.
Price: A stand-alone system
can cost between $12,000-
$35,000. Cost per patient is
higher.
(Align Technology, Inc., 2020) (Hatrick & Eakle, 2016)
18. Patient and operator
preferences for conventional
and digital impressions.
Digital impressions are
typically preferred or equal to
conventional methods.
(Chandran, Jaini, Babu, Mathew, & Keepanasseril, 2019)
22. REFERENCES
Align Technology, Inc. (2020). iTero Products. Retrieved from iTero: http://www.itero.com/en-us/products/itero_element_5d
Burhardt, L., Livas, C., Kerdjik, W., van der Meer, W., & Ren, Y. (2016). Treatment comfort, time perception, and preference for conventional and
digital impression techniques: A comparative study in young patients. Retrieved from PubMed:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27476358
Chandran, S., Jaini, J., Babu, A., Mathew, A., & Keepanasseril, A. (2019). Digital versus conventional impressions in dentistry: A systemic review.
Retrieved from Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research:
https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/12756/38494_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(AB_KM)_PFA(KM_AC)_PB(AB_SL)_PN(SL).pdf
Curtis, J. (2020). Getting Dental Impressions? Here's What to Expect. Retrieved from Colgate: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-
health/cosmetic-dentistry/bridges-and-crowns/dental-impressions-what-to-expect-0416
Dental Supply. (2020). Alginates. Retrieved from Scott's Dental Supply: https://www.scottsdental.com/impression-material/alginates.html
Dilip, A., Gupta, R., & Geiger, Z. (2020). Dental Alginate Impressions. Retrieved from PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470480/
Grubheid, T., McCarthy, S., & Larson, B. (2014). Clinical use of a direct chairside oral scanner: an assessment of accuracy, time, and patient
acceptance. Retrieved from PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25439218
Hatrick, C., & Eakle, W. (2016). Dental Materials: Clinical Applications for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists. St. Louis: Elsevier.
Watson, S., & Ibraheem, S. (2019). How a Dental Impression is Made. Retrieved from Very Well Health:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/understanding-dental-impressions-1059424
Yuzbasioglu, E., Kurt, H., Turunc, R., & Bilir, H. (2014). Comparison of digital and conventional impression techniques: evaluation of patients’
perception, treatment comfort, effectiveness and clinical outcomes. BMC oral health, 14, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-14-10
