Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Digital impressions in Pompano Beach have replaced the tray of putty for almost everything at South Florida Smile Spa. The intra-oral scanner, an iTero, is a slim wand that captures thousands of images a second as it is moved over the teeth and builds a precise 3D model on screen in a few minutes, with no gagging, no setting time and no distortion. Dr. Nicole M. Berger uses the scan for crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays, implant restorations, Invisalign, nightguards, retainers and whitening trays, and the same model is used to show you a simulated result before treatment starts. This page explains what the scanner does, what it replaces, how it is used in each kind of treatment and the few cases where a conventional impression is still taken.
Quick answer
An intra-oral scanner is a handheld digital camera that maps the teeth and gums into an accurate 3D model in minutes, replacing the putty impression for most restorative, orthodontic and appliance work. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, the iTero scanner is used for same-day CEREC crowns, lab-made crowns and veneers, implant crowns, Invisalign planning and the outcome simulator, nightguards, retainers and whitening trays. Patients avoid the gagging and taste of impression material, the scan can be checked and redone in seconds if a spot is missed, restorations fit with fewer adjustments because a digital model does not shrink or tear, and the file is stored so a lost retainer or a new nightguard can be made without a new visit.
What It Replaces
Digital impressions in Pompano Beach: what the scanner does better
A putty impression is a mold that can distort, tear or trap bubbles, and it has to be shipped. A scan is a measurement.
- No putty, no gagging. The wand is moved over the teeth for a few minutes; nothing sets in the mouth and there is no tray against the palate.
- Accuracy you can check. The model appears on screen as it is captured; a missed spot is rescanned in seconds rather than discovered at the lab.
- Better-fitting work. Crowns, veneers and appliances made from a digital model seat with fewer adjustments because nothing shrank or distorted on the way to the lab.
- Same-day milling. The scan feeds the in-office CEREC unit directly, which is what makes same-day crowns possible.
- A file that lasts. Your scan stays on record, so a replacement retainer, nightguard or whitening tray is made from it without a new impression.
The scanner is the iTero system used for Invisalign; our iTero digital scanner page covers the outcome simulator and the orthodontic side in more detail.
The Scan
What being scanned is like
- Preparation. Teeth are dried and, for a crown, the prepared tooth is isolated; a small retractor keeps the cheeks away.
- Scanning. The wand is passed over the upper teeth, the lower teeth and the bite, two to five minutes in total; you can breathe and swallow normally.
- Check. The 3D model is reviewed on screen and any gap rescanned immediately.
- Use. The model goes to the in-office mill, to the lab, or into the Invisalign planning software, depending on the treatment.
- Simulation. For Invisalign and some cosmetic cases, the software shows a preview of the likely result on your own teeth.
Where the scan is used
Nearly everywhere. CEREC same-day crowns, inlays and onlays are designed from it in the office. Lab-made veneers, bridges and implant crowns are made from the file the ceramist receives minutes after the scan. Invisalign is planned from it and the outcome simulator runs on it. Nightguards, retainers, whitening trays and sleep apnea appliances are all fabricated from the scan, and because the file is kept, a lost retainer is reordered rather than re-impressed.
When a conventional impression is still taken
A few situations still call for a physical impression: the final impression for a full denture, where the soft tissue has to be captured under gentle pressure; some implant cases where the lab requests a specific analog; and the rare prepared tooth whose margin sits too far below the gum for the camera to see. In those cases a conventional impression is taken with care, and the scanner is used for everything else. Our dentures page explains the denture process.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for digital impressions
- No putty for almost anything. Crowns, veneers, aligners and appliances from a scan.
- Checked before it leaves the chair. A missed spot is rescanned in seconds.
- Fewer adjustments. Restorations made from an accurate digital model seat the first time more often.
- Same-day crowns. The scan drives the in-office milling unit.
- Your file on record. Replacement retainers, guards and trays without a new visit.
Patients come to us from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek for care planned with the imaging and tools described on this page.
Crowns, aligners or a nightguard without the putty
Book with Dr. Berger. A few minutes with the scanner replaces the impression tray for almost every treatment.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an intra-oral scanner?
A handheld digital camera that maps the teeth and bite into a precise 3D model in a few minutes, replacing putty impressions for crowns, veneers, Invisalign, nightguards, retainers and most other work. South Florida Smile Spa uses the iTero scanner.
Is scanning uncomfortable?
No. The wand is small, nothing sets in the mouth, there is no tray against the palate and no taste. Patients who gag on impressions usually find scanning easy.
Is a scan as accurate as an impression?
As accurate or better for crowns, veneers, aligners and appliances, because a digital model does not shrink, tear or trap bubbles, and any missed area is rescanned at once.
Can you reuse my scan later?
Yes. The file is kept, so a lost retainer, a new nightguard or a replacement whitening tray can be made from it without another appointment for impressions, as long as the teeth have not changed.
Is there anything that still needs a traditional impression?
A few things: the final impression for a full denture, some implant components, and the rare crown margin that sits too deep under the gum for the camera. Everything else is scanned.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County, and scanning shortens most restorative and orthodontic visits. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.