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OCT and digital impressions

These capabilities can add a lot to a digital impression captured intraorally. OCT scans provide an extremely high level of detail of the anatomies being scanned. Culp said OCT is capable of capturing more details than the current  scanning technologies, and the additional digital details can lead to even more precisely designed and milled restorations.

Accurately capturing margins subgingivally will mean an easier digital impression process for both dentists and patients. The process will require fewer pre-scanning preparation, and with retraction of tissue no longer a part of the process, it should be more comfortable for patients. In addition to capturing subgingival margins for crowns, OCT technology will also make it possible for digital impressions to examine and measure periodontal pockets without intrusion, Mark Quadling said.

Implementation obstacles and opportunities

The technology required to capture intraoral scans via OCT exists today, but Culp said D4D is still several years away from incorporating it into their systems. Henley Quadling said the company is working on improving the technology in ways that will increase the scanning speed while simultaneously reducing the cost to manufacture and deliver the technology.

When D4D develops OCT to the point where it can integrate seamlessly with their current laser scanning technology in terms of those two issues, the company plans to make it their standard digital impression technique. The implementation of OCT will also bring all of the technology’s diagnostic applications to E4D dentists. Still, Mark Quadling said he believes the CAD/CAM applications have the biggest potential to benefit practices and labs using the E4D systems.

“Our main interest is in the tremendous opportunities on the CAD/CAM side, but the diagnostic aspect also has great potential,” he said. “For us it’s very important that every solution we offer leads to a better diagnosis and treatment, ultimately resulting in a better patient experience and better dentistry.”

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