Dental impressions without the goop
If you have ever had a crown, a night guard, or braces, you probably remember the tray — the one packed with cold putty, pressed into your teeth, held there while you tried not to gag. For a lot of patients, it is the single worst part of a dental visit.
At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, uses the iTero digital scanner instead. A small handheld wand passes over your teeth and captures thousands of images per second, building an accurate 3D model of your mouth on the screen beside you. Nothing goes in your mouth but the wand. There is no putty, no tray, and no waiting for material to set.
You see your own teeth on the monitor as the scan happens — which turns out to be the part most patients remember.
What Is the iTero Scanner?
The iTero is an intraoral scanner made by Align Technology, the company behind Invisalign. It replaces the physical impression with a digital one.
Here is what that changes:
The scan is reusable. Once your mouth is scanned, that model can be used for more than one purpose without rescanning you.
The wand replaces the tray. It is about the size of an electric toothbrush head and never fills your mouth with material.
The model is digital. Instead of a plaster cast sitting in a drawer, your scan is a 3D file that can be sent to the lab electronically the same day.
Accuracy is measurable, not estimated. Digital capture avoids the distortion that happens when impression material shifts, pulls, or sets unevenly — the usual reason a crown comes back needing adjustment.
Why Patients Prefer a Digital Scan
No gag reflex. This is the reason most patients care. If impression trays have ever made you gag or panic, a scan removes the trigger entirely.
It takes minutes, not appointments. A full-arch scan takes a couple of minutes. The digital file goes straight to the lab, so you are not booked back for a redo when an impression fails.
Fewer remakes. A distorted impression means a crown that does not seat, and a second visit to fix it. A precise digital model reduces that risk before the restoration is ever made.
You can see what the dentist sees. The 3D model rotates on screen. When Dr. Berger explains wear on a molar or a crowded lower arch, you are looking at your own teeth, not a diagram in a pamphlet.
It is comfortable for sensitive patients. No cold material, no pressure on the palate, nothing to hold still for. For patients with dental anxiety, this alone changes how the visit feels.
What We Use the iTero Scanner For
The scan is not only for one procedure. Dr. Berger uses it across most of the treatments that used to require an impression:
- Invisalign and clear aligners — the scan generates the model your aligners are made from
- Crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays — sent digitally to the lab for a precise fit
- Night guards and sports guards — custom-fit without a mold
- Dental implant restorations — planning and fabricating the final crown
- Retainers — including replacements, since your scan is already on file
- Before-and-after records — a baseline model of your bite to compare against later
See Your Smile Before You Start
If you are considering Invisalign, the scanner can show you a simulation of how your teeth could look after treatment — generated from your own 3D scan, side by side with your teeth today.
It is a projection, not a promise. But it answers the question most patients are actually weighing before they commit: is this worth it for my smile specifically?
Why We Chose the Lumina
Our scanner is the iTero Lumina, the newest generation of the system. Two things about it matter from where you are sitting.
The wand is about half the size of the previous model. That sounds like a small detail until you have had something bulky moved around the back of your mouth. A smaller wand reaches molars more easily and feels less intrusive, especially if you have a sensitive gag reflex.
A full arch scans in roughly 30 seconds. Less time with your mouth open, fewer pauses, and fewer retakes.
The model it produces is photorealistic rather than a rough digital approximation. When Dr. Berger turns the screen toward you, you are looking at your actual teeth, in color, from any angle.
Experience Dentistry Without the Impression Tray
If the worst part of your last dental visit was the putty, this is the visit that fixes it. South Florida Smile Spa serves patients in Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and the surrounding communities.
Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment online.
South Florida Smile Spa — Nicole M. Berger, DDS 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the iTero scan hurt?
No. Nothing is injected, drilled, or pressed against your gums. The wand rests lightly against your teeth and moves slowly. Most patients describe it as easier than a cleaning.
how long does a digital scan take?
A full scan of both arches usually takes a few minutes. Compared with a traditional impression, you also skip the setting time and the risk of having to repeat it.
will it make me gag?
This is the most common reason patients ask about it, and the answer is usually no. Because there is no tray and no material filling your mouth, the trigger that causes gagging with traditional impressions is not there. If you have a strong gag reflex, tell us before we start and we will pace the scan around it.
Is the iTero scanner safe? Does it use radiation?
The scanner uses light and optical imaging — no ionizing radiation. It is not an X-ray and does not replace one.
Do I still need dental X-rays?
Yes. The scanner captures the surfaces of your teeth and gums. X-rays show what is happening below the surface and inside the bone. They answer different questions and are used together.
Can I get a copy of my scan?
Your scan is stored in your record and can be reused for retainers, guards, or future restorations without rescanning.
Is a digital impression more accurate than a traditional one?
For most restorative work, yes. Traditional impression material can pull, shift, or set unevenly, and that distortion is the usual reason a crown needs adjusting. A digital model avoids that failure mode.
Does insurance cover the scan?
The scan is part of the procedure it supports — a crown, aligners, a night guard — rather than a separate charge. Coverage follows whatever that procedure’s coverage is. Our team can check your benefits before you begin.
