Your dentist starts by preparing the tooth so the crown will fit right. Then the scanner is gently moved around the area taking small pictures as it goes. The software puts all those images together to create a model of your teeth. This gives the team a clear picture of the shape they need to work with.<\/p>\r\n
You don’t feel much all. The scanner doesn\u2019t touch the tooth like an impression tray does. The whole process is usually simple and easy. You might need to keep your mouth open for a time but that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\r\n
A crown must fit tightly against the tooth. If the shape is slightly wrong your dentist may have to adjust it later. A digital scan gives the lab a model to use. That means the crown can be made to match the shape of your mouth.<\/p>\r\n
With a scan the dentist can rescan a part of the mouth if something isn\u2019t clear. There\u2019s no need to start the impression over again just because one small section didn\u2019t come out well.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 There is no impression tray in your mouth. That\u2019s probably the part most patients will appreciate the most.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 The scan shows up on a screen away so your dentist can check it. No guessing what the impression captured.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 For people with a gag reflex this is much easier. That\u2019s a benefit.<\/p>\r\n
The scan itself doesn\u2019t hurt. The scanner is moved around your teeth while the software takes images. If your tooth has been prepared for a crown you might feel some sensitivity from that treatment.. The scanning process is not what causes the discomfort.<\/p>\r\n
So if you\u2019re worried about the scanner don\u2019t be. The preparation is usually the part that feels more noticeable.<\/p>\r\n
Once the scan is done the digital file is sent to the lab. The lab uses that information to design the crown to fit the tooth. Your dentist can also use the model when checking how the crown fits later.<\/p>\r\n
In some clinics digital scanning is part of a digital process. That can make everything feel more connected because the scan goes into the design stage instead of being made into a physical model first.<\/p>\r\n