Digital Dental Impressions
in Richmond, TX
Say goodbye to messy putty molds. Best Dental uses iTero intraoral scanning to capture a precise 3D model of your teeth in about 60 seconds. No gagging. No discomfort. No waiting for material to set.
What Are Digital Impressions?
A dental impression is a precise mold of your teeth used to make crowns, bridges, Invisalign aligners, nightguards, implant restorations, and other custom dental pieces. In the past, impressions were made by filling a tray with thick putty material. Then pressing it over your teeth. And waiting several minutes for it to harden. Many patients found this messy, uncomfortable, and gag-inducing.
Digital impressions replace that whole process with an iTero intraoral scanner. A slim wand with a camera tip. As your dentist slowly moves the wand around your mouth, it captures thousands of images per second. And builds a precise 3D digital model in real time. The whole scan takes 2 to 5 minutes. No trays. No putty. No waiting. The digital file is then sent right to our dental lab. Where your restoration is made with great precision.
At Best Dental in Richmond, TX, Dr. Jasmine and Dr. Sonny Naderi use iTero digital impressions across many procedures. From dental crowns to Invisalign to implant restorations. It is one of the most useful tech upgrades in modern dentistry. And our patients notice the difference right away.
🔬 The Tech in Plain Words
Think of it as a 3D scanner for your teeth. The wand captures the shape, size, and spot of every tooth. And sends that data to a screen in real time. You can actually watch your 3D model build as the scan happens. Patients often find it pretty cool to see.
Digital vs. Traditional Impressions
The difference is right away clear. For both comfort and accuracy.
Why Digital Impressions Matter to You
Every benefit comes back to the same thing. A better visit and a better result.
Way More Comfortable
No trays. No putty. No gagging. The scanner is a slim wand that never needs to be held in place. You just breathe normally while it scans bit by bit.
Top Accuracy
Digital scans cannot warp the way physical molds can. The result is a precise model that leads to better-fitting crowns, aligners, and pieces.
Faster from Scan to Result
Digital files go to the lab the same day. No shipping delays. Your restoration is made sooner. Which means fewer days between visits.
Fewer Remakes
Putty molds often need remakes due to warping or gaps. Digital scans let us catch and fix errors on screen right away. Before anything is made.
See Your Teeth in 3D
Watch your 3D model build in real time on the screen by your chair. A unique chance to see your own dental anatomy clearly. Patients find it really cool.
Permanent Digital Record
Your scan is saved safely in your file. If you ever need a replacement or change, we have your exact dental anatomy on record. No need to scan again.
How the Scan Works
The whole scanning process is quick, comfortable, and pretty simple.
Get Ready
Your dentist or assistant makes sure your teeth are clean and dry. A light retractor may gently hold your cheeks clear of the scan area. Nothing uncomfortable. Just a clear path for the camera.
The Scan Begins
The slim iTero scanner wand is moved slowly along your teeth. Capturing thousands of images per second. You will see your 3D model build in real time on the screen next to you. The wand never needs to be held still. It scans as it moves.
Bite Check
For most work, your bite, how upper and lower teeth come together, is also captured digitally. You will bite down lightly while the scanner records the contact pattern. This makes sure your restoration fits with your natural bite.
Real-Time Review
Dr. Naderi reviews the 3D model on screen right away. If any spot needs to be rescanned, easy to spot digitally, it takes seconds to redo just that area. No starting over. No sending a bad mold to the lab.
Sent to the Lab
The final digital file is sent to our dental lab. The same day. Often within minutes. The lab uses the precise 3D data to make your restoration. No shipping time. No risk of mold damage in transit.
Procedures That Use Digital Impressions
Any procedure that used to need putty molds now uses our digital scanner.
Dental Crowns
A precise scan of the prepped tooth and nearby teeth makes sure your crown fits with no rocking, gaps, or bite issues.
Dental Bridges
Multi-tooth bridges need top accuracy across a span of teeth. Right where digital scans beat putty molds the most.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign uses your digital scan to plan the whole treatment before making your aligners. No putty needed at any stage.
Implant Restorations
The implant crown that sits on top of your implant is made from a digital scan. Key for precise fit at the implant base and right bite alignment.
Custom Nightguards
Your custom nightguard is made from a digital scan of your teeth. So it fits well enough to wear comfortably every night.
Veneers & Cosmetic Cases
Cosmetic work needs precise tooth shaping and perfect edges. Digital scans give our ceramist the exact data for natural-looking, well-fitting veneers.
Inlays & Onlays
These conservative restorations need top fit at the prep edges. Digital scans capture the fine detail needed for seamless work.
Orthodontic Planning
3D digital models of your teeth are used to plan braces, check spacing, and make study models. Without a single tray of putty.
A Game-Changer for Sensitive Gag Reflexes
If you have ever gagged during a putty impression, you are not alone. It is one of the most common complaints in dentistry. Putty trays are bulky. They reach the back of the mouth. And need you to hold a lot of thick material in place for several minutes. For patients with a sensitive gag reflex, this can be really stressful. Sometimes enough that they avoid or delay dental care.
Digital impressions fix this almost fully. The iTero scanner is a slim wand. It scans one small area at a time. Never needing anything held at the back of the mouth or pressed against the soft palate. You breathe normally the whole time. The work is broken into small steps. Front teeth, then each side, then the bite. So at no point do you feel full or blocked in your throat.
Tips for Patients with Gag Reflexes
💬 From Our Patients
"I always dreaded impressions. I used to have to stop and start again because I could not stop gagging. The scanner was totally different. It was over before I even noticed." Common feedback from patients trying digital impressions for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Best Dental use digital impressions in Richmond, TX? ▾
Yes. Best Dental uses iTero intraoral scanning for dental impressions at our Richmond, TX office (22377 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 400, 77407). We use digital impressions for crowns, bridges, Invisalign, implant restorations, nightguards, veneers, and braces planning. Call (281) 215-3065 to book.
Are digital impressions more accurate than traditional putty? ▾
Yes. Always. Putty molds can warp when removed from the mouth, during shipping, or as the material sets. Digital scans capture a precise 3D model sent right to the lab with no physical handling. The result is better-fitting work with fewer remakes and fewer adjustment visits.
How long does a digital dental scan take? ▾
A full scan takes 2 to 5 minutes. Way faster than putty impressions, which need 5 to 10 minutes just for the material to set. Most patients are surprised by how quick it is. For a single-tooth job like a crown, the scan area is even faster.
Does the scanner work for all procedures? ▾
Digital impressions work for the vast majority of jobs that used putty. Crowns, bridges, veneers, Invisalign, nightguards, implant crowns, inlays, onlays, and braces planning. In rare cases with very deep gum line edges, a putty mold or mixed approach may be needed. Dr. Naderi will tell you based on your specific case.
Is there an extra cost for digital impressions? ▾
No. Digital impressions are part of the cost of the procedure. There is no separate fee for using our scanner instead of putty. The tech is just how we do impressions now. Check our pricing page for full procedure costs.
I have a strong gag reflex, will the scanner bother me? ▾
Digital impressions are way better than putty for patients with gag reflexes. The slim wand scans one small area at a time. And never needs anything held against the soft palate or back of the mouth. Most gag-prone patients handle the digital scan with no issue. Tell us about your gag reflex when booking. We will use positioning and technique tweaks to make the visit as smooth as possible.
Can I see my scan results on a screen? ▾
Yes. One of the best parts of digital impressions is watching your 3D model build in real time on the screen by your chair. Patients often find it really cool to see their own teeth in 3D. Dr. Naderi uses the model to walk you through what is being fixed and why. Which makes it a useful teaching tool too.
Key Takeaways
See the Difference at Best Dental
Modern dentistry should be comfortable and precise. Book your visit at Best Dental in Richmond, TX. And see digital impressions for yourself. No putty. No gagging. Better results.
