What Your Peers Are Saying About Intraoral Scanners

Like most dental labs with CAD/CAM capabilities, D&S Dental Laboratory recommends digital impressions over traditional ones. Digital impressions result in more accurate restorations that simply fit better and require fewer remakes. D&S wants digital whenever we can get it, but we don’t want you to only take our word for it. We asked several of our client dentists who are using intraoral scanners to share their thoughts.

Advantages

“We’ve been using a scanner for 8 years. I no longer spend time trimming/marking dies and my crown cement appointments typically involve little or no adjustment. It is great for planning esthetic cases and communication with the lab if there are any questions on margins is seamless over the phone with the help of a Go To Meeting.” – Dr. Laura Sengbusch, Village Family Dental, Prairie du Sac and Black Earth

“I’ve been using a scanner for almost one year. It has been wonderful in terms of lab workflow. My time spent inserting crowns has been reduced and there are much less chairside adjustments needed. Patients love it.” — Dr. Tito Lopez, Rockford Dental Care, Rockford

“I’m on my second scanner, purchasing my first one in 2008. Accuracy for sure is a huge advantage, along with the storing of the digital file for future use. I cannot tell you how many times we have gone back and reused a digital scan whereas if it were stone, we would have tossed it. Because it is so accurate, my oral appliances fit very well and if they have to be remade due to patient damage or loss years later, I can just reprint and go and it still fits great!” – Dr. Robb Warren, Warren Family Dental, Madison

“We’ve had our scanner for about one year. The need for remakes has almost completely gone away. I think we’ve had to remake one crown. It’s just that much more accurate, the fit is unbelievable. We can now take a digital impression in less time than we did traditional impressions.” — Dr. Erin Waszczyk, Stacey Dental, Madison

Disadvantages

“The wand is fairly large, but I assume as technology moves forward it will become smaller. Also if I need to re-scan the case, I have to do the entire case again — opposing, prepped arch, bite and prep – I can’t just do the prepped tooth.” – Dr. Tito Lopez, Rockford Dental Care, Rockford

“The powder sucks. I’m sorry but it makes it tough at times to scan. The tongue touches it and the scanner won’t pick it up. Makes it much smoother. I don’t use it for crowns as much anymore because on deep margins it is very hard to scan. Most preps will have three good sides and one deep one and it can be hard to read it.” – Dr. Robb Warren, Warren Family Dental, Madison

Advice

“My advice for other doctors is once you purchase a scanner, stick with it. There is a learning curve and many dentists get frustrated at first, but with practice it becomes very smooth. It’s a big investment, but in the long run, it will save time and money.” – Dr. Tito Lopez, Rockford Dental Care, Rockford

“There is a learning curve for everyone. Give yourself extra time for your first 10-12 scans so you don’t feel rushed and just fall back to the old impression material. If the staff resists, start slow but don’t give in. They too will love it in the end.” – Dr. Robb Warren, Warren Family Dental, Madison

Scan and Save at D&S

  • Get $10 off with every digital impression case submitted*
  • Get $50 lab credit if you submit 20 or more digital cases in one month
  • Get $100 lab credit if you submit 40 or more digital cases in one month

Go to dnsdental.com/scanners to sign up and start saving today!

* Only valid on D&S lab-printed models and cases involving more than model work only.

Did You Know?

CEREC scanners can be used to send D&S the following:

  • Crown cases you’d prefer not to mill chairside
  • Bridge cases
  • Splint cases

D&S also provides CEREC design services if you’re ever in a pinch, $25/unit.