Planmeca Digital Dentistry Q & A
The Planmeca FIT® solution offers dentists a completely integrated and digital workflow with three simple steps – ultra-fast intraoral scanning, sophisticated design, and high-precision chairside milling. All this is seamlessly integrated into Planmeca Romexis® software, so all 2D and 3D patient data is accessed through the same user interface.
Q: How long does it take to scan a full arch with Planmeca Emerald™ intraoral scanner?
A: Usually the scanning of a full arch takes between two and five minutes. Of course, this depends on the case in question and the user. Users with experience can scan a full arch in less than a minute!
Q: How long does it take from the preparation of a tooth to a ready-made crown with the Planmeca FIT® system?
A: The average time for the whole process is between 60 and 90 minutes. Again, it naturally depends on the case and the user. For the fastest users it takes less than an hour to do the preparation, scanning, design of the crown, milling, finishing, and fitting of the restoration. Planmeca FIT's floating license system and the separate computer inside of the milling machine make it possible to use the system by multiple users at the same time with different patients.
Q: What should be done to the crown after the milling?
A: Planmeca PlanMill® 40 S produces excellent surface quality. First you need to cut off the sprue that holds the crown in the block. Some materials only need polishing, whereas some materials always need to go to the furnace to achieve their final properties. It is possible to do post-processing of the crown as well, e.g. staining and glazing. Cleaning of the crown and preparing it for bonding or cementing should be done according to the material manufacturer’s instructions.
Q: Which dental laboratories are able to receive my scans?
A: Planmeca FIT is a truly open chairside system. The scans done with the Planmeca Emerald or the Planmeca PlanScan® intraoral scanner can be sent to any dental laboratory able to receive STL files. STL file is the most universal format for intraoral scans.
Q: What kind of maintenance do Planmeca Emerald and Planmeca PlanScan scanners require?
A: Maintenance of Planmeca intraoral scanners is easy and straightforward. You can disinfect the scanning tip and the body of the scanner after each case. The tips are also autoclavable. The only calibration you need is the calibration of the colours, if for any reason the scan colours change in use. This is an easy process, which only takes a minute.
Q: What about the maintenance of the Planmeca PlanMill 40 S?
A: Appropriate maintenance of the mill is important to ensure that the machine will run smoothly for years to come. The user needs to change the water and the tools and take care of the weekly cleaning of the mill. The milling machine will always let you know when maintenance is needed and guides you through the process. A yearly maintenance and calibration should always be done by one of our certified Planmeca technician.
Questions answered by Planmeca CAD/CAM Product Specialist Anni Mattila.