The Old Way: Traditional Impressions
If you have been to the dentist before for a crown, braces, a retainer, or a night guard, you probably know this experience. A tray is loaded with a thick, paste-like material — either alginate (a seaweed-derived powder mixed with water) or polyvinyl siloxane (a rubbery putty) — and pressed firmly over your teeth. You bite down and hold it for several minutes while the material sets.
Once hardened, the tray is pulled out and sent to a dental laboratory, where a technician pours liquid stone into the mold to create a physical cast of your teeth. That cast is then used to make whatever restoration is planned. From impression to finished product can take 10–14 days.
Left: Traditional impression tray with putty — uncomfortable, time-consuming, error-prone. Right: iTero wand scanner — small, precise, and done in under 60 seconds.
How the iTero Digital Scanner Works
The iTero scanner is a small handheld wand about the size of an electric toothbrush. Our team gently moves it around your teeth, and it captures thousands of images per second using safe structured light technology (no radiation). The software stitches all of those images together in real time to build a precise, full-color 3D model of your teeth and gums.
The entire scan typically takes 60 seconds or less for a full arch. You can breathe normally, swallow, and move your tongue. If the scan needs to be redone in any spot, it takes seconds — not another full impression.
Dr. Nguyen or the team places the wand in your mouth
No trays, no putty, no suction. The wand tip is covered with a disposable sleeve for hygiene.
The scanner captures your teeth in real time
Structured light technology maps the exact surface of every tooth and the gum line. You can watch the 3D model build on the screen as the scan happens — in real time.
Full 3D model is complete in under 60 seconds
The model shows every tooth, every groove, every edge — accurate to fractions of a millimeter. No waiting for putty to set, no risk of air bubbles.
Digital files sent instantly to the lab or Invisalign
The scan uploads digitally to our partner dental lab or directly to Align Technology (Invisalign) — no physical model to ship, no delay, no risk of damage in transit.
For Invisalign: Smile Preview before you commit
The iTero's Outcome Simulator shows you a digital preview of what your teeth will look like after Invisalign treatment — before you sign anything. See your future smile right there in the chair.
What We Use the iTero Scanner For at SoftDental
✨ Invisalign Treatment
The iTero is the official Invisalign scanner. It maps your teeth for aligner fabrication and shows your Smile Preview.
💎 Crowns & Bridges
Digital impressions eliminate the error sources in traditional molds — better-fitting restorations first time.
🧱 Implant Restorations
Scans the implant position and surrounding teeth precisely for crown fabrication on implants.
👕 Night Guards & Retainers
Custom fit night guards and retainers — no uncomfortable tray impression needed.
👥 Dentures & Partials
Digital impressions for complete and partial denture fabrication — more comfortable for patients who gag easily.
📋 Treatment Monitoring
Scan at different appointments to track tooth movement during Invisalign or measure changes in gum recession over time.
Traditional Impressions vs. iTero — The Full Comparison
| Factor | Traditional Impression | iTero Digital Scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Patient comfort | Tray pressed in mouth; thick material | Small wand — comfortable, nothing to bite into |
| Gag reflex | High risk of triggering gag | No gag risk — wand does not touch the throat |
| Taste & feel | Chalky, rubbery, sometimes unpleasant | Nothing — no material in the mouth |
| Time to complete | 3–5 minutes per arch (plus setting time) | Under 60 seconds per arch |
| Accuracy | Good, but subject to air bubbles, movement, and material shrinkage | Highly accurate — no material distortion, no shrinkage |
| Retakes needed | Common — bubbles or movement require full new impression | Instant partial rescan — fix any area in seconds |
| Lab turnaround | 10–14 days — physical cast shipped to lab | Faster — digital file sent instantly, no shipping delay |
| Radiation | None | None — structured light technology, not X-ray |
| Smile preview | Not possible before starting | Outcome Simulator shows Invisalign result before committing |
| For patients who gag | Often difficult or impossible | No problem — recommended for all gag-sensitive patients |
| Storage | Physical casts take up space and can be damaged | Digital files stored permanently — always accessible |
What Patients Say
The single most common reaction we hear from patients who have had both traditional impressions and the iTero scan is simple: "Why didn't you do this the first time?"
Patients who have always avoided certain dental treatments because of gag-related anxiety often find they can comfortably have the iTero scan with no problem at all. For children and elderly patients, the difference is especially meaningful.
iTero + Invisalign: The Perfect Pair
The iTero scanner was designed to work hand-in-hand with Invisalign. After your scan, Align Technology's software uses the 3D model to design the full series of aligners that will gradually move your teeth. Dr. Nguyen reviews every step of the planned movement digitally and adjusts the treatment plan before the trays are ever printed.
Most importantly, the Outcome Simulator lets you see — right there in the chair — what your smile is expected to look like when treatment is complete. Not an artist's drawing. Not a stock photo. Your actual teeth, digitally moved into their final position. Many patients say this is the moment they decided to start Invisalign.
Experience the Difference for Yourself
Whether you need a crown, are starting Invisalign, or just want to know what digital dentistry feels like — come see why patients who have tried the iTero never want to go back to the old way.
For educational purposes only. Individual experiences vary. © 2026 SoftDental | Dr. Minh Nguyen DDS PA · 10028 West Road Ste. 108, Houston TX 77064
