If you've had a dental impression before, you know what the process involves: the tray loaded with setting material, the pressure on your jaw, the countdown while the putty hardened. It worked. It was also, for a lot of patients, the part of the visit they remembered most, and not in a good way. For patients with a strong gag reflex, it was something they steeled themselves for.
Most of our offices use digital scanners, including PrimeScan by Dentsply Sirona and Trios, to capture precise impressions without trays, setting material, or anything to hold in your mouth while a timer runs. If you're scheduled for a crown, clear aligners, veneers, or other restorative work, a digital scan is how we take your impression at most ProHEALTH Dental locations.
To confirm whether digital impressions are part of restorative or cosmetic treatment, book an appointment online. We serve patients across New York and New Jersey.
What Happens During a Digital Scan
During a 3D scan, your provider uses a small handheld wand. It moves slowly across your teeth and the surrounding tissue, and a three-dimensional model of your mouth builds on a screen in real time. You watch it take shape as the scan moves through your mouth. There's nothing to bite into and nothing to gag on. Most scans take a few minutes.
If you've had traditional impressions before, the difference is immediate. If you haven't, a digital scan is simply how it's done here.
Which Treatments Use Digital Impressions
Any treatment that requires a restoration or appliance built to the exact shape of your mouth will involve a digital scan. At ProHEALTH Dental, that includes clear aligner treatment, crowns, veneers, bridges, and custom night guards. The scan replaces the traditional impression tray entirely.
Digital impressions are also used in cosmetic and restorative work, including:
Crowns
Veneers
Bridges
Your dentist determines when a scan is part of your visit based on your treatment plan. If your appointment involves any of these services, ask your provider before you come in. We'll tell you what to expect.
Why the Accuracy of the Impression Matters
A restoration is only as good as the data behind it. If the impression isn't precise, the finished piece won't seat the way it should. That means more adjustment visits, more remakes, and a longer timeline before the work is actually done.
Restorations built from digital scans tend to fit more predictably. The scan data moves directly into the fabrication process, so what comes back from the lab reflects what your provider captured at the appointment, not an approximation.
For aligners, fit is what makes the treatment work. An aligner tray that isn't fully seated against your teeth won't move them as it's designed to. The accuracy of the impression at the start of treatment affects every tray in the sequence. Getting that right at the beginning matters more than most patients realize.
At the ProHEALTH Dental offices using PrimeScan and Trios, you won't be reaching for the armrests when impression time comes. The scan is one of the easier parts of the visit.
Book online to schedule your next appointment. Our offices serve patients across New York and New Jersey.