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You may have heard that certain ceramic furnaces are now available with an integrated infrared (IR) camera. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of infrared technology, read on!
Entirely new possibilities
Infrared imaging technology is now being used in dental ceramic furnaces. The dental community is excited about this development because it opens up entirely new possibilities.
Background I: What does an infrared camera do?
An IR camera detects infrared radiation, evaluates it and then generates a thermal image. This procedure is called thermography. The produced thermal images are based on temperature measurements which are not visible to the human eye.
Since we are unable to see infrared rays, we have to rely on a simple trick to make them visible. The camera allows us to display false colour images on its display. These pictures enable us to recognize the temperature information. Blue usually represents cold areas and red shows the hot areas.
All objects and living things with a temperature above absolute zero (= -273.15 °C) emit rays in the infrared spectrum. Even objects which we perceive to be very cold release infrared energy.
Background II: Where is infrared technology used?
Infrared imaging is used in civil engineering, for example, to check the thermal insulation of roofs and to analyze brickwork and windows. Cracks in walls and leaks in plumbing can also be identified with thermal imaging.
In addition, fire fighters use IR cameras to detect smouldering pockets in fires and to search for people in buildings in situations where visibility is poor.
In recent years, the automobile industry has also started to recognize the benefits of infrared technology. IR cameras are built into cars to detect the heat given off by people and animals in or on the side of the road at dusk or at night. As a result, potential dangers can be recognized early and accidents prevented.
Thermal imaging is also used in the aviation industry, in medical technology and in quality assurance.
Why equip ceramic furnaces with an infrared camera?
Infrared imaging also offers many advantages for dental ceramic furnaces. The temperature of the restoration is measured by the furnace software using a non-contact method. It determines the optimum predrying and closing parameters for each firing cycle. The temperature is measured directly on the surface of the restoration. The position of the furnace head and the heating energy is controlled fully automatically. As a result, furnace users have the following benefits:
- higher precision due to object-related temperature control;
- improved quality of the firing results of large restorations;
- the firing time of small restorations is reduced by 20 per cent.
Therefore, infrared technology offers dental technicians enhanced reliability, quality and efficiency.
