Digital impressions use advanced intraoral scanners to capture a highly detailed, three-dimensional image of your teeth and surrounding oral tissues. Instead of filling a tray with impression material and holding it in the mouth, the clinician uses a small, wand-like device that sweeps across the surfaces of the teeth. The scanner’s camera and software stitch together many images to form an accurate digital model in real time.
These scanners capture surface texture, margins, and the relationships between opposing teeth with precision that meets the needs of restorative and prosthetic workflows. The digital files created can be reviewed immediately, rotated, and magnified on a monitor so the dentist can verify detail before moving forward. That immediate visual feedback reduces the risk of needing a repeat impression because of an undetected void or distortion.
For patients, the transition from analog to digital means the same clinical objectives — accurate models for crowns, bridges, appliances, and other restorations — are achieved using a less invasive and more technologically driven method. The result is a seamless exchange between the clinical team and the dental laboratory or in-office design software, supporting predictable outcomes.
One of the most noticeable benefits patients report is increased comfort. Traditional impression materials can feel bulky and trigger gag reflexes or anxiety in sensitive individuals. Digital scanning eliminates the need to place large trays in the mouth for extended periods, making the process quicker and far less intrusive. This is especially helpful for pediatric patients, people with strong gag reflexes, or anyone who finds conventional impressions unpleasant.
Because the scan is noninvasive and typically completed within minutes, the overall chair time can be reduced. Patients often find that follow-up appointments are more streamlined because the dentist and lab receive a clear, shareable digital record immediately. The convenience of a faster, more comfortable impression process contributes to a calmer and more efficient visit from start to finish.
Beyond comfort, digital scans can also be stored indefinitely without physical degradation, so patients who return for future treatment benefit from consistent records. This long-term reliability supports continuity of care and makes it easier to plan conservative, customized treatment over time.
Precision is essential when designing restorations that must fit tightly and function harmoniously with the rest of the mouth. Digital impression systems deliver high-resolution data that reduces the potential for dimensional changes associated with conventional impression materials. The absence of material shrinkage, expansion, or distortion during shipping translates into restorations that match the clinical situation more closely.
Another advantage of digital files is the ability to examine and refine the model before fabrication. Clinicians can mark margins, check occlusion, and assess soft-tissue contours on-screen. If the scan reveals an area that needs adjustment, the operator can capture supplemental images immediately rather than sending a flawed impression to the lab and waiting for remakes.
These capabilities enhance communication between the dentist and the dental technician. When a digital workflow is used, technicians receive clear, annotated files and can ask targeted questions or suggest refinements. That collaborative process contributes to fewer remakes, better-fitting restorations, and a higher level of predictability for complex cases.
Digital impressions are also compatible with diagnostic tools such as CBCT and intraoral photography. Integrating multiple data sources helps clinicians create comprehensive treatment plans that account for occlusion, anatomy, and esthetic considerations — all anchored by a precise digital record.
Digital impression files can be transmitted electronically to dental laboratories or to in-office CAD/CAM systems that produce restorations on-site. This flexibility accelerates the restorative process. For practices equipped with chairside milling and design capabilities, a single visit may be enough to deliver custom ceramic crowns or onlays, eliminating the wait associated with traditional lab turnaround.
When partnering with external labs, digital files drastically reduce shipping times and the risk of damage in transit. Electronic transmission allows technicians to begin work immediately, and in many cases, laboratories can provide faster, more consistent deliveries because they are working from standardized digital data rather than physical impressions that may vary in quality.
For treatments that still rely on a lab, digital workflows allow for better case acceptance and planning. Lab technicians can pre-evaluate the models, confirm shade and margin details, and communicate any questions back to the clinician quickly. The result is a tighter feedback loop and fewer surprises when the restoration is tried in the patient’s mouth.
During a digital impression appointment, the dentist or dental assistant will explain the process and position a small scanner in the mouth. The wand gently moves along the teeth and gumline while the software displays progress on a monitor. Most scans take only a few minutes depending on the area being captured and the complexity of the case. Patients can breathe normally and communicate during the procedure, which helps create a relaxed environment.
After the scan, the clinician will review the digital model with the patient, pointing out areas of interest and explaining the next steps. If the treatment involves an in-office restoration, the team may move forward with design and fabrication immediately. For lab-fabricated work, the digital file will be sent electronically and the patient will be scheduled for the restoration appointment once it’s ready.
There is no special aftercare required specifically because of the scan itself. Any post-procedure instructions will relate to the restoration or treatment that follows. Because digital impressions reduce the likelihood of remakes and adjustments, patients often experience a smoother restorative phase with fewer follow-up visits for corrections.
At Suezaki Family Dentistry, we incorporate digital impression technology into our workflows to improve comfort, precision, and treatment efficiency. If you’d like to learn more about how digital scanning might fit into your care, please contact us for more information.
Digital impressions use intraoral scanners to capture high-resolution three-dimensional images of teeth and surrounding oral tissues. A small wand-like scanner is moved across the dentition while specialized software stitches together many images into an accurate digital model. The process creates files that can be reviewed, rotated, and measured in real time to verify margins and occlusion.
Because the data are digital, clinicians can immediately evaluate the scan quality and retake localized areas if needed, reducing the chance of remakes. Files are saved in common dental formats for laboratory use or in-office CAD/CAM design. This digital model often replaces physical stone casts for many restorative workflows.
Digital impressions remove the need for impression trays and alginate or silicone materials, which can be bulky and uncomfortable for some patients. The scanning wand captures precise surface detail without the dimensional changes that can occur when conventional materials set, shrink, or expand. That stability often results in fewer adjustments at the try-in stage.
Digital workflows also streamline communication with dental laboratories because files are transmitted electronically and can include annotations, margin markings, and occlusal notes. While traditional impressions remain useful in specific cases, the repeatability and speed of digital scans make them the preferred option for many restorative and prosthetic procedures.
Most patients find digital scanning more comfortable because there is no need to bite into trays filled with putty for extended periods. The noninvasive wand allows normal breathing and talking during the scan, reducing gag reflexes and anxiety. Typical scan times are measured in minutes and vary by the area being scanned and the complexity of the case.
Because scans are reviewed immediately, clinicians can capture supplemental images on the spot instead of scheduling repeat appointments for remakes. This efficiency shortens overall chair time and often simplifies follow-up visits related to restorations or appliances. The result is a calmer, more predictable visit from intake to delivery.
High-resolution scanners capture surface texture, margins, and interocclusal relationships at a level of detail suitable for crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and many implant restorations. The absence of material distortion means the digital model represents the mouth more faithfully than an impression that may undergo shrinkage or tear. This fidelity supports precise laboratory fabrication and in-office CAD/CAM milling.
For implant cases, scans are often combined with implant-level components or scan bodies to transfer the three-dimensional position of implants accurately. Clinicians can verify margin clarity and occlusion on-screen before sending files to a laboratory or proceeding with an in-office restoration. That pre-evaluation helps reduce remakes and chairside adjustments.
When a practice has chairside CAD/CAM and milling capabilities, digital impressions can feed directly into design software for same-day restorations such as CEREC crowns and onlays. The streamlined workflow allows clinicians to design, mill, and place ceramic restorations in a single appointment for suitable cases. This approach reduces the need for temporaries and shortens the restorative timeline.
Even when restorations are fabricated by an external laboratory, digital files accelerate turnaround because technicians receive standardized, high-quality data immediately. Electronic transmission eliminates shipping delays and reduces the chance of impression damage in transit. The overall effect is faster, more reliable restorative workflows.
During a digital impression appointment, the dental team will explain the procedure and position the small scanner in the mouth to capture the required areas. The wand is gently moved along the teeth and gumline while software builds a three-dimensional model that appears on a chairside monitor. Most scans take only a few minutes depending on the scope of the work.
There is no special patient preparation required beyond routine oral hygiene; patients should brush and floss before their visit to reduce debris that can affect scan quality. At Suezaki Family Dentistry the clinician will review the model with the patient and discuss next steps, whether that means same-day design or electronic transfer to a trusted laboratory.
Digital impression files are exported in industry-standard formats and transmitted securely to dental technicians or imported into in-office CAD software for design. Technicians can view margins, annotate areas of concern, and simulate occlusion with the same data the clinician reviewed. This shared digital environment improves the precision of communication and reduces the need for interpretive guesswork.
At Suezaki Family Dentistry clinicians can also include digital shade images and specific laboratory instructions alongside the scan to support accurate prosthetic outcomes. The ability to send clear, annotated files shortens the feedback loop and helps laboratories deliver restorations that match clinical expectations. Collaborative review before fabrication reduces surprises at try-in.
Digital impressions integrate well with complementary diagnostic tools such as CBCT, intraoral photography, and digital occlusal analysis to create a comprehensive digital record. Merging surface scans with volumetric CBCT data helps clinicians assess bone anatomy, implant trajectories, and prosthetic relationships in three dimensions. This multimodal approach supports treatment planning for complex restorative and surgical cases.
When data are combined, clinicians can visualize how a proposed restoration will interact with surrounding tissues and occlusion, reducing guesswork in both esthetic and functional planning. The result is a coordinated treatment plan that accounts for anatomy, prosthetic design, and long-term stability. Integration also facilitates guided implant workflows when appropriate.
Digital impression files are typically stored on secure practice servers or encrypted cloud services that comply with healthcare privacy standards and local regulations. Access controls, audit trails, and routine backups protect patient records from unauthorized access and data loss. Practices follow best practices for data retention to ensure records remain available for future care.
Patients who return for additional treatment benefit from consistent, high-quality digital records that do not degrade over time, unlike physical stone casts. When clinicians need to compare current anatomy with past scans, the digital archive provides precise, repeatable information for conservative long-term planning. If patients have questions about record retention or sharing, the dental team can explain their policies.
Although digital scanning covers most restorative and diagnostic needs, there are situations where traditional impressions remain useful, such as extensive edentulous arches, certain full-arch implant workflows, or cases with heavy bleeding or excessive salivary contamination that impede optical capture. In those circumstances, a clinician may choose conventional materials to ensure a reliable physical record. The decision is made case by case based on clinical judgment.
Some laboratories or specialty workflows may also request physical models for specific techniques or materials that require a stone cast. Clinicians aim to select the method that provides the most predictable outcome for the patient, whether digital, analog, or a hybrid of both. Clear communication between the clinician and laboratory ensures the selected approach meets prosthetic and functional goals.
