A night guard, retainer or crown has to match your teeth closely. If you are coming from Burlington, learn how an optical scan may record that shape and your bite, when a tray is still the better choice, and what to bring to the appointment.
Suppose the dentist has suggested a guard for clenching, or a crown for a cracked tooth. Either piece is built for your mouth alone, which means someone first needs a precise record of your teeth, the tissues around them and how the upper and lower jaws meet. That record is an impression, and a digital impression captures it with an optical scanner that produces a virtual surface model.
Taking the record is a preliminary step; it does not treat anything. For appropriate cases, scanning can replace a tray of impression material. Which method is used will depend on the part of the mouth involved, the appliance or restoration planned and the detail needed. A digital approach does not mean every case can be scanned, or that the finished piece will need no adjustment.
When you book, ask how the record will be taken for the work you need and what arrangements are available. Let us know about a strong gag reflex, a jaw that is sore or hard to open, or an earlier impression that went badly. Our team will talk through whether scanning fits your case and how the visit would run, rather than taking for granted that one technique works for everyone.
Every impression should support a defined piece of treatment. It is reasonable to ask which surfaces will be captured and how the resulting model will be used to design or produce your dental work.
Some appliances rely on an accurate model of the whole arch, while a crown may need fine detail of one prepared tooth plus its neighbours and the bite. Ask what your particular case calls for. Scanning only makes sense when it serves a clear treatment purpose.
If a loaded tray has triggered gagging or panic before, describe exactly what happened. Where it suits the work, an optical method may be worth exploring. A device still needs to sit near the teeth, though, and it cannot be guaranteed to remove every difficulty.
Worn guards get replaced, teeth drift and new fillings alter surfaces. Any of these can make an older impression less useful. Tell the team what is different, and they will consider whether a previous file still supplies what the new work needs.
A surface scan maps the outside of the teeth and gums. It is not an X-ray or CBCT scan, and it does not stand in for imaging that may be needed to examine roots, bone or other hidden structures.
Since the digital model is visible as it forms, the team can usually tell during the appointment whether an area is incomplete or blurred and capture it again. Once the record is accepted, it can feed into the clinical and laboratory workflow that produces your appliance or restoration. A usable file is the goal; the scanner is just the means.
For some people, not needing a full tray of material makes the visit easier. Comfort still differs between individuals, and the length of scanning depends on what has to be recorded. Talk about pauses, mouth opening and positioning ahead of time so the appointment can be planned around you.
Patient information: UCLH — digital impressions in dental care
Where the system allows, the team can show you the model and explain what is being captured, such as why the opposite arch is recorded for a guard. The image supports planning and is not a full diagnosis.
A suitable file may be sent through the relevant professional process to help design or manufacture your piece. Ask what happens next and who carries it out. Completing the scan does not, on its own, set a delivery date.
The model has to contain the features the planned appliance or restoration depends on. A section may need rescanning, or a different recording method, if information is inadequate. Checking for that is part of producing a worthwhile impression.
The appointment depends on the treatment it supports. Check whether you are coming in for records only, or whether tooth preparation, a temporary restoration or another procedure is included.
First, the dentist sets out what the guard or restoration requires and whether a scan can deliver it here. You can ask about limitations, other methods and any separate fees. Raise gagging, limited opening or comfort needs before recording starts.
The teeth to be recorded must be reachable and clear enough to scan. This may involve drying them or handling the surrounding gum tissue as the procedure requires. A tooth prepared for a crown needs its edges captured precisely.
A handheld scanner travels tooth by tooth while the model fills in on screen. For many appliances, the opposing arch and the way your teeth close together are recorded as well. Follow positioning prompts, and use the agreed signal for a break.
The team checks that the information is suitable for the intended work, scanning again or changing method if needed. Before you head home, make sure you know your try-in date, how to look after any temporary work and who to call with questions.
A scan alone usually needs no recovery period. Freezing, tooth preparation, temporary work or other care provided during the same appointment may come with their own instructions.
If a temporary restoration is placed, follow the dentist’s guidance on eating and cleaning. Get in touch if it shifts, cracks or starts to hurt. Even though the final piece has been scanned, a damaged temporary still needs attention.
A chipped tooth, dental work redone at another office or a bite that shifts after the scan can all matter, so let us know. The model may need reviewing. Fresh pain or swelling deserves a proper look, not a shrug while the lab works.
A guard, retainer or restoration still needs to be checked in your mouth. Ask about fit, bite, comfort and cleaning, and whether adjustments are needed. A digital workflow does not replace that check, or follow-up if something does not feel right.
Ask about the work being planned, the method that suits your case and what happens once the record is taken. Answers should tie the technique to a specific clinical purpose.
Reach our Bronte Street practice to describe the appliance or restoration you need and anything that worries you about impressions. We will outline the records likely to be involved and what can be arranged. Questions about comfort, timing and the try-in appointment are welcome.
Confirm suitability and availability for your treatment. Illustrated scanners on this page do not represent the clinic’s equipment.
