No sticky paste in gums, government dental college in Bengaluru uses digital 3D scans

Bengaluru: For years, a visit to the dentist meant biting into a tray of thick paste — putty — as it slowly hardened around the teeth, often triggering gagging and anxiety. At the Govt Dental College and Research Institute in Bengaluru, that routine is changing.Patients are now being examined with a digital intra-oral scanner that captures detailed images of the teeth and gums within seconds. The scans are converted into precise three-dimensional (3D) models, making the process quicker and cleaner, particularly for procedures such as crowns, bridges and implants.
The institute's digital dentistry centre was equipped with a 3D scanner and 3D printer about eight months ago through a Rs 35-crore corporate social responsibility grant from Adani Power. Dentists say the facility allows the entire workflow, from scanning and design to milling and 3D printing, to be completed on campus. More than 100 patients with oral and maxillofacial conditions have already benefited from the technology. "We are pioneers with this digital setup in the state's govt facilities. The models can even serve as a guide for practice before surgeries," said Dr Anoop Nair, associate professor at the institute.He added digital images can be transmitted instantly to laboratories anywhere in the world for model fabrication. On campus, depending on the requirement, dentists either 3D-print the models or use milling, a method that shapes restorations from a solid block of material such as zirconia. This eliminates the need for plaster of Paris models traditionally used in dental labs.The technology is also aiding complex reconstructive work. In one recent case, doctors used the digital system to create an acrylic artificial eye for a pre-teen boy who had lost one after being stabbed with a needle. In another instance, a woman who lost an ear due to severe facial burns is receiving a mirror-image prosthetic ear.At present, the digital tools are mainly used in cases requiring high precision or for patients who can afford the Rs 3,000 laboratory charge for milled models. However, faculty members hope manual impressions and plaster models can eventually be phased out.Dr Nair said the benefits could be significant beyond Bengaluru as well. "These tools can be a boon in rural areas. Scanning is faster, and the images can immediately be sent to laboratories, reducing the need for patients to travel to cities multiple times for measurements for dentures or crowns," he said.