Inside the CEREC scanner: how a 3D scan replaces goopy moulds
technology
A close look at the digital impression step — what the wand does, why it's more accurate, and why patients say it's the best part.
For a lot of patients, the moment they realize a same-day crown is different is when we pick up the digital scanner instead of a tray of putty. Here's what that step actually does — and why the technology matters for the fit of your final crown.
What the scanner is
The intraoral scanner is a small wand, about the size of an electric toothbrush handle, with a camera at the tip. As we glide it around your prepped tooth, it captures thousands of images per second and stitches them together into a highly accurate 3D model on the screen beside you.
Why it beats putty impressions
Traditional impressions use a tray of soft material that sets in your mouth for a few minutes. They work, but they can trigger the gag reflex, distort slightly when removed, and have to be shipped to an outside lab.
A digital scan avoids all of that:
- No tray, no putty, no gagging
- Nothing sets or hardens in your mouth
- The 3D file is millimetre-accurate and doesn't distort
- The design software goes straight to our on-site mill
How the scan drives the fit
Once the scan is complete, we design your crown on screen — shape, contact points with neighbouring teeth, and how it meets your opposite bite. That design controls the milling machine directly, so what you see on the screen is what gets bonded into your mouth about an hour later.
The patient experience
Most people are surprised at how quick and comfortable it is. The scan itself takes just a few minutes, and you can watch your tooth appear in 3D as we work.
Read more in our guide to same-day CEREC crowns, or contact Morgan Heights Dental Centre to book.