iTero scanning · no more goop
A 3D model of your smile in five minutes
Digital scans replace the old putty impressions — faster, more comfortable, more accurate, and they let you preview your final result before treatment begins.
What iTero does
- Captures your teeth as a 3D model by taking thousands of high-resolution images in real time.
- Builds the model on-screen as the scan happens — you watch your smile appear in 3D.
- Sends the digital file directly to Invisalign within minutes — no shipping impressions back and forth.
- Generates an outcome simulation showing your projected smile after treatment, before any aligners are made.
- Saves the model digitally — we can pull it up again at any future appointment without re-scanning.
Why it’s a meaningful upgrade
Old impression techniques put a tray full of fast-setting putty in your mouth for 3–5 minutes. Many patients gagged, some felt claustrophobic, and the resulting impression sometimes distorted enough to require a do-over. Digital scans solve all of that. They’re faster, more comfortable, more accurate, and they let us preview your result in a way no putty impression ever could.
Beyond Invisalign
We use the same digital scanner for crowns, bridges, veneers, and night guards. Anything that used to require a putty impression can now be captured digitally. The lab gets a more accurate file; you spend less time in the chair; and the restoration that comes back almost always fits perfectly on the first try.
Common questions
Frequently asked
- What is an iTero scan?
- A handheld digital scanner that captures your teeth and gums as a 3D model in real time. It replaces the goopy putty impressions older orthodontic offices used to take.
- How long does it take?
- About 5 minutes. You sit comfortably, mouth open, while the scanner glides across your teeth taking thousands of tiny images. The 3D model builds on the screen as we go — most patients enjoy watching it.
- Is it uncomfortable?
- No. The scanner is small and quiet. No gag-inducing trays of putty, no waiting motionless while the material sets. Most patients describe it as more comfortable than a routine cleaning.
- Can I see my future smile?
- Yes. iTero includes an outcome simulator — within minutes of finishing the scan, we can show you a projected before-and-after of what your teeth will look like at the end of Invisalign treatment. Many patients say this is the moment they decided to proceed.
- Is the scan more accurate than putty?
- Yes. Digital scans capture detail down to 20 microns and don’t distort the way putty can when it stretches or compresses. Better accuracy means better-fitting aligners and fewer mid-treatment refinements.
- Do I have to come back for a separate scan visit?
- No. We can do the scan during the same visit as your consultation. By the time you leave, we already have everything we need to start designing your treatment plan.
We'd love to see you on Thomson Drive
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