Below, we've outlined partial denture scanning best practice techniques that will increase the likelihood of success for your case:
Room Setup
- Turn off any overhead dental lighting, and loupe lights while scanning.
Scanner Placement
Teeth that will be clasped and/or serving as abutments for the partial need to be completely and accurately captured by the scanner for an accurately fitting partial.
- Do not just hover directly over the occlusal surface - try different angles.
- Slow down when scanning the posterior teeth - scanning too quickly leads to voids.
Moisture Control
Keep the area dry before and during scanning.
- Try using active suction or compressed air - one person can scan while another can work to keep the area dry.
- Saliva is the leading cause of voids and distortions.
Cheek and Lip Retraction
- Use tools around the office to your advantage. Cheek retractors help greatly in keeping the cheek away from the hard-to-get vestibule areas.
Gum Tissue Scanning
- Hold the scanner close to the soft tissue when you are scanning, not at the height of any existing teeth, as the scanner is distance-sensitive.
- Tilt the scanner on both sides of the patient's arch.
- Move the scanner significantly slower over any edentulous area or soft tissue.
Case Submission Checklist
Before scan submission and dismissing the patient, check the following:
- Are all surfaces of the posterior teeth captured?
- Are both of the retromolar pads captured?
- Are there any distortions, holes, or layering?
- Is the entire palate captured?
Good Scan Examples
-
Captures vestibule areas - lingual and buccal.
- Captures at least 5 mm of the lingual and buccal gum tissue.
- Captures the full palate.
- Captures both retromolar pads.
Bad Scan Examples
- Contain voids.
- Contain layering.
- Contain holes.
- Contain distortions.