Digital Dentistry
Understanding the 3D Digital Scanner
When we need to make a custom dental restoration—like a crown, implant, or nightguard—we need an exact 3D model of your mouth.
In the past, this meant sitting with a tray full of cold, heavy “goo” (impression putty) pressed against your teeth for several minutes. Today, we use a 3D Intraoral Scanner—a small, wand-like camera that takes thousands of high-definition pictures per second to build a precise 3D digital model of your teeth on a screen in real time.
[Slim 3D Wand] ──> [Thousands of HD Photos/Sec] ──> [Instant 3D Digital Model]
Why Digital Scans Are Better for You
1. Maximum Comfort (No Gagging, No Mess)
- No Heavy Putty: The slim digital wand glides smoothly over your teeth without touching the back of your throat or roof of your mouth.
- Easy Breaks: If you need to swallow, cough, or rest your jaw, we simply pause the scan and resume right where we left off. With traditional putty, a cough or swallow means starting the whole messy process over from scratch.
2. Better Fit for Your New Tooth
- Microscopic Accuracy: Physical rubber molds can stretch, tear, or warp when removed from your mouth or when plaster models are poured. A digital 3D camera captures every curve of your teeth with digital accuracy, ensuring your final crown or implant fits comfortably with minimal adjustments.
3. Faster Results and Fewer Appointments
- Instant Delivery: Instead of mailing a physical rubber mold to our dental lab, your digital scan is sent securely to the laboratory technician in seconds over the cloud.
- Fewer Redos: Because we see your 3D teeth in high definition on a large monitor instantly while you are still in the chair, we can double-check every detail right away—eliminating the hassle of calling you back for a retake.
4. You Get to See What We See
- You can look directly at the color 3D monitor alongside your dentist. It gives you a clear, interactive view of your teeth, bite, and gums, helping you better understand your treatment plan.
To make something that fits you, we first need an exact copy of your mouth.
A crown, bridge, implant, nightguard or clear aligner is made for one person only: you. That means the dental lab needs a precise 3D replica of your teeth, bite and gums to work from.
For decades, that replica started with a tray of cold, heavy impression putty pressed against your teeth for several minutes. Today, it starts with light.
Then — Impression putty
- A cold, heavy tray held in place for several minutes
- A strong gag reflex and a lot of drool
- One cough, and the whole impression is spoiled
- The mold can stretch or tear on its way out
- The physical mold is packed and shipped to the lab
Now — Digital scan
- A slim wand glides over your teeth — nothing down your throat
- Pause to swallow or rest, then carry on where we stopped
- Every curve captured digitally, with no physical distortion
- Your scan reaches the lab in seconds, not days
- We check the model together before you leave the chair
How it works
Four steps, one short visit.
The scanner is a small, wand-like camera. It takes thousands of high-definition pictures per second and stitches them into a 3D model you can watch being built.
01 We scan The wand moves over your teeth and gums, capturing images continuously. Nothing is pressed into place, and nothing touches the roof of your mouth.
02 Software builds the model Those images are assembled into a colour 3D model of your mouth — usually in under three minutes.
03 We review it together We rotate the model on a large monitor and check margins, bite and clearance while you’re still in the chair.
04 It goes to the lab The file is sent securely to our dental lab straight away, so your restoration can be designed without waiting for a parcel.
What changes for you
Four things patients notice immediately.
Comfort first: no gagging, no mess The wand is slim and stays clear of the back of your throat, so most patients simply breathe through it. If you need to swallow, cough or rest your jaw, we pause and pick up exactly where we left off — not from the beginning.
A fit you can trust Rubber molds can stretch, tear or warp when they leave your mouth or when plaster models are poured. A digital scan captures every curve without distortion — which means your new tooth fits with fewer adjustments and fewer remakes.
Faster results, fewer appointments No courier, no parcel, no waiting for a mold to arrive. Your scan is encrypted and sent to the laboratory in seconds, and any detail that looks off can be re-scanned now — not at a second appointment.
You see what we see Look at the colour 3D monitor next to your dentist. It’s an interactive view of your teeth, bite and gums, so you can point at the problem, understand the plan and ask better questions.
Side by side
Four things patients notice immediately.
Digital scan vs. impression putty.
Same goal — an accurate copy of your teeth. A very different experience of getting there.
Comparison for patients considering a digital impression. Individual visits vary.
| What it’s like | Impression putty | 3D digital scan |
|---|---|---|
| What you feel | A cold, heavy tray of putty pressed over your teeth for several minutes. | A slim wand that glides over your teeth. Nothing rests on your tongue or throat. |
| If you cough or swallow | The tray comes out and the impression is spoiled. We start over. | We pause. You swallow. We carry on from where we stopped. |
| Accuracy | Putty can stretch, tear or warp on removal and when models are poured. | Captured in high definition, with no physical distortion. |
| Fit and adjustments | Small discrepancies often mean extra chair time to adjust the finished work. | A precise model means fewer adjustments when your restoration is fitted. |
| Getting to the lab | The mold is packed and shipped, adding days to the process. | Sent securely in seconds. Design can start the same day. |
| Retakes | A spoiled impression means another appointment and another tray. | We check the model on screen before you leave, so a retake is rare. |
| What you can see | Nothing, until the finished restoration arrives. | A live, colour, interactive 3D model you can look at with us. |
Where we use it
Four things patients notice immediately.
One scan, many treatments.
If a restoration or appliance has to fit your teeth, a digital scan is usually the starting point.
- Crowns & bridges — Precise margins for a natural-looking fit.
- Implants — Informs the surgical plan and the final crown.
- Veneers — Bite and smile design reviewed in 3D.
- Nightguards & retainers — Appliances that sit comfortably from day one.
- Clear aligners — The digital starting point for your aligner plan.
- Dentures — Records that don’t distort under pressure.
- Wear monitoring — Scans you can compare over time.
- Second opinions — A clear picture to discuss your options.
FAQ
Q: Will I still have to do the gooey impression material?
A: Not at all. We use a small digital camera wand that takes a fast 3D photo map of your teeth instead — no tray, no putty, and nothing to gag on.
Q: Does the 3D camera give off radiation?
A: No. The scanner uses ordinary light and high-speed optics, not X-rays. It takes thousands of optical photographs per second, so there is no radiation exposure from the scan itself. Any X-rays in your treatment plan are separate, and we’ll always explain why they’re needed.
Q: How long does the scan take?
A: A full-mouth scan usually takes two to three minutes. You can pause to swallow or rest your jaw whenever you need to, and we resume exactly where we left off.
Q: Does it hurt?
A: No. The wand hovers over your teeth and gums — nothing is pressed, clamped or held in place. If you’re sensitive, tell us and we’ll slow down, work in smaller sections, or take breaks.
Q: I gag easily. Is there an option for me?
A:That’s one of the main reasons we moved to digital scanning. The wand is slim, and we stay away from the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat. We can also scan in short sections with breaks in between — nothing has to be held in place while you wait.
Q: Is a digital scan as accurate as putty?
A: It is, and often more so. Digital scans are captured in high definition and don’t shrink, stretch or tear the way physical molds can. If part of the scan isn’t clear, we see it immediately and re-capture it on the spot.
Q: What happens to my scan file?
A: It’s stored on a secure, encrypted system and shared with our dental laboratory only to make your restoration. Just ask if you’d like a copy of your scan or want to know more about how it’s stored.
Q: Is the scan itself covered by insurance?
A: Coverage varies by plan — most plans treat the scan as part of the restoration rather than a separate item. Our front desk will confirm your benefits and any out-of-pocket cost before treatment begins, so there are no surprises.