Digital Impressions vs. Traditional Putty: Why Fewer Dentists Use the Tray Now

A traditional impression uses a tray filled with a putty-like material, pressed against your teeth and held in place for a period while the material sets, capturing a physical mold of your teeth and gums that's then used to create models, crowns, dentures, or other dental appliances.

A digital impression uses a small, handheld wand-shaped scanner moved around your mouth, capturing a detailed 3D digital image of your teeth and gums directly on a computer screen, without any physical material placed in your mouth at all.

The tray, particularly for upper impressions extending toward the back of the mouth, can trigger a gag reflex in some patients, related to both the physical presence of the tray and the sensation of the setting material, making this one of the more commonly disliked aspects of traditional impression-taking for many patients.

Yes, this is one of its most appreciated advantages — since there's no tray or bulky material placed in the mouth, digital scanning is considerably more comfortable for patients who struggle with a strong gag reflex during traditional impressions.

Modern digital scanning technology has developed to the point where it's generally considered comparably accurate to, and in some specific applications, more accurate than, traditional impression material, particularly for capturing fine detail needed for precise restorations.

Digital scanning is often quicker overall, particularly since it eliminates the setting time traditional putty requires, and it also allows immediate review of the digital image on screen, letting your dentist verify a good capture right away rather than waiting to physically inspect a set impression.

Yes, this is a genuinely appreciated feature many patients enjoy — being able to see your own teeth displayed in real time on a screen during the scanning process offers a unique, informative view most people have never had before.

For many applications, particularly when working with a lab using compatible digital technology, the digital file can be sent directly for fabrication without needing a physical model at all, streamlining the entire process, though some situations may still involve creating a physical model from the digital file depending on the specific lab or application.

No, this requires a specific equipment investment, meaning not every general dental practice has adopted digital scanning technology yet, though it has become increasingly common and accessible across many practices in recent years.

This varies by practice, and while the underlying technology represents a significant investment for a dental office, this doesn't necessarily translate to a notably higher direct cost to the patient for a specific procedure using this technology.

Digital scanning is widely used for crowns, bridges, clear aligners like Invisalign, and various other restorations, though for certain highly complex cases, some providers may still prefer traditional methods, or use a combination approach, depending on the specific clinical situation.