What Are Intraoral Scanners Used for?

Dentists and specialists are ditching traditional impressions and making the investment in intraoral scanners. It’s easy to see why, when scanners are more powerful and more accessible than ever before. Your staff and patients benefit from an easy-to-use tool for minimally invasive impressioning, creating exportable digital patient records, easily shared with 3D printers, labs, and/or mills.

Are you looking into intraoral scanners? If so, a great place to start before you’re comparing brands and models is understanding how you’ll use the scanner in your practice. Often, doctors are surprised at all of the different capabilities of today’s top scanner brands, filling more dental needs than originally anticipated. Today, we’re going to take a look at all of the most common ways dentists and specialists are using intraoral scanners in their practice.

What Is an Intraoral Scanner?

Before diving into the uses of intraoral scanners, it’s important to understand what an intraoral scanner is.

Simply put, an intraoral scanner is a device used for capturing direct optical impressions in dentistry. Years before intraoral scanners were as popular as they are today, dentists and specialists would make molds of their patient’s anatomy using traditional manual impressions. These molds would be sent to labs and mills for creating a patient record, used in orthodontics, as well as implants, crowns, bridges, and more.

Today, an intraoral scanner creates a digital 3D version of this mold, with all anatomical detail captured in a digital record.

What Is an Intraoral Scanner Used for?

Most intraoral scanners on the market today can be used for comprehensive orthodontic, restorative, and implant workflows. Where each brand and model differs is its feature set. Just like with any other technology purchase, the more expensive models include more bells and whistles.

Doctors are making the investment in intraoral scanners to bring value to their practice, helping them maintain digital patient records, maximize their patients’ comfort, and easily submit cases. Plus, many doctors are utilizing their scanners as case presentation tools, increasing treatment acceptance through the display of full-color 3D images of the patient’s mouth that illustrate the proposed course of action.

Orthodontic Procedures: One of the earliest uses for intraoral scanners was for orthodontic work, replacing the need for messy, uncomfortable, and inconvenient molds. Orthodontists use intraoral scanners to assess tooth alignment and positioning, which is critical to their diagnosis and treatment. Intraoral scans help with placing braces or clear aligners as well as documenting shifts in tooth positioning.

Restorative Procedures: General and specialty practitioners can use intraoral scanners to enhance restorative procedures such as crowns, bridges, implants, surgical guides, and more.

Once scans are complete, many leading scanners help you share the results with both your patients and your labs/referrals. With patients, you can display high-quality 3D images for easy chairside visualization. Digital impressions make a realistic recreation for patient education and treatment planning. With labs/referrals, most brands offer easily exported STL files containing completed scans for easy

3D Printing: Many scanners can be used to assist with 3D printed applications such as dentures, night guards, and other removable appliances. The rising popularity of in-office 3D printing has improved the workflows of many dental and specialty practices. After you’ve completed your scan, most scanners allow you to transfer the scan to your 3D printer to help keep your productivity as efficient as possible.

Treatment Planning & Patient Education: Intraoral scanners create a full-mouth 3D view of your patient, which can become a powerful tool in both your treatment planning as well as treatment acceptance. Viewing the anatomical details in a 3D viewer helps you show patients what you see from the dental chair. Matched with your dental expertise, the 3D viewer helps you communicate the treatment details with a visual aid never before available.

Most intraoral scanners can be used with either a cart-style monitor or laptop configuration to help put the 3D viewer in the immediate eyes of your patient, to help with chairside visualization.

Where to Buy Intraoral Scanners?

Many reputable dealers sell current and previous-generation intraoral scanners. If you’re ready to get started scanning, or just researching intraoral scanners, give Renew Digital a call. They’ve helped thousands of doctors save on their dental imaging purchases – saving customers an average of up to 30-50% off new list prices.

Their sales reps have the industry knowledge and expertise to help you get the most value for your next system. And, with their brand-neutral approach, you can be sure they’re helping you choose the right equipment for your unique imaging needs and not just the brand they represent.

One of the best parts of purchasing with Renew Digital, beyond their industry-low pricing, is the fact that their price includes a 3D-optimized laptop, 1-year warranty coverage, and remote support.

Contact Renew Digital at (888) 246-5611 or fill out an online form to get started.