Area of care 06
Digital dentistry and 3D impressions
Modern dentistry that uses digital technology for faster, more precise and more comfortable care.
A digital workflow replaces impression putty with an intraoral scanner, the plaster model with a 3D file, and manual work with computer-aided design followed by milling. The result: no gagging, a more precise fit and, in many cases, fewer appointments.
Digital Workflow: our treatments in detail
What digital actually changes
The difference is not cosmetic. A conventional impression distorts as it is removed, shrinks as it sets, and is then cast in plaster, which introduces an error of its own. Every stage adds inaccuracy, and the final fit has to be corrected in the chair.
An optical impression produces a file directly. There is no material to remove, no model to cast and nothing to transport: the chain of errors disappears, and the restoration fits more closely at the very first try-in.
The four stages of the workflow
- 3D digital impression: an intraoral camera records the shape of the arches in a few minutes. No putty, no impression tray.
- Digital planning: the treatment is simulated on screen — the position of an implant, an orthodontic movement, the shape of a restoration — before anything is done.
- Computer-aided design (CAD): a crown, veneer or retainer is designed on the 3D model, taking the neighbouring teeth and the bite into account.
- Milling (CAM): the piece is cut from a ceramic block according to the approved file.
Who benefits most
- People with a strong gag reflex: an optical impression removes the cause of the problem
- Children and anxious patients, for whom the putty is the worst part of the visit
- Implant treatment, where 3D imaging and planning make the angle and depth of placement safer
- Aligner orthodontics, which depends entirely on a digital model
- Large restorations, where accumulated manual inaccuracies show up at fitting
What digital does not replace
A scanner does not decide what treatment you need, and a simulation is not a diagnosis. Choosing the treatment, reading the X-rays, examining the gums and forming a clinical judgement remain the dentist’s work.
The technology reduces inaccuracy and discomfort. It decides nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digital impression really putty-free?
Yes. A camera passes along the arches and reconstructs the shape of the teeth in three dimensions. There is no tray, no material to bite into and no setting time to sit through.
How long does an optical impression take?
Usually a few minutes per arch. The file appears on screen immediately, which means a poorly recorded area can be redone on the spot rather than repeating the whole impression.
Is a CAD/CAM crown as good as a laboratory crown?
Both routes produce ceramic restorations. Digital design brings controlled reproducibility and marginal fit. The choice of material and technique depends on the tooth involved and on the chewing forces it has to take.
Does the scanner emit X-rays?
No. An intraoral scanner is optical: it uses light, not ionising radiation. X-rays are still needed for what light cannot pass through — the inside of the tooth, and bone.
This page is for information only. It is not a diagnosis, personalised medical advice or a prescription. Only a clinical examination can establish a diagnosis and lead to a treatment plan.
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