Digital dentistry
Digital Impressions & Scanning
A small optical scanner turns the surfaces of your teeth into a 3D model.
What it does
An intraoral scanner uses light to record visible tooth and gum surfaces. Software combines these views into a digital impression. This surface scan is different from an X-ray: it does not show the internal tooth or underlying bone.
Explore the source material ↗Watch the explanation
See the procedure in motion
See a digital impression being taken
3Shape
Connects to YouTube when you choose to load.See a digital impression being taken
A dental clinic demonstrates the TRIOS scanner and the digital restorative workflow.
Manufacturer demonstration from 2015. It shows the scanning process; current equipment and screens differ.
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Inside a digital dental office
See the software. Watch the tooth take shape.
Go beyond the finished smile: explore the design screen, the manufacturing equipment and the hands-on finishing work.
Inside the crown-design software
exocad · Manufacturer demonstration
Connects to YouTube only when you choose to load.Inside the crown-design software
An approximately seven-minute ChairsideCAD walkthrough shows how a restoration is designed on a digital model. This older demonstration explains the core process; today’s screens and features may differ.
Manufacturer demonstrations may contain promotional claims and clinical footage. They show particular systems, not proof that one treatment is best. Videos are hosted by their publishers; availability and captions may vary. If a player is blocked, use the direct link. Loading a video shares connection information with the host, which may use cookies. Privacy notice.
What changes from the traditional approach?
For a crown, these are two possible paths. Dental labs also use scanners, design software, mills and printers.
| Stage | Impression & lab route | Digital office route |
|---|---|---|
| Record the teeth | A tray holds impression material around the teeth. | A handheld scanner builds a 3D surface model on screen. |
| Design & make | A lab makes the restoration; it may use digital equipment too. | Software designs the shape. A compatible mill or printer makes it. |
| Visits | A temporary crown is commonly worn between preparation and fitting. | Some suitable cases can be finished in one visit, avoiding an interim temporary crown. |
| Fit & follow-up | The dentist checks fit, appearance and bite before securing the crown. | The same clinical checks and ongoing care still matter. |
Fewer appointments can be convenient. The best material and workflow still depend on the tooth, bite and case—not simply which machine is available. Read Cleveland Clinic’s crown overview ↗
The software behind the restoration
These examples handle different jobs. An office may use one system or connect several; a digital design still needs professional evaluation.
exocad ChairsideCAD
Works with a digital model to design restorations for manufacture in the office or through a lab.
See the software ↗SprintRay AI Studio
Turns scan files into a proposed design, with tools to review and adjust it before sending it to a compatible printer.
Explore the design steps ↗Formlabs PreForm
Prepares a designed restoration for printing, including its position and supports. The manufacturer’s illustrated guide also shows cleaning and finishing.
See the manufacturing screenshots ↗CEREC
Connects digital impressions and restoration design with milling. The selected ceramic then follows its required finishing and firing process.
Explore the CEREC workflow ↗Printing and milling are different
Milling cuts a restoration from a solid block. Resin printing builds it in layers, followed by cleaning and post-curing. A printable material may be intended for a model, temporary restoration or specific definitive restoration; those uses are not interchangeable. Ask which material is proposed and what evidence supports its use in your case.
FDA: how medical devices are 3D printed ↗Examples are educational, not endorsements or partnerships. Equipment, software versions and permitted uses differ by practice and country. Videos and source pages checked September 9, 2026.
What usually happens
The sequence and number of visits depend on the individual case.
Capture surfaces
A clinician moves the scanner around the teeth to record multiple views.
Build the model
The software joins the images into a 3D surface model.
Check the record
Missing areas can be rescanned before the digital impression is used.
Plan or fabricate
The file can support a restoration or appliance design, either in the office or with a laboratory.
Benefits, limits & trade-offs
Scanning quality and the complexity of the case matter. Owning a scanner does not demonstrate that an office can provide every digitally planned treatment.
Watch & explore further
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Questions for your dentist
- Will a digital scan work well for this particular treatment?
- Can you show me what the scan reveals—and what it cannot?
- Is fabrication done here or by a dental laboratory?
Take the next step
Look for offices offering this care
Search for digital impressions & scanning in your area, then confirm the service with the office.
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Before you book
- Confirm that the office offers the specific procedure or technology you want to discuss.
- Ask who performs the treatment and about their relevant training and experience.
- Discuss whether it suits your situation, alternatives, the total fee and follow-up care.