Digital impressions use small intraoral scanners to capture a detailed, three-dimensional map of your teeth and surrounding soft tissues. Instead of filling a tray with impression putty and holding it in your mouth, the clinician moves a handheld wand over the teeth while the scanner records thousands of images per second. Those images are stitched together by software to create a precise virtual model that can be viewed, measured, and manipulated on a computer.
This approach changes how treatment is planned and delivered. The virtual models are more accurate than many traditional impressions, and they eliminate common issues like distortion from material shrinkage or bubbles in the impression. For patients, that means fewer adjustments, less need for repeat appointments due to poor-fitting restorations, and a generally smoother treatment experience.
At Cherokee Smiles Dental we use digital scanning to streamline diagnostics and restorative planning. Because the data is digital from the start, it can be integrated with other modern dental technologies and shared securely with dental laboratories or in-office milling systems, speeding the path from diagnosis to final restoration.
The scanning appointment is straightforward and usually quicker than taking conventional impressions. Your dental team will guide the scanner along the surfaces of your teeth and gums—there’s no tray, no sticky material, and no unpleasant taste. Many patients find the process more comfortable, particularly those who have a sensitive gag reflex or difficulty tolerating extended dental procedures.
Scans typically take only a few minutes per arch, depending on the procedure and the area being scanned. During the scan, the clinician watches the model build in real time on a monitor; this allows immediate review and, if needed, rapid rescanning of any missed areas. That in-chair visualization also helps patients better understand their own mouth, because the dentist can pause the model to point out details and explain treatment options.
Because the data is captured digitally, there’s less chance of human error introduced by pouring stone models or shipping physical impressions. If a rescanning step is necessary, it’s usually quick and targeted—much less disruptive than redoing a full conventional impression.
Once a digital impression is complete, the file can be sent electronically to a dental laboratory or used directly by in-office CAD/CAM systems. Electronic transmission removes postal delays and reduces the risk of damage or distortion that can occur with physical impressions. Labs receive standardized digital files that are easy to work with, which improves turnaround consistency and the predictability of fit.
For practices equipped with same-day milling technology, a scan can be used to design and mill ceramic restorations within a single visit. This chairside workflow can be especially valuable for patients who prefer to minimize the number of appointments needed for crowns or onlays. Even when final work is completed at an outside lab, the digital workflow accelerates collaboration so technicians and dentists can exchange notes and adjustments more effectively.
Clear, accurate digital files also make complex communication simpler. The clinician can annotate the model, highlight margins, and share high-resolution views so the lab understands the case precisely. That clarity reduces the likelihood of remakes and helps ensure the restoration meets both functional and aesthetic expectations.
One of the strongest clinical advantages of digital impressions is precision. High-resolution scans capture fine anatomical detail—margin lines, interproximal contacts, and occlusal relationships—with a level of consistency that supports better-fitting crowns, bridges, and implant restorations. A restoration that seats properly on the first try reduces chair time and the need for adjustments.
Accurate digital models also enhance treatment planning. Dentists can use the virtual data to evaluate occlusion, simulate restorative changes, and coordinate work across specialties, such as orthodontics or implant placement. When integrated with other digital diagnostics—like digital radiography or intraoral photography—the scan becomes part of a comprehensive digital record that supports informed decision-making.
For long-term care, digital records are easily stored and retrieved, making it simple to compare current scans with previous ones to monitor wear, shifting, or tissue changes. That historical perspective can be invaluable when evaluating the success of past treatments or planning future interventions.
Digital scanning reduces reliance on physical impression materials, which lowers the risk of cross-contamination and removes the need to handle and transport messy, potentially contaminated impressions. The scanners and their tips are designed for clinical hygiene protocols; disposable covers and routine sterilization procedures help maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.
Beyond infection control, digital impressions improve patient communication. The three-dimensional models can be rotated, zoomed, and annotated on screen so patients see exactly what the dentist sees. That visual clarity helps people understand proposed treatments and expected outcomes without wading through technical jargon.
Finally, staff training and ongoing calibration of digital equipment are important parts of delivering reliable results. When scanners are used routinely and combined with a digital workflow, the practice benefits from greater efficiency, consistent quality, and a modern standard of care that supports predictable clinical outcomes.
Digital impressions have become a practical and patient-friendly alternative to conventional techniques, offering improved comfort, faster communication with laboratories, and high-precision data that supports better-fitting restorations. By turning complex anatomy into accurate virtual models, digital scanning helps streamline treatment from diagnosis through final restoration.
If you’d like to learn more about how digital impressions could benefit your care or the options available for restorative and cosmetic treatments, please contact us for more information. Our team is happy to explain the process in greater detail and answer any questions you may have.
Digital impressions use small intraoral scanners to capture a precise, three-dimensional record of teeth and surrounding soft tissues. The clinician moves a handheld wand across the dentition while the scanner records many frames per second and software stitches those images into a virtual model. That model can be viewed, measured and manipulated on a computer to support diagnosis and restorative planning.
At Cherokee Smiles Dental, digital scanning helps streamline diagnostics and communication with laboratories and milling systems. Because the data is digital from the start, it avoids many issues associated with physical impression materials and creates a standardized record that supports predictable workflows. Patients benefit from clearer visuals and fewer repeat appointments when the digital data is used correctly.
A typical intraoral scan takes only a few minutes per arch, with total appointment time varying by the procedure and the tooth surfaces being recorded. The clinician guides the scanner along the teeth while watching the virtual model build in real time on a monitor, allowing immediate review and targeted rescanning if necessary. Many patients find this faster and less intrusive than waiting for impression material to set in a tray.
There is no tray, sticky putty or strong taste during a digital scan, which is why patients with a sensitive gag reflex often prefer it. Because the operator can pause and correct missed areas instantly, rescans are usually brief and localized rather than requiring a full repeat. The immediate visualization also helps clinicians explain findings and proposed treatments to patients during the same visit.
For many patients, digital impressions are substantially more comfortable than conventional tray-and-putty techniques because there is no bulky tray to hold in the mouth and no setting material that can trigger gagging. The lightweight scanner wand is moved gently over the teeth and soft tissues, and the process typically finishes more quickly than a full conventional impression. That comfort advantage is particularly apparent for children, people with a sensitive gag reflex, and patients who find long dental procedures difficult.
Comfort is also improved by the reduced need for repeat appointments due to distorted or flawed impressions. If an area needs to be rescanned, it is usually a short targeted pass rather than redoing an entire impression. This combination of faster scanning and fewer retakes makes the overall experience smoother for patients and staff alike.
Digital impressions are highly accurate for most restorative and prosthetic applications because modern scanners capture fine anatomical detail such as margin lines, interproximal contacts and occlusal relationships. The digital workflow eliminates errors associated with material shrinkage, bubbles or distortion that can occur when pouring stone models from physical impressions. That precision supports better-fitting crowns, bridges and implant components when the scan and downstream processes are performed correctly.
Accuracy depends on proper scanning technique, equipment calibration and a controlled clinical environment, including good isolation and soft-tissue management. In complex cases, clinicians combine digital data with other diagnostics like digital radiography to verify fit and position. When used consistently, the digital approach reduces the likelihood of remakes and helps achieve predictable clinical outcomes.
Digital impressions are suitable for a wide range of restorative and prosthetic treatments, including single crowns, inlays and onlays, fixed bridges and many implant workflows. Orthodontic treatments and clear aligner planning also rely on accurate digital models to design and monitor tooth movement. The same virtual models can be annotated, measured and shared with specialists to coordinate multi-disciplinary care.
In addition to restorative design, digital scans help with occlusal analysis, monitoring wear or tissue changes over time, and documenting pre- and post-treatment records. Because files are easily stored and retrieved, clinicians can compare current scans to previous ones to track progression and plan future interventions with a reliable historical perspective.
Digital impressions make same-day restorations possible when a practice is equipped with chairside CAD/CAM design and milling or when it partners with a lab that offers rapid turnaround. The digital file serves as the direct input for designing a crown or onlay, which can then be milled from ceramic in the office or sent electronically to a lab. This streamlined workflow reduces the steps between preparation and final seating when the practice has the necessary equipment and protocols.
Even when final restorations are produced off-site, the electronic transfer accelerates communication and reduces postal or handling delays associated with physical impressions. Patient suitability for a same-day workflow depends on the case complexity, material requirements and clinical judgment, so your dentist will review options and timing during the consult.
After a scan is completed, the resulting digital file can be exported in standardized formats such as STL or other open file types that laboratories and CAD software accept. Files are transmitted electronically, which eliminates postal delays and minimizes the risk of distortion or damage inherent to shipping physical impressions. Many labs have secure portals that receive the files along with case notes, margin markings and high-resolution views to ensure clear instructions.
Electronic workflows also support collaborative communication: clinicians can annotate the model, highlight margins and exchange revision requests with lab technicians quickly. Standardized digital files improve consistency in design and fabrication, which helps reduce remakes and supports more predictable restorative outcomes.
Digital scanners are designed to meet clinical infection-control protocols, and manufacturers provide removable or disposable tips, barrier sleeves and cleaning instructions to maintain hygiene between patients. Clinicians follow routine sterilization and disinfection procedures for any contact surfaces and handle digital files electronically to avoid physical contamination risks. Minimizing reliance on impression materials also reduces the handling and transport of potentially contaminated items.
Staff training and regular calibration of scanning equipment are important parts of a safe digital workflow. When the team follows established protocols for barriers, cleaning and storage of components, digital scanning contributes to a practice-wide approach to patient safety and infection control.
Yes. While digital impressions are suitable for most treatments, certain clinical scenarios may still favor traditional impressions, such as extremely large edentulous arches, situations with severe moisture control challenges, or deeply subgingival margins that make optical capture difficult. The choice depends on case complexity, material requirements and the clinician's assessment of which method will best capture the necessary detail. In those situations, experienced dentists weigh the pros and cons and select the technique that yields the most reliable result.
Modern practices often use a hybrid approach, combining digital scans with selective conventional techniques when needed to achieve optimal outcomes. Open discussion with your dental team about the specifics of your case will clarify which method is most appropriate for your treatment plan.
The best way to determine whether digital impressions are appropriate is to discuss your goals and medical history with your dentist during a consultation, where the clinician can evaluate the complexity of the case and explain the available workflows. Your dental team will review the benefits, limitations and any alternatives so you understand how digital scanning would be used in your care. Personalized recommendations take into account factors such as the type of restoration, tissue condition and overall treatment plan.
If you would like to learn more or see examples of how digital impressions are used in treatment planning, please contact Cherokee Smiles Dental to schedule a consultation. Our team can walk you through the scanning process, show how the virtual models are used in treatment design and answer any questions about what to expect.
Need to schedule an appointment or have questions about our services?
Our friendly team makes it easy to get the care you need. Whether you call or submit our online form, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Don’t wait to start your journey to a healthier, brighter smile—contact us today and experience personalized dental care you can trust.
