With over 40 intraoral scanners on the market, knowing which one is right for your practice is not always easy.
To deliver the best patient care, dentists need the best digital tools on the market. Because of its ability to streamline restorative dentistry, a digital intraoral scanner is one of the most important investments you can make for your practice. Yet, with many options available, you might be asking yourself, “How do I choose an intraoral scanner?”
Dandy’s research and development team visited 100+ labs around the US and analyzed the 40-plus intraoral scanners on the market. Based on our findings, we established the four criteria every dentist should consider while choosing an intraoral scanner—and there’s one scanner that stands out.
Here are the 4 critical criteria to consider when choosing an intraoral scanner:
1. Accuracy
A simple intraoral scanner maxim: the quality of your scan determines the accuracy of the lab work you will receive.
Advanced hardware and software must image everything that may be in a patient’s mouth, like shiny metal or edentulous areas. The ideal scanner can capture micro details and has the accuracy to support all types of restorative work, from crowns to bridges to dentures, night guards, clear aligners, and more. The precision of the scanning technology is the difference between a seamless scanning experience or a call from your lab technician requesting a redo.
2. Software Capability and Speed
Software powers the scanner, directly affecting how the scanner performs.
The optimal intraoral scanner should have no lag time between scanning and loading the images onto your screen. The top scanner we researched scanned in less than 90 seconds and automatically recognized specific areas where touch-ups and re-scans were needed. While essential for performance, software capability can differ widely from scanner to scanner.
3. Ease of Use
The name of the smart scanner game is user-friendly—think size, quality, and feel.
Does it fit comfortably in patients’ mouths? How does it feel in your hand? The best intraoral scanner allows you to scan seamlessly—without awkwardness. You want an intuitive software interface that aligns with your workflow (and does not require an IT degree). When researching the top scanners on the market, we quickly eliminated those with complex digital interfaces that were not simple enough for dentists to use with patients in their chairs.
4. Price
Digital scanners were once expensive for most dental practices, but high-quality scanners are now available at a lower price point.
But beware of additional costs associated with some scanners, like auxiliary equipment needed, software subscriptions, training, and customer support. Balance what works best for you and your practice with what makes the most fiduciary sense.
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If you are interested in switching from an analog to a digital workflow, choosing an intraoral scanner is the first step in transitioning to digital dentistry.
Consider the accuracy, software capability, ease of use, and price of the intraoral scanner—so that you’re not missing out on crucial features or purchasing something too complex for your practice’s needs.
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Our top choice, and how you can get it for free
The 3Shape Trios is our top pick. Why? Because it hits all these criteria, and then some. Dentists like yourself need a dexterous scanner with easy-to-use software, producing clear full-arch scans at top speed. Even better, it integrates perfectly with Dandy’s fully digital lab, meaning the whole process from scan to order can be done within minutes. We love the 3Shape Trios so much that we give it to Dandy customers for free.
Schedule a demo to get started.
