Advanced Orthodontic Technology
Riolo Orthodontics employs cutting-edge orthodontic technologies such as 3D printing, CBCT imaging, and digital modeling.
What Advanced Orthodontic Technology Do We Use?
Dr. Riolo has been involved in research for many years, and his current interests involve custom orthodontic appliances and their use in maximizing the quality of treatment outcomes while reducing treatment time. We also have a special emphasis on aesthetic orthodontic solutions for our patients.
We have invested significantly in recent advancements and equipment, such as:
- 3D printing
- Software for the fabrication of custom orthodontic appliances
- Intraoral scanning to take the place of traditional dental impressions
- Ultra-low dose CBCT focused field 3D imaging
- Computer hardware and software to use these technologies to improve care for our patients
3D Printing Technology for Custom Braces
We use different photo-sensitive resin 3D printers in the manufacturing of both custom Clear Aligners and Custom lingual braces. We also use the Concept Printer from GE when 3D metal printing custom brackets for our lingual braces patients.
We are one of the leaders in North America in 3D printing custom orthodontic appliances. We use this technology to produce custom lingual braces that are highly individualized for each patient.
In-Office 3D Printing
We have about a dozen 3D printers that are used for a variety of purposes in our offices, including digitally designing and printing our own custom appliance systems.
How Do Intraoral Scanning and Digital Impressions Help Our Patients?
The 3M™ True Definition Scanner allows you to move into digital orthodontics with ease. Accurate and precise, the 3M True Definition Scanner supports open STL files, so we can:
- Work with our orthodontic lab
- Design and mill chairside
- Share files with other health care providers
- Order custom appliances, such as lingual braces, behind the teeth
Because your digital impressions are generated by 3M’s 3D-in-motion video technology, they feature extraordinary detail with industry-leading accuracy — providing more control and consistency than traditional processes.
In 2013, Riolo Orthodontics received the first True Definition intraoral scanner on the West Coast. We currently own two of these incredibly accurate scanners.
The Tru Def scanner enables us to “scan” our patient rather than take traditional intraoral impressions using impression material and trays. These scans are used to obtain digital models in order to create custom braces behind the teeth, truly invisible orthodontic treatment.
We also use the digital models scanned in our office to:
- Record a patient’s bite before treatment
- Compare pre-treatment models to post-treatment results
- Fabricate appliances such as retainers
- Order orthodontic appliances using 3D model data, both in-house and from third-party laboratories.
Riolo Orthodontics has the ability to produce more accurate digital models without messy PVS impressions using intraoral scanning. These digital impressions serve as an initial record of the patient’s malocclusion, can be used to produce diagnostic digital setups, and can be used to order orthodontic appliances, including custom lingual braces behind the teeth and Invisalign.
More accurate and more consistently accurate than leading systems on the market, the powerful 3D-in-motion video technology delivers full arch scanning in phenomenal detail. We can display digital impressions immediately for analysis and treatment planning, with secure cloud-based storage of unlimited patient scans and access to open STL (three-dimensional) files that can be readily imported into a variety of digital workflows for increased office productivity and efficiency. These efficiencies translate to time savings and improved treatment outcomes for our patients!
