Dental Impressions

Accurate dental impressions help create restorations that fit comfortably and look natural. By capturing the exact shape of your teeth and gums, an impression gives the dental lab a precise guide for crafting crowns, bridges, dentures, and other custom pieces. At Chesapeake Family and Implant Dentistry: Harry W. Squire, DDS, in Chesapeake, Virginia, the team takes impressions with care and attention to detail, so your final restoration feels right from the first day you wear it. Call the office to schedule a consultation or book your visit online today.

What are dental impressions?

Your dentist uses impressions to record the precise contours of your teeth and gums, creating a model of your mouth that custom restorations are built from. They give your dentist a precise, three-dimensional model of your mouth. 

Impressions can be made with a traditional putty-like material or with a digital scanner, and both methods create an accurate record of how your teeth fit together.

How are dental impressions taken?

With a traditional impression, your dentist fills a tray with soft material and gently presses it over your teeth. You bite down and hold still while the material firms up, and then they remove the tray. 

With a digital impression, the dental team passes a small wand over your teeth, and the images appear on a screen as a 3D model. Here’s what you can expect from each approach:

Traditional

The team uses a tray with soft material to set around your teeth. You may notice a mild taste or pressure.

Digital

A digital impression involves a handheld scanner that captures your teeth with no tray and no waiting for material to set.

Before you leave the chair, the dental team reviews the impression and repeats it if anything looks unclear.

How long does it take to get a dental impression?

Most impressions take only a few minutes. A traditional impression usually needs about three to five minutes for the material to set, while a digital scan often takes less time than that. 

The whole process is comfortable for most people, and you can return to your normal routine right afterward. Your dentist will let you know what to expect before you begin.

If you have a strong gag reflex, tell your dentist, and the dental team can adjust the approach to keep you at ease.

What are dental impressions used for?

Impressions guide the design of many treatments. Your dentist may use them to create custom crowns, bridges, and dentures, along with night guards, retainers, and whitening trays. 

For dental implants, impressions or scans help the dental team make a restoration that matches the position of your implant and fits comfortably with the teeth around it. Comparing impressions taken at different visits lets your dentist spot shifts in how your teeth come together.

If you’re ready to get a precise fit, call or book online today to learn how dental impressions can support your care.