A digital impression scanner, also known in our office as “the iTero,” makes everyone’s job easier and the patient more comfortable. Ask any kid or teenager about the second worst part of their orthodontics experience and chances are he or she will tell you it was the “nasty, goopy impressions.” The top spot goes to tightening, but yes, impressions would have been a top answer on Family Feud also!
The iTero scanner makes a lot of the orthodontic experience more patient friendly and efficient and it is especially wonderful for kids and pre-teens with sensitive gag reflexes, anxiety, or special needs.
How does it work?
The scanning wand uses a high-precision light wavelength to record every nook and cranny in the mouth into images that show your child’s teeth and bite. These images are projected live in a monitor, and your orthodontist can clearly see the accuracy of the scan in real-time. There are no retakes- rather, any imperfections are simply scanned over but the entire scan does not need to be redone.
There’s no time wasted waiting for the goop to set only for it to be redone again. A typical scan for dental models takes less than 5 minutes and a higher detail scan for Invisalign takes less than 7 minutes.
The computer connected to the scanner combines these images into a highly-accurate 3D image. Again, your orthodontist can review this 3D image in real time. Once approved, the 3D model goes to the lab for fabrication.
In one visit, your child can now get:
- Orthodontic records
- Scans and prints which your ortho can use as a visual guide to explain the ortho problems and the solutions to those issues
- A digital “impression” to fabricate common orthodontic appliances like expanders or certain retainers
- A digital “impression” for an occlusal bite guard (to protect from clenching or grinding)
- Progress models for patients requiring complex treatment solutions including orthognathic jaw surgery to correct very complex malocclusions
- General dentists that use a scanner in their offices can use them for:
- Crown and certain filling “impressions”
- Time lapse images to see how your teeth change over time
- Surgical guides for implant placement
Our offices are proud to be offering this amazing breakthrough technology to our patients and we have lots of experience as one of the first offices in the country to receive one. Our staff has taken continuing education on its use and we look forward to showing you how amazing an orthodontic experience can be with this much more patient friendly solution for the dreaded impression.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
