Digital Impressions
With our digital scanner for dental impressions, the days of biting down on a tray of putty are gone. In the past, dental impressions were taken by quite literally pressing your teeth into a mold-making material by biting down on a tray full of goop. You would have to keep this goop in your mouth for several minutes as it hardened. While this process is painless, many patients found it very uncomfortable.
Traditional impressions are particularly uncomfortable for patients with a very sensitive gag reflex. Gagging while taking dental impressions wasn’t just a problem for the patient, either. Not being able to hold still as a result of gagging could shift the impression tray & make the mold less accurate.
What Is A Digital Impression?
Digital impressions are taken using an intraoral scanner that creates a detailed 3-D image of your mouth. The scanner is small enough that it fits on the end of a wand. It looks like the tool we use to polish your teeth, only bigger. We take the scan by systematically moving the wand around your mouth as it emits a specialized scanning light. The images of your mouth can be viewed on a computer screen within seconds, to be viewed by both you & the dentist. We love that digital impressions give our patients an opportunity to see in detail what’s going on in their own mouths.
Digital impressions are used in restorative dentistry to create tooth replacements, such as crowns, bridges & partial dentures. Digital impressions can also be used in dental implant procedures, both for planning implant placement & to create a surgical guide that ensures accurate placement of implants on the day of the operation. Digital impressions can also be used for planning & visualizing how to straighten teeth, especially with systems that already include a digital workflows, such as clear aligners like Invisalign®.
Digital Impressions vs. Traditional Impressions
The accuracy of digital impressions is equivalent to traditional impressions & evidence suggests it may be even more accurate. Because we can see the 3-D model of your mouth immediately, we’ll know right away if any section of it doesn’t look right, & we can re-scan you quickly right away, without having to ask you to come back in later as with traditional impressions.
Once the impression goop set, the tray was removed & sent to a dental laboratory. There, a lab technician made a stone model of your mouth by pouring ceramic into the mold. This model acted as the base for any restorative designs (such as crowns or bridges) that you may have needed, or as a basis for designing your orthodontic treatment.
As you might imagine, this process of taking a physical mold & having it prepared by a lab technician, who then sends back the designs, is all very time consuming, taking days or even weeks, depending on how busy the lab is. Thankfully, digital impressions work completely differently & cut the time it takes for each step of the process.
Meet Your Murrieta Dentist
Daniel B. Pulsipher, DDS – Daniel B. Pulsipher, DDS, is a graduate of the University of Loma Linda School of Dentistry. He has also received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry, rotary endodontics and removable prosthodontics (dentures). Dr. Pulsipher is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, California Dental Association, International Association for Orthodontics & the Tri-County Dental Society.
5-Star Murrieta Dental Services
We make it fun for children to visit their dentist in Murrieta.
Get relief from dental anxiety for comfortable dental procedures.
Straighten teeth with a wide-range of options from Invisalign to traditional braces.
Reshape your gum line with gum contouring to fix gummy smiles and small teeth.
Replace a missing tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch of teeth with All-on-4 dental implants.
Diagnotics and solutions for tooth and gum infections including root canals and gum disease treatment.
Visit Springs Dental
We are located in the Murrieta Springs Professional Park off Murrieta Hot Springs Road.
Hours
~ Daily lunch break 12 Noon–1pm
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Insurance & Financing
We love your insurance and respect your budget and busy schedule. There are little to no out-of-pocket costs for most insured patients on cleanings, exams and x-rays.
0% financing is available on approved credit. While most insured families receive the majority of preventive services for FREE, we offer many different payment options, including CareCredit, so uninsured patients can still receive the dental care they need in a manner that fits their budget.
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Frequently asked questions
How long do dentist appointments take?
Routine dental appointments, like teeth cleanings and dental checkups, take 45 minutes to an hour. Procedures like fillings, crowns, extractions, and dental implants can take up to two hours, depending on the complexity.
When should I go for an emergency dentist in Murrieta?
Come into Springs Dental for a same-day emergency dentist in Murrieta when you’re experiencing:
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Severe tooth pain that doesn’t go away
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A broken, chipped, or knocked-out tooth
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Swelling in the gums, face, or jaw
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Bleeding that won’t stop after a dental injury
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A lost filling, crown, or dental appliance causing pain or sensitivity
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Signs of infection, like a bad taste in your mouth, fever, or pus
If you’re ever unsure, call us and we will guide you on what to do next.
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants can last a lifetime with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups. A dental implant has three parts: the titanium post, the abutment, and the crown. While the post is typically permanent, the crown may need replacement after 10–15 years due to normal wear.
How long does Invisalign take in Murrieta?
Invisalign treatment takes between 6 and 18 months, depending on the complexity of your case. Mild tooth alignment issues take 6 to 12 months, while more advanced corrections can take over a year.
Do you do payment plans?
Yes, we have several options for payment plans and offer CareCredit so you never have to delay getting the dental treatment that you need.