The tray. The thick impression material. The waiting. And for anyone with a sensitive gag reflex, really trying not to gag.
At Nash Dental, we think there should be a better way.
That’s why our Kanata dental clinic uses the iTero digital scanner, advanced technology that allows us to create highly detailed 3D digital images of your teeth and bite, without traditional impression material for many dental treatments.
It’s faster. It’s comfortable. It’s incredibly precise.
And yes, it means we can say goodbye to that mouthful of messy impression material in many situations.
What Is an iTero Digital Scanner?
The iTero scanner is a small handheld device that captures thousands of images of your teeth and gums as it’s gently moved around your mouth.
Those images are combined to create a highly detailed 3D digital model of your smile right on the screen.
Instead of filling a tray with impression material, placing it over your teeth and waiting for it to set, we can digitally capture the information we need.
For patients, the difference can be significant.
No More Messy Impressions
This is probably the benefit our patients will appreciate most.
Traditional dental impressions have been used successfully for decades, but they’re not exactly something patients look forward to.
The impression material can feel bulky. You need to remain still while it sets. Some people dislike the taste or texture, and patients with a sensitive gag reflex can find the experience particularly uncomfortable.
Digital scanning changes that.
The iTero scanner moves around your teeth while capturing the shape and position of your smile digitally. There’s no tray full of impression material sitting in your mouth while you wait for it to harden.
And if we need another look at a particular area?
We can simply rescan that section rather than repeating an entire traditional impression.
It’s a small example of something we believe strongly at Nash Dental:
Technology should make dentistry better for the patient.
See Your Smile in 3D
There’s another benefit we love about digital dentistry: you get to see what we see.
Your 3D scan appears on the screen, allowing us to rotate and examine a digital model of your teeth together.
Rather than simply being told what’s happening inside your mouth, you can actually see your teeth, bite, alignment, areas of wear, and other details that may be relevant to your care.
That can make conversations about your oral health much easier to understand.
We believe patients should be informed and involved in decisions about their dental care. Being able to show you what we’re seeing is an important part of that.
More Than Just Invisalign
Many people associate iTero scanners with Invisalign clear aligners, and digital scanning is an important part of planning Invisalign treatment.
But its usefulness extends well beyond clear aligners.
Depending on the treatment, digital scans can be used as part of planning for:
- Invisalign clear aligners
- Crowns and bridges
- Dental implants and restorations
- Night guards and other dental appliances
- Monitoring changes to your teeth over time
- Evaluating your bite and tooth wear
Having an accurate digital representation of your mouth gives our dental team another powerful tool for treatment planning and communication.
Precision Meets Comfort
Digital dentistry fits naturally with what we’re building at Nash Dental.
We’re located in one of Canada’s most vibrant technology communities, and we believe a modern dental practice in Kanata should embrace technology when it can genuinely improve patient care.
But we’re equally focused on the human side of dentistry.
For us, investing in technology isn’t about having gadgets.
It’s about asking:
Can we make this more comfortable?
Can we make this more precise?
Can we make this easier for our patients to understand?
When the answer is yes, that’s technology worth having.
The iTero digital scanner checks all three boxes.
What If Dental Impressions Make Me Gag?
Tell us.
A sensitive gag reflex is common, and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about it.
For many procedures that traditionally required physical impressions, digital scanning can provide an alternative without placing a tray filled with impression material in your mouth.
We’ll always explain what your particular treatment requires, but for many patients who have dreaded dental impressions in the past, discovering digital scanning can be a very welcome change.
Experience Digital Dentistry at Nash Dental
Sometimes creating an exceptional dental experience isn’t about one enormous change.
It’s about improving all the little things.
A more comfortable environment. A team that listens. Clear explanations. Noise-cancelling headphones when you want to tune everything out. And modern technology that can eliminate some of the things patients have disliked about dentistry for years.
The iTero digital scanner is one more way we’re bringing that philosophy to life.
So, if your memories of dental impressions involve a tray, a mouthful of goop and desperately trying not to gag, we have some good news:
Dentistry has changed.
And at Nash Dental, we’re excited to show you what modern dentistry can feel like.
iTero Digital Scanning FAQs
Does an iTero scan hurt?
No. The scanner is gently moved around your teeth to capture digital images and does not require impression material to set inside your mouth.
