Only one tooth needs a crown, so why does the scanner cover both jaws? Coming from Acton, learn how a digital impression records the bite as well as the tooth, why that matters for fit, and what the visit is likely to involve.
It can seem odd that the scanner keeps going well after it has covered the tooth being treated. The explanation is that teeth work in pairs. A new crown or appliance has to fit the tooth it sits on, sit comfortably beside its neighbours and meet the teeth opposite in the right way. An impression gathers all of that, and an optical scanner records it as a digital surface model.
That model is a set of measurements, not a treatment. For suitable cases, scanning can take the place of trays of impression material for both jaws. Whether it suits you depends on what must be recorded, the work proposed and how precise the record has to be. Even with a careful bite record, a new piece may need small adjustments once it is in place.
Ask how the impression and bite record would be taken for your care, and what arrangements are available. If you have had trouble with gagging, a stiff or sore jaw, or an earlier impression, tell us. Our team can explain the steps and suitability, rather than assuming a single method fits every bite.
An impression should be tied to a specific piece of work. Ask which teeth on each jaw will be captured and how the bite information will be used when the work is designed.
A crown or similar restoration is shaped so that it contacts the teeth opposite without sitting too high or too low. That means recording the prepared tooth, its neighbours and the bite. Some appliances need both full arches. Ask what your case requires.
Holding two separate trays can be hard for some people, especially with a sensitive gag reflex or a tired jaw. Describe what has bothered you. Where suitable, scanning may be worth raising, though it still means time with your mouth open and is not guaranteed to be easy.
New fillings, worn teeth, a lost tooth or movement over time can all change how your teeth meet. An earlier record may no longer match. Let the team know what has changed, and they will decide whether an existing file still provides what is needed.
Scans of both jaws still show only the surfaces of teeth and gums. They are not X-rays or CBCT images and do not replace imaging needed to look at roots, bone or the joint itself.
With an optical system, the two jaws can be scanned separately and then related to each other through a record of your bite. The team can usually see during the visit if a section is missing or the bite has not registered clearly, and repeat it. The finished file then goes into the clinical and laboratory steps that produce your work.
Some people find scanning more comfortable than biting into trays, although it varies and how long it takes depends on what is being recorded. Before you start, discuss breaks, how wide you can open and how to signal if your jaw gets tired.
Patient information: UCLH — digital impressions in dental care
When the system supports it, the team can show you both arches on screen and how they fit together. That helps explain why the opposing jaw matters. The model assists with planning and is not a diagnosis.
An adequate file may be shared through the appropriate professional workflow so the piece can be shaped to meet its opposing teeth. Ask what happens next and who is responsible. A scan does not, on its own, fix the delivery date.
The record must capture every detail the planned work depends on, including the bite. If that information is unclear, the team may repeat it or use another method. That check is part of getting a useful impression.
The visit will depend on the treatment. Ask in advance whether you are coming only for records, or whether a tooth will also be prepared or a temporary placed.
Your dentist explains what the impression is for, which teeth and bite information are needed and whether scanning suits your case and is available. Ask about other options and fees, and mention any jaw or gag concerns.
The teeth to be scanned need to be dry and visible. Depending on the procedure, the gum around a prepared tooth may be managed so its edges can be seen. Fine detail there is important for a crown.
A wand is guided around the relevant teeth on the upper and lower jaws while the models form on screen. Follow the team’s directions about head and jaw position, and use the agreed signal if you need to rest.
You will usually be asked to close your teeth together in a specific way so the two models can be related. The team reviews the result and repeats it if needed. Confirm your next visit, temporary care steps and when the fit will be checked.
The scan itself rarely needs recovery time. If a tooth was prepared, freezing used or a temporary placed during the same visit, those may come with separate advice.
A temporary restoration needs the chewing and cleaning care the dentist explains. If it loosens, breaks, feels high when you bite or becomes sore, call us. A completed scan of the final work is no reason to put up with a damaged temporary.
If a tooth chips, a filling is replaced elsewhere or your teeth start meeting differently after the scan, let us know. The bite record may need to be reviewed. New pain or swelling should be looked at rather than accepted as normal.
When the crown or appliance is ready, it is tried in and the way your teeth meet is checked. Small adjustments are common. Being designed digitally does not replace that step, or a follow-up if your bite feels wrong later.
Ask about the work being planned, how your bite will be recorded and what happens afterwards. Answers should link each part of the record to how the finished piece will fit.
Call our Bronte Street practice to discuss your planned crown, bridge or appliance and any concerns about your bite or about impressions. We can explain which records may be needed and confirm the arrangements for your care. Questions about comfort, timing and fit are welcome.
Confirm whether scanning suits your treatment and is available. The scanner illustrations shown are not photographs of clinic equipment.
