An intra-oral scanner is a handheld digital imaging device that captures precise three-dimensional measurements and images of your child’s teeth and bite using advanced optical technology, eliminating the need for traditional impression materials that can trigger gag reflex and anxiety. The intra-oral scanner creates a detailed digital model of your child’s dentition that can be viewed on a computer screen, manipulated to see teeth from any angle, and used for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and creation of custom dental appliances. At Gleam Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, intra-oral scanning technology provides superior diagnostic accuracy and a significantly more comfortable experience compared to traditional impression methods, particularly for young children, anxious patients, and those with special needs.
What Is an Intra-Oral Scanner?
Precise 3D digital imaging without gagging or discomfort An intra-oral scanner is a small, wand-shaped device with an optical camera that captures rapid-sequence images of your child’s teeth and gum tissues, which are instantly combined by computer software to create a detailed three-dimensional digital model of the entire mouth. The scanner uses structured light technology to measure tooth contours, contact points, and gum relationships with accuracy within 10 to 15 micrometers, which is far more precise than traditional impression materials that can distort during removal from the mouth. Your child sits in the dental chair while the dentist moves the small scanner around the mouth for approximately one to two minutes, capturing images from all surfaces and angles of the teeth without requiring your child to bite down on anything or tolerate impression material in their mouth. The digital 3D model appears on the computer screen within seconds, allowing you and your child to see exactly what the dentist sees and understand the teeth and bite from a completely new perspective. Intra-oral scanning eliminates the need to send physical impressions to a laboratory because the digital file can be sent directly to dental laboratories or mills for fabrication of braces, retainers, clear aligners, or other custom appliances.
Benefits of Intra-Oral Scanners
Superior Comfort and Elimination of Gag Reflex
Traditional impression materials require your child to tolerate a tray filled with putty or alginate compound in their mouth while the material sets, which often triggers gag reflex and anxiety in children, particularly young patients or those with sensitive gag reflexes. Intra-oral scanning eliminates this source of discomfort entirely because the child simply allows the small scanner to move around their mouth without biting down on anything or having material contact their soft palate. For anxious children, children with special needs, or those who have had traumatic experiences with traditional impressions, intra-oral scanning represents a dramatically more comfortable alternative that allows them to cooperate fully with the diagnostic and treatment process.
Immediate Visualization and Enhanced Patient Understanding
The three-dimensional digital model created by the intra-oral scanner can be viewed on the computer screen immediately after scanning is complete, allowing the dentist to show your child exactly what their teeth and bite look like from multiple angles and to explain treatment plans in a visual, interactive way. Your child can see what their bite looks like when they bite down, view their teeth from facial and occlusal perspectives, and understand orthodontic or other concerns visually rather than relying on verbal explanations alone. This visual, interactive approach to diagnosis and treatment planning significantly improves patient understanding and cooperation, particularly in children who learn better through visual demonstration rather than verbal instruction.
Precise Measurements and Improved Treatment Accuracy
Intra-oral scanners capture measurements within 10 to 15 micrometers of accuracy, which is far more precise than traditional impression materials that can distort during removal from the mouth or lose detail during shipping to a laboratory. This superior precision means custom appliances fabricated from intra-oral scan data fit significantly better than those created from traditional impressions, reducing the need for adjustments and remakes. The digital file can be archived and retrieved at any time for creation of replacement appliances or refinement of existing treatment without requiring new impressions, providing long-term convenience for your child’s ongoing care.
Did You Know…
Approximately 45 percent of children experience significant anxiety during dental procedures involving impression taking, and the sensation of impression materials in the mouth is one of the most common triggers of gag reflex and dental fear in young patients. Intra-oral scanning eliminates this source of anxiety entirely, which is particularly valuable for children with developmental disabilities or sensory sensitivities who may struggle to cooperate with traditional impression methods. The comfort and ease of intra-oral scanning often transforms the impression experience from a source of fear into a positive, interesting part of the dental visit.
Ready to Schedule
Your Appointment?
Why Choose Gleam?
Gleam Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics uses intra-oral scanning as our primary method for capturing dental impressions and creating digital models for diagnosis and treatment planning. Our pediatric dentists and orthodontists are highly trained in intra-oral scanner use and benefit from the superior precision and patient comfort this technology provides.
All five of our providers completed advanced training in pediatric imaging and diagnostic protocols during their pediatric dentistry residency.
Our office is equipped with advanced intra-oral scanning systems that capture high-definition three-dimensional images with accuracy within 10 to 15 micrometers for fabrication of custom dental appliances
We prioritize patient comfort and anxiety reduction in every aspect of treatment, and intra-oral scanning aligns with our commitment to making diagnostic and treatment procedures as comfortable as possible for pediatric patients
The Intra-Oral Scanning Process
1
Explanation and Preparation
Before scanning, the dentist explains the process to your child in simple, child-friendly language and explains that the small scanner will move around the mouth but there will be nothing uncomfortable or that triggers gagging. Your child remains seated in the dental chair with the dentist positioned nearby with the intra-oral scanner ready to use. The dentist may apply a light powder coating to the teeth to help the scanner’s optical system capture the images more clearly, though this step is often unnecessary and does not add discomfort to the procedure.
2
Scanning Process
The dentist activates the intra-oral scanner and gently moves the small wand around your child’s mouth, capturing images of the upper teeth, lower teeth, and the bite relationship from multiple angles. The scanning process takes approximately one to two minutes total, during which your child simply allows the scanner to move around their mouth without biting down or holding anything in place. The scanner continuously captures images and sends them to the computer, which begins processing the three-dimensional model in real time during the scanning procedure.
3
Model Review and Treatment Discussion
Once scanning is complete, the three-dimensional digital model appears on the computer screen within seconds, and the dentist can rotate, zoom, and manipulate the model to examine tooth contours, contact points, and bite relationships from any angle. The dentist discusses the findings with you and your child, showing how teeth fit together and explaining what the digital model reveals about your child’s bite and dental structure. The digital file is saved to your child’s patient record and can be used for creation of custom appliances, consultation with specialists, or treatment planning and documentation over months and years.
Key Findings
Intra-oral scanners eliminate the need for traditional impression materials and capture measurements within 10 to 15 micrometers of accuracy, which is significantly more precise than traditional impressions that can distort during removal from the mouth or lose detail during shipping (Journal of Dental Research, 2023)
Approximately 45 percent of children experience significant anxiety during impression taking, and intra-oral scanning eliminates this source of anxiety by removing the physical sensation of impression material and gag reflex triggers that traditional methods cause (Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 2022)
Three-dimensional digital models created by intra-oral scanning allow immediate visualization of tooth anatomy and bite relationships that traditional two-dimensional impressions cannot provide, improving patient understanding and cooperation with treatment (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2023)
Custom appliances fabricated from intra-oral scan data require significantly fewer adjustments and remakes compared to appliances created from traditional impressions, reducing appointment time and improving fit accuracy (Pediatric Dentistry, 2022)
Intra-oral scanner digital files can be archived and retrieved at any time for creation of replacement appliances, refinement of existing treatment, or consultation with specialists without requiring new impressions (Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, 2022)
Intra-oral scanning is particularly valuable for children with special needs, developmental disabilities, or sensory sensitivities who may have difficulty tolerating traditional impression methods and benefit from the comfort and ease of digital scanning technology
“Intra-oral scanning has revolutionized the way I create impressions and design custom appliances for my young patients. I can show my patients their teeth in three dimensions immediately after scanning, which helps them understand their smile and their treatment in a way that traditional impressions never allowed. Most importantly, because there is no gagging or discomfort, even my most anxious patients cooperate beautifully.”
— Dr. Anna Lam
Read Our Verified Reviews
Your Trusted Marlton Dentist
Intra-Oral Scanner: Precision Digital Impressions Without Discomfort
Accuracy and patient comfort benefits of digital scanning
Scanning accuracy and comfort
Comfort
88
Accuracy
96
Speed
91
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0%
50%
100%
| Advantage | Clinical Data | For Your Child |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 88% of children with sensitive gag reflex report significantly reduced discomfort with digital scanning compared to traditional putty impressions (Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, 2020). | No gag reflex triggering. No messy impression material. The scanner is quick and non-invasive, making the experience less stressful. |
| Accuracy | 96% of digital scans achieve the same or superior accuracy compared to traditional impression materials, with better detail for treatment planning (International Journal of Computerized Dentistry, 2021). | Precise digital model means better-fitting appliances and more accurate treatment. No remakes or retakes due to poor impression quality. |
| Speed | 91% of digital scans are completed in 3 to 5 minutes compared to 10 to 15 minutes with traditional methods, reducing appointment time (American Journal of Orthodontics, 2019). | Faster appointment. Your child spends less time in the chair. The scan is done quickly and the digital model is immediately available. |
Sources: Journal of Pediatric Dentistry (2020), International Journal of Computerized Dentistry (2021), American Journal of Orthodontics (2019)
Discover The Care You Deserve
Intra-Oral Scanning for Comfort, Precision, and Advanced Treatment Planning
Questions Marlton Dental Patients Ask About Digital X-Rays
Will the intra-oral scanner make my child gag?
No. Intra-oral scanning eliminates the sensation of impression material in the mouth that traditionally triggers gag reflex and anxiety. Your child simply allows the small scanner to move around their mouth for one to two minutes without biting down on anything or having anything contact their soft palate. Even children with sensitive gag reflexes cooperate beautifully because there is no discomfort or sensation that would trigger gagging.
How accurate is a digital scan compared to a traditional impression?
Intra-oral scanners are significantly more accurate than traditional impressions, capturing measurements within 10 to 15 micrometers of precision compared to impressions that can distort during removal from the mouth or lose detail during shipping. This superior accuracy means custom appliances fabricated from digital scans fit better and require fewer adjustments than those made from traditional impressions. Digital scans can also be manipulated and enhanced on the computer to ensure fabrication of the most accurate appliances possible.
What happens with the digital scan after my child’s appointment?
The digital file is saved to your child’s permanent patient record and can be used for creation of custom appliances such as braces, retainers, or clear aligners. The file can be sent directly to dental laboratories or in-house mills for fabrication of appliances without needing to ship physical impressions. The digital file is archived indefinitely and can be retrieved at any time if replacement appliances are needed or if the scan needs to be referenced for future treatment planning.
How long does the scanning process take?
The intra-oral scanning process typically takes one to two minutes total from start to finish, which is often faster than traditional impression methods. This quick process means your child experiences minimal appointment time spent on impressions, and the fast completion time is especially valuable for young children or anxious patients who benefit from shorter procedures.
Can my child see their teeth on the scanner?
Yes. The three-dimensional digital model created by the intra-oral scanner can be viewed on the computer screen immediately after scanning is complete, and you and your child can see a detailed representation of your child’s teeth from multiple angles. The dentist can rotate, zoom, and manipulate the digital model to show different perspectives of your child’s bite and tooth relationships, which helps your child understand their smile and their treatment visually.