Digital Impressions (iTero) in Longmont, CO | Martin Family Orthodontics

What Are Digital Impressions?

A digital impression is a high-resolution 3D scan of your teeth, gums, and bite. The iTero scanner is a small handheld camera that we move gently across your teeth, building a complete digital model on the screen in real time. There is no impression tray. No goop. No waiting for material to set while trying not to gag.

The full scan typically takes between 5 and 10 minutes. The resulting model is accurate to within a fraction of a millimeter and is used immediately for treatment planning, fabrication of clear aligners and Invisalign, and retainer production.

Why Digital Beats Traditional Impressions

Comfort. Most patients describe traditional impressions as the most unpleasant part of any dental visit. Digital impressions eliminate the gag-inducing tray and the messy material entirely.

Accuracy. Digital scans capture detail that putty cannot. Tooth surfaces, gumline contours, and bite registration all transfer to the digital model with high precision. That precision matters when we are designing aligners or planning movements.

Speed. Scans take minutes. There is no wait for material to set, no remakes when material distorts, and no shipping physical impressions to a lab.

Easy storage and sharing. Your scans are stored digitally and can be quickly shared with specialists (oral surgeons, restorative dentists) involved in your care.

Visual preview. Patients can see their teeth in 3D on the screen during the appointment. For aligner cases, this is also how we generate visual simulations of your projected treatment outcome.

When We Use Digital Impressions

Digital impressions are used at multiple stages of orthodontic care:

• Initial consultation diagnostics. A baseline scan supports treatment planning and lets Dr. Martin show you your case in detail.
• Aligner fabrication. Invisalign and clear aligner treatments rely on iTero scans for tray production.
• Retainer production. New retainers, including replacement retainers, are made from digital scans.
• Progress tracking. Periodic scans during treatment let us confirm that movements are tracking as planned.
• Coordination with other providers. When restorative or surgical work is involved, digital scans can be shared with the other providers.

What to Expect During Your Digital Impression

The process is straightforward. You will be seated comfortably with the chair upright. A team member or Dr. Martin will hold the scanner wand and move it slowly around your upper teeth, then your lower teeth, then capture your bite. You can swallow normally, breathe normally, and pause whenever you need to. There is no special preparation required beforehand.

You will see your teeth appear on the monitor in 3D as the scan builds. Most patients find the visual feedback genuinely interesting and a much more pleasant experience than a traditional impression appointment.

Benefits of Digital Impressions for Treatment

• More predictable aligner fit. Custom appliances made from precise digital scans tend to seat better than those made from older techniques.
• Faster turnaround. Digital files go straight to the manufacturer, cutting days off lab time.
• Easier remakes. If a scan needs refinement, we can re-scan the relevant section without redoing everything.
• Better records. Historical scans give us a clear timeline of progress and changes.
• Lower environmental impact. No disposable trays, no waste impression material.