iTero digital scanning

What iTero digital scanning actually is

The iTero scanner is a handheld optical wand that captures a complete three dimensional digital model of your teeth, gums, and bite in minutes. It does the same job that traditional putty impressions used to do, except faster, cleaner, more accurately, and without the gag inducing tray of material in your mouth. The system uses a combination of structured light and laser based imaging to record thousands of images per second, which proprietary software stitches together into a precise digital replica of your mouth that we can rotate, zoom into, measure, and send directly to a dental lab or to Invisalign.

We invested in iTero because the difference in patient experience and clinical accuracy is real. Patients who have had both will tell you the same thing. There is no comparison.

How an iTero scan works

When you sit down for a scan, the process is simple from your perspective. A trained team member moves the iTero wand smoothly across the surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth, then captures how the two arches come together when you bite. The wand never touches your teeth with any pressure. It glides over them while the cameras inside capture image data continuously.

On the monitor next to you, a three dimensional model of your mouth builds itself in real time as the scan progresses. Within a few minutes, a full digital impression of both arches plus your bite is complete. From there:

• The model is reviewed on screen by your dentist for accuracy and completeness
• Areas that need a closer look are zoomed and rotated for inspection
• The data is integrated into your treatment plan immediately
• If a restoration is being made, the file is transmitted to the lab over the internet
• If Invisalign is the goal, the file goes directly to Align Technology for ClinCheck planning

The whole process is non invasive, takes a fraction of the time of a traditional impression, and does not produce any waste material that has to be poured up and shipped to a lab. It is faster for the patient, faster for the dental team, and more accurate at every step.

What we use iTero scans for

A digital scan is the starting point for nearly any procedure where the precise shape of your teeth matters. The list of clinical applications keeps growing as digital workflows mature, but the most common uses in our practice include:

• Invisalign planning. Every Invisalign case starts with an iTero scan. The data goes directly to Align Technology, where it drives the entire treatment plan and aligner fabrication.
• Crowns and bridges. A digital impression for a crown means a more accurate fit, fewer adjustments at the seat appointment, and a stronger long term margin between the crown and the natural tooth.
• Implant restoration. Digital scans capture the position of implant abutments precisely, allowing for crowns and bridges that fit on the first try.
• Veneers and cosmetic cases. Digital smile design starts with an accurate scan of the existing teeth so the lab can plan the new smile in three dimensions.
• Night guards and sports mouthguards. Custom guards fit better when they are designed from a digital model rather than a putty impression.
• Retainers. Clear retainers are essentially direct copies of your scanned arches, fabricated from a stored digital file.
• Orthodontic monitoring. Sequential scans over time let us see exactly how your teeth are moving, wearing, or shifting, with measurements far more precise than the human eye.
• Diagnostic baseline. Even patients without an active treatment benefit from having a baseline digital record of their mouth that can be compared against future scans to detect early problems.

iTero versus traditional impressions

Traditional impressions involve a metal or plastic tray loaded with a fast setting putty, pressed against your teeth, and held in place for several minutes while the material cures. The tray then comes out, the impression is poured up in stone at a lab, and that stone model is what the technician works from to fabricate your crown or aligner. The process has been used for decades and it works, but it has clear weaknesses.

• Comfort. Many patients gag on impression trays, especially for the upper arch. Some cannot tolerate the procedure at all.
• Accuracy. Putty distorts when removed, captures bubbles and voids, and can shift if the patient moves. Stone models can warp during setting. Each step adds a small amount of error, and the errors accumulate.
• Time. The patient sits with material in their mouth for three to five minutes per arch. Including setup, mixing, loading, and removal, the total appointment time is significant.
• Logistics. Stone models have to be physically shipped to a lab, which adds days to the turnaround for any restoration.
• Retakes. If the impression has a flaw the lab catches, the patient has to come back to do the whole thing again.

Digital scanning solves every one of those problems. There is nothing in the patient is mouth except a small wand that touches almost nothing. Accuracy is captured to within microns. The scan can be paused and resumed if the patient needs a break. The data is transmitted instantly. Errors are visible on screen immediately and corrected on the spot rather than discovered days later at the lab. And there is a permanent digital record of the scan that can be referenced or reused without retaking impressions.

The Invisalign outcome simulator

One of the most compelling features of iTero is the Invisalign Outcome Simulator. After your scan, the software can generate a projected image of what your teeth could look like after a course of Invisalign treatment, displayed side by side with a current image. You see, before you have committed to anything, what the result might look like.

This is not a binding promise of the final result. Actual outcomes depend on the specifics of the case and the treatment plan that comes back from Align Technology. But the simulator is a remarkably accurate motivational tool for patients who are weighing whether orthodontic treatment is worth it. Seeing a believable preview of your own straightened smile is a different kind of conversation than looking at stock before and after photos of someone else. For many patients it is the moment they decide to move forward.

More on the orthodontic side at our Invisalign page.

A complimentary scan with your new patient exam

Every new patient exam at our office includes a complimentary iTero consultation and digital scan. You will leave your first visit with a three dimensional record of your mouth on file. There are several reasons we do this.

• It is the cleanest way to introduce you to a technology that you will likely interact with again at future visits
• It establishes a digital baseline of your teeth that we can compare against in years to come to detect movement, wear, recession, or early breakdown
• It gives you the option to see your Invisalign simulation result if you are even mildly curious about straightening your smile
• It removes any future objection about the discomfort or hassle of impressions
• It signals what kind of practice we are: one that invests in the technology that makes patient care better

The scan is yours. We keep it on file. There is no extra charge and no obligation that comes from it. Read more about what to expect at your first visit on our new patients page.

Safety and comfort

The iTero scanner is non invasive and radiation free. It uses visible light and a low power laser based imaging system, not X rays. Pregnant patients, children, and patients sensitive to radiation can be scanned without any concern. The tip of the wand is sterilized between every patient. There is no chemical material involved, so allergies and sensitivities to impression putty are a non issue.

The scanning process can be paused at any time. If you need to swallow, take a sip of water, or simply rest, the scan stops and resumes wherever you left off. For patients with strong gag reflexes who used to dread impressions, this difference alone is often life changing.

Request a new patient appointment online and your complimentary iTero scan will be part of the visit.