Digital Orthodontics for Dental Appliances
As a premier orthodontic laboratory OrthoDenco has invested heavily to become fully digital in order to be ready for its partner practices to start sending digital cases.
OrthoDenco has made it possible for practices to send digital files directly from their scanners and have the access to state of the art cloud based prescription systems that have been designed with orthodontists in mind and are focused on making modern practices as efficient as possible while allowing practices the opportunity to improve patient care and treatment results.
The digital revolution has forever changed the way dental practices serve their patient base. Digital orthodontics now helps orthodontists save resources and boost the efficiency of some of their procedures. Over the years, OrthoDenco has stayed at the leading edge of new digital technologies that have become available for orthodontics. The lab’s preemptive efforts have allowed it to be ahead of the learning digital curve and be in the best position to advise its partner practices on the best ways to acquire and operate digital technology.
OrthoDenco is a premier digital dental lab committed to the success of orthodontic practices. We’ve invested heavily in helping modern practices become as efficient as possible.
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We’ve created more reliable and convenient ways for practices to send us their prescriptions. Your clinic can easily send us digital files from scanners and access our state-of-the-art cloud-based prescription system. These technologies, which are HIPAA-compliant and designed with orthodontists in mind, give your practice the opportunity to improve patient care and treatment results. They also provide a faster turnaround time since there’s no need to create models or impressions by hand and ship them out to the lab.
Intra-Oral Scanners
Intra-oral scanners are a viable alternative for practices that wish to provide their patients with the highest level of care. Some of the benefits of using intra-oral are:
Less trauma
especially in cases of gag reflex and special needs patients
Wow factor
patients notice and appreciate the ‘tech feel” of an intra-oral scanner.
Accuracy
don’t you hate to have to call your patient back due to a distorted impression or broken model?
No mess
no alginate, no plaster, no trays, no model trimmer.
No shipping out
digital impressions are sent through the cloud.
Intra-oral scanners make all kinds of patient care more efficient, but their biggest impact lies with pediatric dentistry. Many children tend to be apprehensive when it comes to dental care and dental treatment; in addition, children tend to move more while at the chair, have smaller mouths and cannot maintain their mouth open wide too long.
An intra-oral scanner is a great tool for Pediatric Dentists because it replaces the use of alginate and impression trays. As an added benefit, the scanner has a “wow” effect on patients and parents and it can help to ease the child into the consult.
Alginate and impression trays make taking an impression difficult, as mentioned before children have smaller mouths and cannot hold it open too long. Also, children are unfamiliar with breathing techniques when the airway is partially blocked so they can lose composure and become apprehensive to further treatment.
In addition, intraoral scans can be taken in stages, this allows the staff to “take breaks” while scanning to allow the patient to rest and close her mouth.
In contrast, traditional alginate impressions are very unforgiving, and the impression needs to be taken within the proper alginate’s set time in order to avoid distortions. Also, the patient must stay still and have the capacity to control her breathing.
Even though most pediatric practices have TV screens at most chairs, most patients tend to pay more attention to the scanner’s screen to see how their mouth appears to show.
Accepting Files
Conversely, OrthoDenco has created a Digital Department to meet the needs of practices using intra-oral scanners. Aligners, Splints, and any other appliance can be manufactured using digital files; OrthoDenco uses highly advanced software and 3D printers that turn your digital impressions into extremely accurate resin models. Please follow the steps below to help you upload patient files.
When using Itrero or True Definition scanners you can upload your files in two ways:
- Directly from the scanner as soon as you finish taking the impression
- Using OrthoDenco‘s HIPPA compliant, cloud based paperless prescription software.
- Please call OrthoDenco to setup your profile.
When using any other scanner, simply download the file, your scanner will create a .stl type file that you can upload to OrthoDenco. Once we receive the files, we’ll confirm the orders and then proceed with manufacturing the appliance based on your preferences and special requests.
Digital Study Models
Although plaster study models have undeniable benefits, digital has become a viable alternative for practices that are running out space to store plaster models or find storage inconvenient and impractical. Some of the benefits of digital study model are:
- NO physical storage, your information is safely stored in the cloud.
- Information is easy access and sort through so you can locate patient files quickly.
- Can access the records from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
- In case of transfers, the files can be 3D printed.
- Collaborate and share information with colleagues.
Like intra-oral scanner files, digital study models should also be sent to our digital dental lab. You can transfer these files online or store these in the OrthoDenco cloud using your client profile.
The Digital Dentistry Process
Intra-oral Scan
Scanners are a sizable capital investment for the practice so it makes sense to try to leverage all its capabilities; as such, a growing number of practices have been adopting intra-oral scanning as their preferred method of impression-taking.Scanners accurately transfer details from the dental chair to the laboratory which helps to streamline workflow under the right circumstances.
The scanning process takes just a few minutes; however, patients need to be scanned one by one so the practice must have a well thought out schedule to avoid bottle necks. Traditional impression taking processes are a bit messy and require lab space (usually of forgotten and lonely corner at the back of the office) within the practice. Scanning, however, has brought this process to the clinical part of the office and has transformed an inert task into an attention grabbing tool that benefits the practice both internally and externally..
Cloud Model Hosting
Many scanners offer the benefit of a cloud based platform that allows for all your scans to be hosted and protected. In turn, this type of service permits easy access and clinical work with the scans. However, this type of service is not free so practices need to have a clear understanding of the benefits and costs. Other scanners in the market place do not offer to manage data, in that case it is the practice’s responsibility to safely store and maintain its files. Granted, there will not be a monthly fee but the practice is now tasked with with responsibility to manage this data. At the end of the day, the practice will have to choose which makes more sense; however, no of these comes without a price tag. 3D Printing
Wether you need to print models for a transfer case or print work models for a palatal expander, sending work to OrthoDenco has never been easier; OrthODenco has direct links with the most popular scanning systems which means scans get sent to the lab as soon as you finish scanning your patients. Also, for patients that need a bit more time to commit, scans can be sent at a later time directly from the scanner to OrthODenco.
OrthoDenco uses state of the art printing technology and CAD-CAM software, this allows the lab to accurately remove braces off your scans to print models for retainers as well as to ensure the utmost level of accuracy. Further, the lab’s continued investment in capital assets focused on 3D printing capacity and reliability allow the lab to provide quick turn-around-times and high dependability to all its partnering practices.
Appliance Creation
3D printed models have a very low heat tolerance so the model will melt while soldering an appliance. Also, the acrylic resin has a high bonding coefficient and easily adheres to the 3D printed model resulting in damaged or ill fitting appliances. To meet these challenges head on, OrthoDenco started to invest in research and development (R&D) ten years ago and today that investment is bearing fruit, The lab has been able to develop a sound a reliable manufacturing technique that overcomes these challenges. Further, the lab can accurately size and fit molar bands for your fixed appliances which allows the practice to reduce patient appointments, turn-around-times, and inventory costs.
Why Choose Us
With digital orthodontics, creating custom-made dental appliances is easier and more efficient. We maximize its great benefits, as we utilize this technology alongside our state-of-the-art equipment, optimized delivery process, quality control, and of course, personalized customer service.
OrthoDenco’s “white Glove” service, high quality, and value are the three reasons why you should choose OrthoDenco over the competition.
Contact OrthoDenco today
Contact OrthoDenco today to speak with one of our customer care professionals and coordinate the timing of your next space maintainer case. If you wish, you can ask to speak to one of our experienced technicians and design the appliance over the phone.