Digital scanning

Digital scanning is a modern, high-tech alternative to traditional dental impressions. Instead of using trays filled with putty-like material, we use a small handheld intraoral scanner to capture detailed 3D images of your teeth and gums. Within seconds, an accurate digital model of your mouth appears on the screen — no mess, no discomfort, and no gagging. It’s a fast, precise, and comfortable way to help us plan your treatment and show you exactly what we see.

We use digital scanning for two main purposes:

1. Monitoring your oral health: During your regular check-ups, we often scan your mouth to create a digital record. This allows us to compare scans over time, track changes such as tooth wear or deterioration of old fillings, and show you clear visual evidence of what’s happening inside your mouth.

2. Creating restorations and appliances: Digital scanning replaces the need for old-fashioned impressions when you need a crown, bridge, denture, mouthguard, or orthodontic appliance. It’s faster, cleaner, and more accurate — ensuring your new dental work fits beautifully.

1. No Gagging or Discomfort
Gone are the days of sitting with cold, gooey impression material in your mouth. The handheld scanner is small, quick, and gentle — ideal for anyone with a sensitive gag reflex or limited mouth opening.

2. Quicker and More Convenient
Digital scans are completed in minutes and display instantly on-screen, so we can check accuracy straight away. There’s no waiting for impressions to set or risk of retakes, which means fewer appointments and less time in the chair.

3. More Accurate, Better-Fitting Results
The scanner captures millions of tiny details to create an exact 3D replica of your mouth. This level of precision ensures your crowns, bridges, dentures, or aligners fit more comfortably, function better, and need fewer adjustments.

4. Cleaner and More Hygienic
Digital scanning eliminates the need for impression trays and materials, making the process safer and more hygienic. Everything is stored securely as a digital record — no messy materials or models to handle.

5. Ideal for Patients with Health or Mobility Concerns
Because the scan is quick and non-invasive, it’s particularly helpful for patients who find traditional impressions difficult, such as those with arthritis or limited mobility. The experience is more comfortable and requires minimal time in the chair.

The scanner’s camera captures thousands of high-resolution images per second, which are instantly compiled by computer software to build a precise 3D model of your mouth. There’s no radiation involved — it’s completely safe and similar to having your photo taken millions of times in rapid succession.

A full scan usually takes between 2 and 5 minutes, depending on how many teeth need to be captured. You’ll be able to see the 3D model appear on screen in real time as the scan progresses.

Digital scanning is included as part of your care at no extra charge. It’s simply one of the advanced technologies we use to make your dental experience as comfortable, precise, and efficient as possible.