No More Goop Or Gagging: The iTero 3D Scanner

By Dr. Jeff Beyer

As much as I’ve worked hard to innovate my orthodontic practice to maximize patients’ health and comfort, there is one area that’s always been a somewhat unpleasant experience for patients — and that’s making impressions of the teeth and bite. You know this as the “goop”, that icky substance we place in your mouth to create impressions of your teeth that act as the mold for braces, retainers, Invisalign and mouth guards. Even though we have more than 10 flavors available, it can still test your gag reflex and research has shown it’s one of the top reasons folks dread going to the orthodontist.

New innovations in software technology and 3D printing are rapidly being integrated into all aspects of dentistry, and I am proud to say that we have taken a huge step in eliminating the “goop” here at Commonwealth Orthodontics.We now an iTero Intraoral 3D Scanner in our offices. This is the third generation of this model and it incorporates the latest and greatest technology that is available today.

Here is how it works: Patients sit comfortably in a chair while one of my technicians or I simply wave a wand over and around their teeth and gums, capturing images at 6,000 frames per second. On the adjacent screen, detailed 3D renderings of your mouth are displayed, giving me everything I need to to perfectly fit orthodontic appliances to your unique bite.

This third generation iTero Scanner isn’t just more cutting edge and comfortable – it’s much faster, too. We are able to do a complete scan in less than seven minutes. Plus, we have a digital image that is stored forever (no more plaster!!), so we can send that to any orthodontic or dental lab in the world in a matter of seconds, and have appliances made with much shorter turnaround times. And here is one more REALLY cool benefit: the scanner looks into the future, with the ability to virtually “show” the proposed treatment outcome!

Needless to say, we are beyond excited to have this technology in our office and available to our patients. If you have been considering having treatment and been putting it off, ask to see the iTero Scanner during your next appointment, or set up an appointment to be scanned to see how your smile can be improved. The next generation of orthodontics is upon us, and we are proud to be one of the first practices in the area that is going “GOOP-FREE”!!!
 

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