Digital scanners — precise impressions without gagging

Scanners can spare patients the discomfort of a conventional impression.

The trend towards digitisation is having a decisive influence on dentistry. Digital processes can simplify and speed up treatment. One new development is the digital impression taken with a scanner, a technique meant to spare patients all the discomfort of a conventional impression.

Taking an impression with an intraoral scanner should be considerably more pleasant for patients. An analogue impression with a tray, impression material and long setting times often triggers an unpleasant gag reflex and is a burden for more sensitive patients in particular. Inaccuracies can make it necessary to repeat the whole conventional procedure. Digital capture at high scanning speeds can shorten treatment time through fast, precise impressions. Capturing the situation in the mouth digitally should minimise the sources of error inherent in the conventional impression.

The scanner data is available immediately as a digital data set and can be linked with modern peripherals such as lasers, intraoral cameras, digital X-ray systems or computer-assisted implant planning. A good scanner delivers high-quality digital impressions in lifelike colour. On the basis of the digital 3D impression, proposals for further prosthetic treatment can be presented to the patient on screen and the individual steps agreed.

Answered briefly

Frequently asked questions

Do I still have to hold the tray in my mouth for an impression?

Not with a digital impression. Instead of a tray, impression material and long setting times, the situation in the mouth is recorded with an intraoral scanner, that is a device that works directly in the mouth. That is meant to spare you the unpleasantness of the conventional impression, which is often accompanied by an unpleasant gag reflex.

Is the treatment quicker with a scanner?

Digital recording can shorten the treatment time with high scanning speeds, because the impression is taken quickly and precisely. With a conventional impression, on the other hand, inaccuracies can mean that the whole procedure has to be repeated.

Can I see my future restoration on screen beforehand?

On the basis of the digital 3D impression, proposals for the further prosthetic treatment can be presented on screen and the individual treatment steps agreed. The scanner's data are available directly as a digital data set for that.