30 August 2010
By Pratibha Masand
Mumbai, India
Dental college to get new tech for faster implants
It will now be possible for poor patients suffering from dental problems to get implants made exactly for them within 10 minutes. The state–run Government Dental College (GDC) at CST will soon become the first public dental hospital in the city to get a Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Machine (CAD–CAM).
With Rs 75 lakh granted to the college by the collector for this financial year, GDC has decided to get the latest technology with which, dentists will be able to make teeth implants with the exact shape and measurement specifically for each patient.
"We are going to get the latest technology to make artificial restorations for patients," said Dr Mansingh Pawar, dean of GDC. "Whenever a patient has a tooth decay, the dentist either prepares a cavity in the existing tooth or modifies an artificial tooth for an implant. Generally, this procedure takes three visits for a patient and anywhere between 8–15 days for the preparation of implant in the lab," he added.
But with the CAD–CAM machine, the dentist will be able to design the perfect tooth for a patient. The CADCAM has a camera, which takes the images of the inside of the patient’s mouth. With the help of a software, these images guide the dentist to design a restoration. "The machine has an in–built furnace and manufacturing technology. When porcelain ceramic blocks are fed into the machine and cutting tools are fitted with the measurements the machine has taken, it can make a restoration in 10 minutes," said Dr Pawar.
However, the hospital is yet to allot a tender to a company to get the machine. "We have already got the grant. We are likely to get the machine in three–four months," said Dr Pawar.
The Procedure
The machine takes images of the problem area in the patient’s teeth. It helps the dentist design the restoration (implants) for the patient with exact measurements. When the final image of restoration design is approved, the cutting tools are fitted in the machine. Porcelain ceramic blocks are then fed into the machine. The restoration design is made by the machine within 10 minutes. Saves extra pain to the patient. Saves time, as the patient need not come for multiple sittings.
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