Digital Impressions with IPG 3D Intraoral Scanning (Photogrammetry)
Digital dental impressions with IPG 3D intraoral scanning (photogrammetry) are an advanced technology used to obtain precise digital models of the oral cavity. The method changes the way dental restorations, implants and other prosthetic work are produced.
What is an intraoral 3D scanner?
An intraoral 3D scanner is a medical device used in dentistry to create a three-dimensional digital image of the oral cavity, in particular the patient’s teeth and gums.
It replaces traditional impressions taken with plastic materials, offering a faster, more comfortable and more accurate alternative.
How does the intraoral 3D scanner work?
The scanner has a small handheld wand that is placed in the patient’s mouth and captures images in real time.
Those images are then processed by specialised software that generates a detailed 3D map of the mouth.
The advantages of using an intraoral 3D scanner
- High accuracy – produces digital models that are very true to life.
- Comfort for the patient – no more moulds with uncomfortable materials.
- Speed – the process is much shorter than traditional methods.
- A fully digital workflow – the data can go straight to the dental laboratory or to a 3D printer for producing the prosthetic work (crowns, bridges, aligners and so on).
- Real-time viewing – dentist and patient can see the results on screen immediately.
What is an IPG 3D intraoral impression (photogrammetry)?
IPG = Implant Positioning Guide (a guide for positioning the dental implant)
Photogrammetry is a technology that uses images captured from several angles to create a highly accurate 3D model.
In dentistry, intraoral photogrammetry systems use a special camera that captures the three-dimensional position of the scan bodies mounted on the dental implants.
The result is an extremely exact digital impression of where the implants sit in the mouth.
The advantages of digital impressions with IPG 3D intraoral scanning
The main benefits of taking impressions with IPG 3D intraoral scanning are:
- High accuracy – far more exact than conventional impressions or even standard 3D scans.
- No distortion – unlike silicone or alginate, there is no risk of the material deforming.
- Comfort for the patient – no trays or impression materials in the mouth.
- Efficiency and speed – the procedure is quick and the data can be sent digitally to the laboratory.
- Ideal for multiple implants – in complex cases it is considerably more precise than conventional scanning.
How does IPG 3D intraoral scanning work?
These are the steps of a digital impression with IPG intraoral scanning (photogrammetry):
- Scan bodies are attached to the implants.
- A photogrammetry camera is used (for example PIC Dental or iCam4D).
- The exact position of the implants is captured through multiple images.
- The software generates a 3D model with precise positioning.
- The model is integrated into the digital treatment plan (for example the CAD/CAM design of the dental work).
Clinical applications of IPG 3D intraoral scanning
The main clinical applications of impressions taken with IPG 3D intraoral scanning are:
- Restorations on multiple implants (extensive fixed dental work).
- All-on-4 and All-on-6 – complete reconstructions on fully edentulous arches.
- Cases where implant accuracy is critical.
- High-fidelity digital dental prosthetics.
Conclusion
IPG photogrammetry is an important step in digital dentistry, delivering impressions that are accurate, quick to take and comfortable for the patient.
Digital impressions with IPG 3D intraoral scanning are particularly valuable in complex implant work, where every millimetre counts.
You are welcome to find out more about dental implants and full mouth dental implants at our clinic in Bucharest.
