What is 3D Dental Digital Scanning?

A digital scan is a 3-dimensional virtual replication of teeth and gums using thousands of images recorded per second from the scanner. At White Dental Studio, we utilize the iTero Element 2 intra-oral scanner.

With a small handheld scanner, we gently capture a detailed 3D image of your teeth—no goop, no mess, and no gagging. The scan only takes a few minutes and gives us an incredibly accurate view of your smile. This helps us design crowns, veneers, night guards, and other restorations that fit better and feel more natural.

One of the biggest benefits of digital scanning is clarity. You can see what we see on the screen, making it easier to understand your treatment options and feel confident about your care. The precision of these scans also means fewer adjustments and a smoother overall experience.

Digital scanning is a simple upgrade that makes a big difference in comfort and quality. It’s just one of the ways we’re committed to giving you a more modern, relaxed, and personalized dental visit.

Why take a digital scan?

With digital scanning, we are able to scan 95% of cases in under 3 minutes. It’s quicker than using traditional impression techniques and much more friendly on the environment because there’s no need to use impression material or plastic trays. 

We use digital scanning to:

• Complete initial records
• Identify problems within the mouth, and between and inside the teeth 
• Fabricate bleach trays, removable dentures, and prosthetics
• Scan the mouth in high resolution for crowns, implants, bridges, and other restorative procedures. 

We can also compare previous scans with current scans to show a progression of wear, tooth movement, or recession/periodontal disease.

Are scans covered by my insurance and how much do they cost?

The best part of digital scanning is it comes with no additional out of pocket cost to you! While they do not replace radiographs nor other diagnostic procedures, the cost of a digital scan is included with the fees associated with whichever procedure we are completing—whether it be initial records, a diagnostic case review, restorative or implant work, or dentures.

Is digital scanning safe?

Digital scanning is incredibly safe and requires no radiation. It is comparable to just taking pictures of your teeth.