When it comes to crown restorations, accuracy is key. Traditionally, dental impressions rely on alginate material in metal trays, a method that is often uncomfortable for patients—especially those with a sensitive throat reflex—and time-consuming for dental teams. Today, intraoral scanners offer a modern alternative, transforming the way we capture impressions for crowns and other restorative treatments.
What Are Intraoral Scanners?
Intraoral scanners are handheld digital devices that capture a 3D image of a patient’s teeth and soft tissues. Instead of filling a tray with impression material and waiting for it to set, the dentist scans the teeth directly in the mouth. The resulting digital impression can then be used to design and fabricate exceptionally precise crowns.
Benefits of Intraoral Scanners Over Traditional Alginate Impressions
● Comfort for Patients: Many patients dislike the gag reflex or discomfort caused by impression trays. Intraoral scanners remove the need for bulky trays and messy materials, making the process far more comfortable.
● Enhanced Accuracy: Digital impressions minimize errors such as bubbles, voids or distortions that can occur with alginate. This accuracy translates to a better-fitting crown and fewer adjustments.
● Efficiency in Workflow: Digital scans can be instantly shared with dental laboratories, reducing turnaround time for crown fabrication. Some systems even allow same-day restorations.
● Environmentally Friendly: Eliminating disposable trays and impression materials reduces waste, aligning with more sustainable dental practices.
● Patient Education: The 3D scan images can be displayed on-screen, helping patients better understand their treatment and increasing trust in the process.
At Hitomi Dental we are proud to incorporate world renowned Trios intraoral scanners from 3Shape© for restoration purposes in our daily practice. It has proved to be a perfect solution that ensures comfort for patients
with higher throat sensitivity and more precision for patients with complicated teeth anatomy.
Closing Thoughts
Intraoral scanners are more than just a technological upgrade—they represent a new standard in patient care. By replacing traditional alginate impressions with digital accuracy, they bring greater comfort, precision and efficiency to crown restorations. For patients, this means fewer visits and better results. For dental professionals, it means smoother workflows and higher predictability. Embracing digital dentistry is a step forward toward making restorative treatments both patient-friendly and highly reliable.