Intraoral Scanning
Digital impressions for advanced dental care
Capture your smile in greater comfort
Goodbye goo. Hello cleaner, digital precision.
At Moorooka Square Dental, intraoral scanning replaces the mess of many traditional impressions with a quick, comfortable digital scan. A small handheld scanner captures detailed images of your teeth and gums, creating a precise 3D model to support treatment planning and the design of selected restorations and appliances.
The process is quick, non-invasive and does not require traditional impression material in many cases.
What is intraoral scanning?
Intraoral scanning is a digital method of capturing detailed images of the inside of your mouth.
A handheld scanner is moved over your teeth and gums, capturing multiple images that are combined to create a three-dimensional digital model.
This digital model gives your dentist a detailed view of your teeth and can be used for a range of dental applications.
What happens during an intraoral scan?
An intraoral scan is a straightforward process.
1. Your teeth are prepared
Your dentist or dental team will make sure your teeth are clean and ready to be scanned.
2. The scanner captures digital images
A small handheld scanner is gently moved around your mouth to capture detailed images of your teeth and surrounding areas.
3. A 3D digital model is created
The images are combined to create a digital representation of your teeth. Your dentist can view this model on a screen and use it for appropriate treatment planning.
The scanning process is generally comfortable and does not involve impression material.
Why we love intraoral scanning
Digital scanning can make certain parts of your dental treatment more efficient and comfortable.
Depending on your treatment, intraoral scanning may offer benefits such as:
Greater comfort: No traditional impression tray or impression material is needed in many cases.
Detailed digital images: Your dentist can view a three-dimensional representation of your teeth.
Efficient treatment planning: Digital scans can be used to plan a range of treatments and restorations.
Easy digital storage: Your scans can be stored electronically as part of your dental records.
Faster communication: Digital files can be shared with dental laboratories or other dental professionals when required.
Patient-friendly visualisation: Your dentist can display the scan on a screen to help explain aspects of your oral health and proposed treatment.
What can intraoral scanning be used for?
Intraoral scanning can support a range of dental treatments and assessments.
Depending on your individual needs, digital scans may be used for:
Dental crowns and restorations
Digital impressions can help your dentist and dental laboratory design selected crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays.
Night guards and dental appliances
Digital impressions can be used to design selected custom-made appliances, such as night guards.
Clear aligners
Digital scans can be used to create a detailed model of your teeth for appropriate clear aligner treatment planning.
Dental implants
Digital scans may form part of the planning process for implant treatment, alongside clinical examination and appropriate dental imaging.
Treatment planning
Your dentist can use digital models to assess your teeth and plan appropriate treatment.
How does intraoral scanning compare with traditional impressions?
Traditional impressions mean biting into a tray filled with thick impression material and holding it in your mouth while it sets. It works, but the bulky tray, taste and sensation of a mouth full of material can be unpleasant for some patients.
Intraoral scanning takes a very different approach. A small handheld scanner moves around your mouth, capturing your teeth and gums digitally to build a detailed 3D model on screen.
There’s no impression material to set and, in many cases, no bulky tray. Your dentist can also see the scan immediately and rescan a specific area if more detail is needed.
Traditional impressions still have their place and may be preferred for certain treatments. Your dentist will recommend the method best suited to your clinical needs.
Can I see my digital scan?
In many cases, yes. One of the advantages of digital scanning is that the resulting 3D model can be viewed on a screen.
This can help your dentist explain your teeth and discuss aspects of your proposed treatment with you. Seeing the digital model may also make it easier to understand areas that require attention and how your treatment is planned.
Is intraoral scanning safe?
Intraoral scanning is a non-invasive process that uses a handheld optical scanner to capture digital images of your teeth and oral tissues.
Unlike dental X-rays, intraoral scanning does not use ionising radiation.
Your dentist will determine whether intraoral scanning is appropriate for your particular treatment and whether additional diagnostic imaging is needed.
A digital approach to your dental care
Intraoral scanning is part of the growing use of digital technology in modern dentistry.
By creating accurate digital models of your teeth, the technology can support more efficient treatment planning and communication while providing a more comfortable alternative to traditional impressions for many patients.
At Moorooka Square Dental, your dentist will recommend the technology and treatment approach that best suits your individual dental needs.
Find out if intraoral scanning is right for you
Whether you are considering clear aligners, a dental restoration, a night guard or another treatment that may benefit from digital impressions, our team can explain how intraoral scanning may be used as part of your care.
Call Moorooka Square Dental on (07) 3848 8002 or book your appointment online to discuss your dental needs.