Mokgok-dong Dentist_ “You Need to Take a Dental Impression at Times Like This!” [2. When Impression Taking Is Needed]

Hello.

We provide honest treatment and clear explanations!

This is Seoul Dia Dental Clinic in Magok-dong.

Did you have a good weekend? As the morning air gets a little chilly, the blanket feels especially warm and cozy. Even so, Monday always comes around without fail. Still, if the start is gentle, the week flows along with a better rhythm. Today, why not begin lightly with a cup of coffee and a smile? :

Today, following on from last time, we’ve prepared Part 2 of the story about “dental impressions.” In the previous post, we looked at what an impression is. Simply put, it is the process of copying the shape of the teeth and gums exactly, with no 1 mm error, that is, a design task that precisely scans the inside of your mouth.

Why is that process so important? Because whether prosthetics such as crowns, inlays, dentures, and implants fit precisely or feel uncomfortable is determined by that single impression. If you haven’t seen Part 1 yet, please check the link below. If you read that first, today’s content will be much easier to follow. Today, we’ll move on to the next step!

“When, and in what cases, do you need to take an impression?” In other words, I’ll explain in detail the situations where impression taking is necessary.

Impression taking is not necessary for every treatment First, let’s clear up a misunderstanding. Not every dental treatment requires taking an impression.

For simple cavity treatment, scaling, or whitening, where the shape of the tooth is not being made or a prosthetic is not being fabricated, there is no need to take an impression.

So when is it needed? Just remember these three cases.

Cases where dental impression taking is needed

1. When the tooth shape needs to be “restored”

Magok Station Dental Clinic_ Tooth Decay

This is when the cavity is large or a broken area is wide, and part of the tooth needs to be rebuilt.

For example, when performing prosthetic treatments such as inlays, onlays, or crowns, an accurate impression is essential. If you do not take a dental impression, the prosthetic may fit too loosely or too tightly, so chewing force will not be distributed evenly, and this can eventually lead to retreatment.

In other words, the quality of the prosthetic depends on the accuracy of the impression taking.

2. When filling in a missing tooth area

Magok Station Dental Clinic_ When a Tooth Is Missing

When performing treatments that replace missing teeth, such as implants, bridges, or dentures, impression taking is also absolutely necessary.

The curve of the gums, the distance between teeth, and the bite height (the height when chewing) all need to be recorded precisely so that the prosthetic can settle naturally, just like a real tooth.

In particular, for implants, the post (abutment) and the artificial tooth must fit together perfectly, so even the slightest error is not acceptable. That is why impression taking at this stage determines the success of the treatment.

3. When making or replacing dentures

Migok-dong Dental Clinic_ Dentures

Since dentures must capture the overall shape of the mouth, impression taking is especially important.

Depending on whether the gums are thin or thick, and on the curve of the palate, the comfort of the denture changes completely.

If the impression is not taken accurately, the denture may feel loose or lifted, and it may move when speaking or eating.

That is why at Seoul Dia Dental Clinic, we divide the denture impression process into two stages to improve precision.

The first stage captures the shape, and the second captures movement. Going through this process makes the fit much more stable.

Dental impression taking is essential for “newly made treatments” or “treatments that require precise prosthetics.”

1. When a cavity is large and a prosthetic (inlay, crown) is needed
2. When a tooth has been lost and an implant or bridge is needed
3. When making a full or partial denture These three are the representative situations where impression taking is required. So do all patients take impressions in the same way?

Magok-dong Dental Clinic_ Intraoral Scanner

Because everyone’s oral structure is different, dental clinics apply different impression-taking ranges, materials, and methods depending on the patient’s situation.

For example, sometimes only a localized area, such as an implant site, is taken, and other times the entire mouth is taken. Also, digital impression taking using an intraoral scanner is becoming more and more common these days. We’ll cover this in detail in Part 5, so please look forward to it.

Dental impression taking is not just a simple preparatory step. It is a key stage that determines the quality of the treatment. If the impression is accurate, the crown will not be loose, the implant will settle stably, and the denture will fit snugly in the mouth.

Seoul Dia Dental Clinic, Magok Station

At Seoul Dia Dental Clinic in Magok-dong, we believe that even taking an impression is a form of treatment. We carefully capture even the invisible 1 mm differences and show our trust through the results.

Next time, let’s look at the impression-taking process. If you hope to have a happy smile and a bright day today, haha, this is Seoul Dia Dental Clinic in Magok-dong signing off. Well then, goodbye for now!

[ This post has been written in accordance with the Medical Service Act for the purpose of providing accurate information about dental surgery and procedures. Since infection and side effects may occur after surgery, you should decide on surgery (procedure) after thorough consultation with a skilled medical professional. ]

[Seoul Dia Dental Clinic in Magok-dong Impression Taking Series]

1. Definition and importance of impression taking

2. Cases where impression taking is needed

3. Impression-taking process

4. Things to note when taking impressions

5. Digital scanner vs. traditional method comparison