Digital Scanning vs Traditional Impressions
For many people, the thought of starting orthodontic treatment brings up one uncomfortable memory: messy, goopy impressions. Traditional molds have been used for decades to capture the shape of your teeth, but today there’s a faster and more comfortable option. Digital scanning has changed the way orthodontists plan treatment, and most patients prefer it from the moment they try it.
What Traditional Impressions Are Like
Traditional impressions use trays filled with a thick material that sits in your mouth while it hardens around your teeth. The process works, but it can be unpleasant. The trays can feel bulky, the material can trigger a gag reflex, and the whole experience can be uncomfortable for younger patients or anyone with sensitive teeth. After the impression is removed, it has to be poured into stone models, leaving more room for small inaccuracies.
How Digital Scanning Works
Digital scanning replaces the trays and putty with a simple handheld wand. The scanner captures thousands of images of your teeth in seconds and pieces them together to create a detailed 3D model. It’s quick, clean, and comfortable. Patients can breathe easily, talk in between scans, and even watch the digital model appear on the screen in real time.
Why Digital Scanning Is More Accurate
A digital scan captures the exact shape of your teeth and bite with precision that traditional impressions can’t match. There are no air bubbles, no distortions from material shrinking or expanding, and no mistakes from removing the mold too early or too late. The 3D model gives orthodontists a clearer view of tooth angles, spacing, and bite relationships, which helps create a more customized and predictable treatment plan.
Comfort and Convenience for Patients
Digital scanning is especially helpful for children, teens, and anyone who gets anxious about dental procedures. There’s no mess, no putty, and no long wait for the material to set. The process is quick, comfortable, and easy to repeat if needed. Scans also make it simple to track progress during treatment by comparing models over time.
Faster Treatment Planning
Once a digital scan is complete, it can be sent directly to our planning software or aligner systems without any shipping or drying time. This speeds up the entire process, from designing your treatment to getting your aligners or appliances made. It also helps reduce the chance of remakes, delays, or errors.
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Better for Braces and Invisalign® Patients
Whether you’re getting braces or Invisalign® treatment, a precise digital scan creates a stronger foundation for your smile. For Invisalign® patients, the aligners are built directly from digital models. For braces patients, scans improve the accuracy of bracket placement and give a more complete picture of how the teeth will move.
The Future of Orthodontics Is Digital
Digital scanning has made orthodontic care more comfortable, more accurate, and more efficient for every patient. At Shine Ortho Studio, we use digital technology because it provides the best experience and the most predictable results. No more messy molds, no more discomfort, and no more waiting. Just a clean, simple scan that starts you on the path to a healthier and more confident smile.