What Are Digital Dental Impressions and How Exactly Do They Work?

Digital Impressions

What are Digital Dental Impressions and How Do They Work?

October 31, 2025

Dental impressions have come a long way from the days of sticky trays and messy molds. Today, modern dentistry uses digital impressions to capture a detailed 3D image of your teeth with speed and precision. This innovation has transformed the patient experience and the way dentists plan treatments.

Instead of relying on physical molds, digital impressions in dentistry use advanced scanning technology to create highly accurate models in just minutes. The result? A seamless experience that saves time for both the dentist and the patient while delivering exceptional precision.

In this post, we’ll explore what digital teeth impressions are, how they work, and why they’ve become an essential part of modern dentistry. Let’s jump right into it.

Understanding Digital Impressions in Dentistry

To understand why digital dental impressions have become so widely adopted, it helps to see how they compare to traditional molds.

What Are Teeth Impressions?

Traditional teeth impressions have long been the foundation of many dental treatments. Dentists would use trays filled with a soft putty-like material to create a mold of the patient’s teeth and gums. Once hardened, that mold was sent to a dental lab to make crowns, bridges, aligners, and other restorations.

While effective, traditional impressions can be uncomfortable and prone to minor inaccuracies. Even a slight movement during the process can cause a distorted mold, leading to adjustments or remakes later on.

What Are Digital Dental Impressions?

Digital impressions in dentistry replace messy, error-prone molds with advanced optical and laser scanning technology. Using an intraoral scanner, the dentist captures precise 3D images of your teeth and gums, generating a digital model that can be viewed instantly on-screen.

According to the American Dental Association, more than half of dental practices (around 53%) now use some form of digital impression technology. This rapid adoption shows just how essential these tools have become for improving accuracy, comfort, and overall workflow.

With digital dental impressions, there’s no waiting for materials to set or physical molds to ship. Digital files are transmitted instantly, streamlining the process from scan to final restoration.

How Digital Impressions Work

Digital dental impressions might sound complex, but the process is simple, fast, and completely noninvasive. Here’s a closer look at how it works from start to finish:

Prep: The dentist gently dries your teeth and checks the area for any moisture or debris that could affect the scan.
Scan: A small intraoral scanner is guided over your teeth and gums to capture a series of detailed images.
Live stitching: As the scan progresses, specialized software combines these images in real time to build a complete 3D model.
Bite capture: You’re asked to bite lightly so the scanner can record your bite alignment.
Verify and refine: The dentist reviews the model on-screen, filling in any gaps and making quick adjustments if needed.
Export: Once the scan is complete, the digital file is securely transmitted to a CAD/CAM system or dental lab to begin designing and fabricating the restoration.

Because the digital impression system takes only a few minutes, patients enjoy a comfortable, efficient experience.

The Technology Behind Digital Impressions

The innovation behind digital impressions in dentistry lies in the combination of high-resolution imaging and smart software. Intraoral scanners use optical or laser technology to record even the tiniest grooves and contours of each tooth. This data is then processed through CAD/CAM software, which converts it into a digital model used for crowns, bridges, veneers, and aligners.

This digital workflow eliminates shipping delays and minimizes the errors that can occur with conventional impressions.

Digital Dental Impressions Cost

Digital dental technology continues to advance, but many still wonder about one practical question: how much do dental impressions cost?

For most patients, out-of-pocket expenses for digital impressions are comparable to traditional methods. In many cases, faster turnaround times and fewer remakes help keep overall treatment costs stable or slightly lower.

For dental practices, costs vary depending on the type of scanner, software integration, and the complexity of treatments performed. While the initial investment in digital equipment is higher, the long-term benefits often make it a worthwhile upgrade.

Advantages of Digital Impressions for Dentists and Patients

Beyond cost considerations, the real value of digital impressions in dentistry lies in the everyday benefits they bring to both sides of the chair.

For Dentists:

Faster workflow: intraoral scans shorten turnaround times for dental restorations.
Improved communication: Digital files make collaboration with labs more accurate and efficient.
Better treatment planning: Real-time visualization allows for precise adjustments before fabrication.

For Patients:

Greater comfort: No more trays or messy impression material.
Speed and convenience: Scans take minutes, reducing time in the chair.
Better results: Enhanced accuracy leads to more natural, comfortable restorations.

Many patients also appreciate the eco-friendly aspect. Digital impressions reduce the need for disposable materials used in traditional molds.

Common Misconceptions About Digital Impressions

Despite their growing popularity, a few myths still linger about digital impressions, such as:

1. “Digital impressions are only for complex or expensive treatments.”

In reality, digital scanning can be used for a wide range of procedures, from simple crowns to full-mouth restorations.

2. “Traditional impressions are more accurate.”

Modern digital scanners now exceed traditional molds in precision and repeatability. They’re less affected by temperature, humidity, or patient movement, which makes them more reliable overall.

3. “Digital impressions take longer.”

Digital scans are typically faster (often completed in under five minutes) and eliminate the need for retakes or shipping delays.

The Wrap Up

Digital dental impressions are shaping the future of dentistry. By improving precision, comfort, and efficiency, this technology is helping dentists provide better results and a smoother experience for every patient.

At CAD-Ray, we’re dedicated to equipping dental professionals with the tools they need to stay ahead of the curve. From high-performance intraoral scanners to CAD/CAM solutions, our products are designed to make digital workflows simpler, faster, and more reliable.