In the realm of digital dentistry, the promise of same-day dental restorations represents a significant leap forward in patient care and clinic efficiency. This comprehensive guide delves into the use of Medit Design for achieving same-day interim crown restorations, focusing on the virtual extraction function and other critical features that streamline the restoration process.
The Foundation: Understanding the Pontic Adjustment
The process begins with the adjustment of the pontic on Medit Link. The goal is to ensure the internal surface of the pontic does not protrude through the ridge, maintaining the integrity of the maxilla model. By locking the maxilla layer and focusing solely on the pontic, dental professionals can use tools like add, remove, and smooth to perfect the pontic’s fit, ensuring there’s no intersection with the maxilla base.
Coordination with periodontists is vital, especially when deciding the amount of space to leave around the pontic. This collaborative approach, based on conservative estimations, ensures that any necessary chairside adjustments can be made smoothly, highlighting the importance of clear communication between dental professionals.
Incorporating a Retention Groove
An innovative feature of Medit Design is the ability to digitally design a retentive groove for the pontic. This process, which could be manually taxing, is simplified through the digital platform. By using the selection tool and the brush to remove unwanted parts, dental professionals can create a precise retentive groove, enhancing the interim crown’s stability. The digital design allows for the groove to be offset and thickened, ensuring it accurately cuts into the tooth with minimal finishing required.
The Final Pontic: From Design to 3D Printing
Once the pontic with the retention groove is finalized, it’s ready for 3D printing. This stage is streamlined within the Medit Design interface, where the final pontic can be exported as an STL file, ready for printing. The material of choice, Onyx Tough from Sprint Ray, offers a versatile base that can be stained and glazed to match a wide range of shades, ensuring a natural-looking restoration.
Shade Matching and Aesthetic Finishing
Prior to the day of extraction, the process of shade matching begins. Despite starting with a bleach shade that may not initially match, the use of optiglaze color and a combination of shades allows for a highly aesthetic outcome. This meticulous attention to detail ensures the interim crown not only fits perfectly but also blends seamlessly with the patient’s natural teeth.
The Day of Extraction: Bridging the Gap
On the day of extraction, the interim crown plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the extraction and the final restoration. The use of sticky wax to fix the pontic onto the extraction model and the creation of an essix provide the periodontist with everything needed for a successful same-day restoration. Although capturing a photo of the final interim crown in place was missed, the patient’s brief three-week wear period before transitioning to the next appliance underscores the efficiency and effectiveness of this process.
Streamlining Dental Restorations with Medit Design
The capability to provide same-day interim crown restorations marks a significant advancement in dental technology and patient care. By leveraging the virtual extraction function and other features of Medit Design, dental professionals can offer quick, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing solutions to patients undergoing extractions.
In essence, the journey from pontic adjustment to the final 3D printed interim crown encapsulates the synergy between technology and dental expertise. As digital dentistry continues to evolve, tools like Medit Design are at the forefront, enabling dental professionals to achieve remarkable outcomes with precision and ease.
