Alternatives to Traditional Dental Impressions with the iTero Scanner

Dental impressions have been a necessary part of some aspects of dental care for quite some time. If you need something like a retainer, braces or Invisalign® aligners, our orthodontist will likely start with impressions in order to make your products to the correct specifications. Most dental patients associate impressions with messy, inconvenient gel. With the iTero™ scanner, you can get impressions in less time and with more accuracy.

The process of making traditional impressions can be quite cumbersome. It is also messy and unpleasant for the patient. These impressions involve the use of metal trays that are placed in the mouth against the upper and lower jaws. A liquid plaster is then used to create an impression of the teeth. It must remain in place long enough to become solidified in an elastic form. The purpose of this is to create a replica of the teeth that will provide the details of the size, shape, position and dimensions of the teeth. The mold is then sent to a lab so the products can be fabricated and sent back to the office.

The time spent waiting for the plaster to set can be frustrating for the patient. There is also a problem with gagging in many cases. In short, the whole process of making traditional impressions leaves plenty of room for improvement.

To make things easier, Dr. Runnels uses the iTero™ scanner. It is a system in which digital impressions in 3D can be made without the need for plaster. It is much more comfortable for you as a patient than the traditional system. You will also benefit from the improvement in accuracy the scanner makes possible.

The iTero™ scanner utilizes a non-invasive technique to make an extremely accurate map of your mouth. It not only captures the dimensions of the teeth, but it maps out the gum line as well. All this takes place in around five minutes. As a patient, you will appreciate not only the elimination of a messy procedure, but you will like the speed at which it is done as well.
Once the scan is completed, there are some other important advantages associated with the iTero™ system. The information can be transmitted electronically to the lab that is making the aligners or retainers. This saves time and increases precision. In addition, the information is stored electronically, making it easier to retrieve whenever it is needed for future reference.

Thanks to the iTero™ scanner, Dr. Runnels can now make impressions for Invisalign® and retainers easier than ever. If you are in a situation where impressions may become necessary, you should ask us at Runnels Orthodontics about the use of the iTero™ scanner beforehand. With offices in Panama City Beach and Destin, we are pleased to serve Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Freeport, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Panama City Beach and Panama City. Contact us today to learn more about how we can make your orthodontic treatment more convenient with the iTero™ scanner.