About Our Technology
Bluegrass Oral Health uses digital tools to gather information, plan care, and create certain dental items. Each technology has a different role, from recording two- or three-dimensional images to turning a digital design into a physical object.
Technology is one part of the process. The dentist’s examination, professional judgment, and conversation with the patient remain central to deciding which records are needed and which treatment is appropriate.
Imaging and Fabrication
Additive Manufacturing
A 3D printer turns a digital three-dimensional file into a physical object by building it one layer at a time. In dentistry, this process can support the creation of items such as dental models, guides, and certain appliances when they are appropriate for the planned care and the selected material.
The digital design, intended use, and material all matter. The dental team reviews those details before a printed item becomes part of a patient’s care.
Three-Dimensional Imaging
Cone-beam computed tomography, commonly called CBCT, is a form of X-ray imaging that produces three-dimensional views of the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures. The scanner gathers information from multiple angles as it moves around the patient.
A dentist may recommend CBCT when a three-dimensional view would provide useful information for diagnosis or treatment planning. It is not automatically needed for every patient or every visit.
Two-Dimensional Imaging
Digital X-ray systems use a detector to record an X-ray image electronically. The resulting image can be viewed on a screen and evaluated alongside the clinical examination, giving the dentist information about areas that cannot always be assessed by looking in the mouth alone.
Dental X-rays use ionizing radiation, so the dentist considers the patient’s needs and available records before deciding which images are appropriate.
Subtractive Manufacturing
A dental milling machine follows a digital design and shapes a solid block of dental material into a planned form. Unlike 3D printing, which adds material in layers, milling creates the piece by precisely removing material from the block.
Milling can support the fabrication of certain dental restorations. The selected material, design, fit, and finish are reviewed as part of the restorative process.
From Information to Care
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Digital X-rays or CBCT imaging may be selected when the dentist determines that those records are appropriate for the examination or planned care.
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The dentist reviews the images, clinical findings, health history, and patient’s needs before making a diagnosis or recommending treatment.
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For applicable care, an approved digital design may be sent to a 3D printer or milling machine to create the planned item from the selected material.
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The dental team evaluates the completed item and makes any necessary adjustments before it is used as part of care.
What Patients Should Know
Contact the office if you would like to ask how a particular tool may relate to your visit or planned care.
