Time and Cost-implications of Intraoral Scans Vs Alginate Impressions

Alginate impressions are a traditional method for creating dental moulds which are used in orthodontic records. Plastic trays are sized to fit the upper and lower jaws, and the alginate is mixed into a putty before being placed in the trays. The putty is then used to take detailed impressions of the patient's teeth. To capture an accurate bite registration, the patient bites down on a piece of warmed wax.

Intraoral scanners capture multiple images of the mouth, which are combined to create a three-dimensional model of the patient's upper and lower teeth. The scanning wand is passed methodically over the surface of the teeth to gather all the necessary information, which is displayed in real-time on a computer screen.