Replacing the Impression Tray
For generations, getting a dental crown, aligner, or other custom appliance meant biting into a tray of thick, uncomfortable impression material and waiting days or weeks for a dental laboratory to fabricate the final product. Digital dentistry has largely replaced this process: intraoral scanners capture precise digital models of teeth in minutes, and increasingly, in-office or nearby 3D printers and milling machines fabricate the final restoration far faster than traditional lab workflows.
Speed, Precision, and Comfort
Digital scanning is more comfortable for patients, eliminating the gag-inducing impression material entirely, and produces highly precise digital models that reduce the fit errors and lab remakes that occasionally plagued traditional impressions. Some dental practices now offer same-day crowns, designing and milling a ceramic restoration during a single visit rather than requiring a temporary crown and a return appointment weeks later, a significant improvement in convenience.
The Expanding Applications
Beyond crowns, digital workflows now support clear aligner fabrication, surgical guides for precisely placed dental implants, custom nightguards and appliances, and increasingly sophisticated same-day prosthetics. As the technology becomes more widespread and affordable, digital dentistry is shifting from a premium offering to an expected standard of care, improving both precision and patient experience. Facilities can source dental supplies from our catalog.
