.png)
The Digital Revolution in Orthodontics: Why iTero Scanning Beats Old-School Impressions
- Hetal Rana
- 28m
- 3 min read
When most people think about starting orthodontic treatment—especially Invisalign—their mind goes straight to the trays. But the truth is, the quality of your results starts long before your first aligner is made. It begins with how your dentist captures your teeth.
For decades, orthodontics relied on traditional putty impressions: trays filled with goopy material that sat in your mouth for minutes at a time. They were uncomfortable, messy, and often inaccurate.
Today, orthodontics has entered a new era—and at Rana Dental, that shift begins with the iTero digital scanner.
This powerful technology replaces old putty impressions with a fast, precise, and comfortable 3D scan that elevates the entire Invisalign experience. Here’s why iTero scanning is considered the gold standard in modern orthodontics.
Why Putty Impressions Are Becoming a Thing of the Past
Traditional impressions had one job: capture the shape of your teeth. But they came with plenty of drawbacks:
• Discomfort & Gagging
Patients often had to sit still with bulky trays in their mouth—sometimes triggering a gag reflex.
• Inconsistent Accuracy
Small movements, air bubbles, or distorted material could compromise the fit of aligners or retainers.
• Delayed Treatment
If an impression wasn’t perfect, it needed to be repeated, which slowed down the entire process.
• No Real-Time Feedback
Dentists couldn’t verify the quality of an impression until it hardened, often resulting in do-overs.
Putty impressions did their best—but there’s a reason modern orthodontics has moved on.
Meet iTero: The Future of Orthodontic Precision
The iTero Element digital scanner transforms how we plan and deliver Invisalign treatment. Instead of using impression material, it uses a small hand-held wand to take thousands of images per second—building a highly accurate 3D model of your teeth in minutes.
1. Comfort Without Compromise
Patients love how easy the experience is, especially children and adults with sensitive gag reflexes.
2. Superior Accuracy = Superior Results
A more precise scan means:
Aligners that fit better
More predictable tooth movement
Fewer refinements
Better long-term bite balance
This accuracy is essential for functional orthodontics, airway-driven expansion, and bite correction—areas Rana Dental specializes in.
3. Invisalign Treatments Designed With Confidence
iTero integrates directly with Invisalign’s digital planning system. This allows us to design tooth movements with the highest level of detail and control. Better planning means:
A healthier bite
More stable long-term results
A smile that supports your airway and facial development—not just appearance
4. See Your Future Smile Before You Even Start
One of patients’ favorite iTero features is the Outcome Simulator. In just a few moments, you can see a preview of what your smile could look like after Invisalign.
It makes the process exciting, motivating, and easy to visualize.
5. Real-Time Treatment Tracking
iTero also allows us to compare scans throughout your Invisalign journey. We can see how your teeth are tracking, monitor improvements, and make adjustments when needed—all without additional impressions.
This supports faster, more predictable treatment.
Why Rana Dental Chooses iTero for Every Orthodontic Patient
At Rana Dental, we invest in advanced technology because your health deserves it. The iTero scanner:
Enhances accuracy
Improves comfort
Helps us design healthier bites
Supports airway-focused orthodontic treatment
Reduces the need for mid-course corrections
Gives us more control over the entire process
Whether you’re doing Invisalign as an adult or evaluating early orthodontic needs for your child, digital scanning is the foundation for great results.
Experience a Better Kind of Orthodontic Care
Modern orthodontics is more than just straight teeth—it’s about healthy movement, proper bite function, and long-term stability. iTero scanning allows us to deliver all of that with greater precision and comfort.
If you’re considering Invisalign or want to understand your orthodontic health, we’d love to help.
Schedule your consultation at Rana Dental:916-774-4499
Your healthiest smile starts with the right technology—and the right team.
Comments