Intraoral Scan: How can it help in your dental clinic?

The intraoral scanner is an electronic device that reproduces in 3D images, the anatomical structures of the buccal cavity, allowing to create a digital document of the same one to be able to work on it, reason why it offers different advantages when using it in your dental clinic.

Surely, you have already heard about intraoral scanner, but you know how it is used and what it is used for, what is the best intraoral scanner on the market? What is the price of the iTero? All this, we answer below to clarify all your doubts.

What is the intraoral scanner used for?

They can be used for:

• Smile designs in orthodontic treatments, thus generating retainers and palatal appliances. Allowing to observe imperfections in real time that need correction-alignment.
• In treatments of unknown lingual brackets and invisible aligners, such as Invisalign aligners.
• Partial prostheses and obturators.

How does an intraoral scanner work?

An intraoral scanner can capture optical impressions directly on the patient's jaws, we must pass the pencil or intraoral camera over the gums and teeth of the patient, it emits a light source (which can be laser or structured). Next, you will be able to observe the model recreating itself on the touch screen in a three-dimensional image.

En la misma pantalla, habrás introducido los datos del paciente, en ella podrás observar el color de los dientes, los implantes y las encías que, gracias a los sensores han sido capturadas al posar el lápiz sobre ellas para luego ser procesadas a través de un software integrado que posee el escáner intraoral.

Intraoral scanners can be of two types, so how they work will depend on what type it is:

• Photographic technology scanners are those that capture individual images of the areas to be scanned, ie individual images are taken that the system merges to form the digital 3D model.
• Unlike the previous type, Video technology scanners work in a very similar way to a video camera, so the scanned areas are recorded.

Now that you know how the different types work, we will develop what benefits the use of intraoral scanners can offer both to you as a dental professional and to the patients who come to your clinic. But first, here's a short video to make the idea of how it works more graphical:

How can the intraoral scanner help your dental clinic?

Until now, the traditional system to represent the patient's oral cavity was by making dental impressions with materials such as alginate or silicones, which caused discomfort to the patient (gag reflex, bad taste ...), required more work time, caused errors or instability of the impression, lacerations on the margins and the emptying of the impression with plaster.

Nowadays, the digital workflow in the clinics has become more and more noticeable and the use of the intraoral scanner has simplified the design of models, therefore, the realization of prosthetic or orthodontic treatments require less work time (compared to the traditional model of taking impressions).

8 Advantages that the intraoral scanner offers to your dental clinic:

1. Say goodbye to Alginate, plaster or plaster: With the use of the intraoral scanner you will avoid the cumbersome use of alginate, in a matter of two or three minutes you will obtain a 3D printing model to work on it.

2. Avoid discomfort to your patients: in line with the previous point, you can obtain the images without bothering the patient with the taking of physical impressions, so you can forget about the gag reflex, complaints about the taste or smell of alginate or silicones that are so annoying for patients (adults and children). The process will therefore be faster, more pleasant and more comfortable for the patient. Probably this is one of the advantages that favors the patient very much, they will thank you for more efficient processes that reduce the minutes of waiting.

3. Get high fidelity models: If there is one thing that stands out, it is the precision and fidelity of obtaining the models, because there are no inconveniences such as bubbles, setting, wrinkles or cracks or tears. So the errors are reduced to the maximum and the measurements consist of an incredible precision. The scanners are so accurate that models of both natural teeth and implants can be captured.

4. Corrects defects instantly: If for some reason an image has been distorted, just by reviewing the area, scanning it again you will be able to rectify it without any problem.

5. Create 3D files: The ability to access 3D digital files whenever you want is possible. You will be able to create them and locate them easily, favouring the saving of space for shelter of plaster or plaster models.

6. Save on shipping costs: You will save the money you used previously in shipments to laboratory, these will be sent to the laboratory through the management software with your user. You will not have to send the models in physical under any circumstances.

7. Use it also as a Marketing tool: You will differentiate yourself from the competition, through the use of technology as one of the fundamental pillars of your dental clinic. In addition, the patient will be able to visualize the evolution of their treatment, they will feel that they are actively part of the process. It will also allow you to show the state of caries, fractured teeth, presence of calculus and the current position of their teeth, offering them an easier to understand knowledge of their mouth. The consequence of this is that, without hesitation, your patients will recommend you to their colleagues, relatives and friends.

8. It simplifies the process: it facilitates diagnosis, simplifies the process of obtaining models and improves the effectiveness of the results.

What are the main intraotal scanners currently on the market?

There are several models of intraoral scanners in the digital dentistry market: the Medit 500, TRIOS 4, iTero Element 5D, Primescan, Esmeralda S, CS300 among others. In this article we will comment on the evolution of those that we consider most important in the current market.

iTero was introduced to the market at the beginning of 2007, after many years of research and trial-error tests, Align Technology has managed to evolve, reaching devices like the CEREC Omnicam, does not need to use powder to reflect light. In addition, the scanning sequence is indicated to the operator by the computer itself, meaning that he can remove the scanner head from the patient's mouth at any time, as the images are assembled to capture all the details of the oral structures.

The iTero Element, iTero Element Flex, Elemnt2 and the new iTero Element 5D intraoral scanners are currently available. Interested in learning more about iTero intraoral scanners? Visit their website by clicking here.

Medit started in digital dentistry in 2013 with Blue Identica, which was the first intraoral scanner with blue light on the market, after two years launched the Hybrid. Last year they introduced their first intraoral scanner the Medit i500, to date they have been perfecting their software and other functions based on user feedback, performing with their community beta tests. Learn more about the benefits of the i500 by clicking here.

CEREC Primescan: The various sales companies have been developing and improving the design, use and software of intraoral scanners since the appearance of Sirona's CEREC in the 1980s. Sirona has moved from CEREC 1 and CEREC 2 to CEREC Omnicam and CEREC Primescan. The CEREC systems have evolved and improved models have been introduced, which are simpler to use and faster, without the need for dust. To learn more about the features and presentations of CEREC Omnicam, click here

3Shape TRIOS: 3Shape presented the TRIOS scanner at the 2011 International Dental Show. Currently, the market includes the 3Shape TRIOS 3 Basic intraoral scanner, the 3Shape TRIOS 3 and the 3Shape TRIOS 4. The latter, which is wireless, allows wireless scanning for comfortable and easy work. Comparing the 3Shape TRIOS 3 with the 3Shape TRIOS 4, the latter has notable improvements such as: aid in the diagnosis of caries (including interproximal) and monitoring and possibilities for preventive care. Visit the 3Shape page to learn more about their products here.

Most popular Intraoral Scanners:

Element2 iTero Intraoral Scanner::

i500 Intraoral Scanner - Medit

Now that you know all the advantages and benefits of having an intraoral scanner in your dental clinic: Are you thinking of acquiring one of these devices, which of the ones we mentioned you have used in your dental clinic, what benefits does its use give you?.

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