Already had X-rays and now told you need a scan? They are different tools. If you are travelling from Brampton, learn what an optical impression records, what it leaves to other imaging and how it fits into planning a crown or appliance.
The word scan gets used for many things in dentistry, which can be confusing. A digital impression is an optical scan. It uses light to trace the outside of your teeth and gums and turns that into a three-dimensional surface model. The model is then used to design a restoration or appliance, or to support a treatment plan. It does not look inside teeth or bone.
Think of it as a replacement for the tray of soft material, in cases where it suits. It is a way of gathering measurements, not a treatment. Whether it can be used for you depends on the part of the mouth being recorded, the dental work planned and the precision required. Some situations still call for conventional material, and a finished piece may still need adjusting.
Ask how your impression would be collected and what is available for your particular care. If you have found impressions difficult, because of gagging, limited opening or an earlier bad experience, tell us. The team can explain suitability and the steps in plain terms, without assuming any one method suits every patient or procedure.
A scan earns its place when a specific piece of dental work depends on it. Ask which surfaces will be captured and how the model will be used in planning or producing your treatment.
Designing a crown or another suitable restoration usually means recording the prepared tooth, the teeth on either side and the bite. Some appliances depend on an accurate model as well. Ask what your case calls for, rather than requesting a scan with no treatment in mind.
Trays can be unpleasant for some people. Explain what made you uncomfortable before. An optical method may be worth raising where suitable, but the scanner still has to move near your teeth and cannot be promised to remove every difficulty.
A new filling, a moved tooth or a different plan can make an earlier impression out of date. Mention what has changed. An old file is only reused if it still provides what the present treatment needs.
Because it relies on light, a digital impression shows only what is visible. It is not a dental X-ray or a CBCT examination and cannot take the place of imaging chosen to assess roots, bone or other hidden structures.
The digital model builds while you are in the chair, so the team can watch for gaps or blurry spots and record them again before the file is accepted. After that, the record feeds into whatever clinical and laboratory process your restoration or appliance requires. Success means having the surfaces the work depends on, captured well.
Avoiding a full tray of material makes the experience easier for some people, though everyone is different and scanning time depends on the case. Agree in advance on how to signal for breaks, how wide you can open and which position is most comfortable.
Patient information: UCLH — digital impressions in dental care
If the system displays it, the team can show you what is being recorded and why teeth next to the treated one, or on the opposite jaw, are included. The model helps with planning and does not replace an examination.
A suitable file may be passed through the appropriate professional workflow to help design or make your dental work. Ask what happens next and who is responsible. Taking the scan does not on its own fix when the work will be finished.
The record needs every detail the planned restoration or appliance relies on. A section may be scanned again, or recorded another way, if information falls short. That step is part of producing an impression worth having.
Each appointment reflects the treatment behind it. Find out ahead of time whether the visit covers records only, or also tooth preparation, a temporary restoration or something else.
Your dentist describes why the impression is needed and whether scanning suits your case and is offered. Raise questions about limits, alternatives and fees. Mention gagging, restricted opening or positioning needs at this point.
The scanner needs a clear view of the teeth being recorded. That may involve drying them or managing the surrounding gum tissue, depending on the procedure. A tooth that has been shaped for a restoration needs its margins captured accurately.
A wand is passed over the relevant teeth so the model can form. The opposing teeth and how they close together may also be recorded. Keep to the positioning guidance, and use your signal any time you need a pause.
The team decides whether the record is suitable for its intended use, rescanning or changing method if necessary. Before you go, confirm the next appointment, what to do with any temporary work and when the finished piece will be checked.
A scan alone usually involves no recovery. Freezing, tooth preparation, a temporary restoration or other procedures carried out at the same time may each bring instructions of their own.
If a temporary restoration is placed, follow the dentist’s advice on chewing and cleaning. Contact the clinic if it comes loose, breaks or becomes painful. A completed scan is no reason to live with a damaged temporary.
A broken tooth, a filling done at another clinic or a bite that changes after the scan should be reported. The existing record may need to be reviewed. New pain or swelling calls for assessment rather than waiting for the lab.
The finished restoration or appliance still needs checking in person. Ask about fit, bite, comfort, cleaning and adjustments. A digital process does not replace that evaluation, nor follow-up if something later feels wrong.
Ask about the planned work, the method suited to your case and what follows the impression. Good answers link the technology to a definite clinical purpose.
Get in touch with our Bronte Street practice to discuss your planned restoration or appliance and any worries about impressions. We can explain the records likely to be required and confirm what can be arranged. Bring your questions about comfort, timing and what comes after the scan.
Please confirm suitability and availability for your treatment. Images of scanners on this page are illustrative and do not show the clinic’s equipment.
