How to Identify and Correct ‘Washed’ Margins
What is it?
‘Washed’ margins are margins that are covered by tissue, blood, saliva, or other artifacts that wash over the margin area, making it very difficult to identify the margin of a prep properly.
How to Avoid Washed Margins
Use of the proper retraction technique (i.e., at least 1 cord), hemostatic agents (or pairing cord with paste that has a hemostatic component), and the help of an assistant to remove saliva/provide an extra pair of eyes can maximize scan quality and reduce instances of margin related refabrications. Use the Stone View in Chairside to check the margins of your preps in a gray-scale format to ensure that the margin is clearly visible for our designers to work off of!
Asking for Assistance During Scanning
Our Live Scan Review (LSR) team is always on standby to help assist you during difficult scans by providing step-by-step instructions on how to achieve the best possible results. Ask our Customer Service agents to get in contact with an LSR member any time you are particularly struggling with your future scans!
Margin Scans
Examples of Good Quality Scans
Clear distinction between where the tooth ends and the margin begins. It all looks like one smooth surface.
Examples of Poor Quality Scans
Some tissue on or above the margin line. Designers have to digitally sculpt away the tissue and guess where the margin lies underneath.
No clear distinction between where the tooth ends and the margin begins. It all looks like one smooth surface.
