Convincing a patient to accept treatment can be a challenge. Treatment planning, urgency, and outcomes can sometimes be difficult for patients to fully understand. However, with intraoral scanners, dentists can visually demonstrate potential issues and discuss the treatment options more actively using a variety of interactive software features. The fastscan.io™ Scanning Solution, for example, includes specialized Medit apps and software — such as crowd favorites Smile Design and Ortho Design, which generate virtual models of what treatment results will look like. The ability to show patients their scans in real-time helps them feel more engaged and take an active role in their treatment decisions. Scanners from iTero also feature TimeLapse, a software feature that extrapolates past and current scans into an animated image that shows oral changes right on the screen. This involvement helps demystify dental procedures and makes the treatment options more tangible, while making patients feel excited about the possibilities, and more likely to commit to treatment acceptance.

Part of the reason why intraoral scanners are so popular is because they offer better accuracy over traditional impressions, which significantly improves the quality of dental care. These devices use sophisticated imaging technology to capture detailed, three-dimensional digital impressions of a patient's mouth — resulting in fewer errors and better margins. This precision is far superior to traditional dental impression methods, which can sometimes result in errors due to material inconsistencies. In fact, impressions taken using an intraoral scanner reduce crown remakes due to margin issues by 40%^*, fit issues by 33%^* and high occlusion by 27%^*. Once a scan is sent to a lab, the result is better-fitting restorations, and the reduced likelihood of errors that necessitate remakes. This accuracy benefits the doctor by improving communication with the lab, and benefits the patient by reducing the chance of additional appointments.

The efficiency of intraoral scanners is a significant advantage. Traditional impressions using alginate or similar materials are not only uncomfortable for the patient, but time-consuming as well. Patients have to endure having impression material in their mouths for extended periods, which is seldom a pleasant experience. In contrast, non-invasive intraoral scanners can complete a digital scan in just a few minutes. This process is not only faster but also more comfortable for patients. With real-time feedback, the doctor is also able to instantly correct gaps in scan data with the patient in the chair — a feature that is not possible with traditional impressions. The instant nature of scanning also means that doctors can forego traditional shipping methods, resulting in faster turnaround time for cases. This efficiency allows dental practices to handle a higher volume of patients effectively, optimizing the workflow and increasing productivity.

Adopting intraoral scanning technology brings significant cost advantages. While the initial investment in an intraoral scanner might seem high, the long-term savings more than compensate. Consider the materials required for a physical impression: the putty, impression tray, and dispensing gun. Any practice using an intraoral scanner will no longer have to continually spend money on these items. In fact, the savings potential is directly proportional to how often the scanner is being used. Tools such as an ROI calculator can help determine how much money could be saved based on the number of cases completed every month. Additionally, dental labs such as Glidewell offer savings on every case sent digitally, which also eliminates the cost of one-way shipping per case.