Digital Dental Scanning in New Westminster, BC

Foundation Dental uses the iTero Element 5D - one of the most advanced intraoral scanners available - to create highly accurate 3D digital models of your teeth and gums. No impression trays. No discomfort. Just a lightweight wand that maps your mouth in minutes and shows you the result on-screen right away.

Digital scans replace traditional plaster impressions for Invisalign, crowns, bridges, retainers, mouthguards, and more - and they tend to be more accurate, which means better-fitting restorations and fewer adjustments.

What Is the iTero Element 5D?

The iTero Element 5D is an intraoral scanner that captures thousands of images per second to build a precise, full-colour 3D model of your teeth in real time. The '5D' refers to its ability to scan in multiple dimensions simultaneously - including NIRI (near-infrared imaging) technology that can detect early signs of between-the-teeth decay that may not be visible on conventional X-rays alone.

A full-arch scan typically takes 5 to 10 minutes, and the model appears on-screen as we go so you can see exactly what we see.

What Digital Scanning Is Used For

  1. Invisalign treatment planning - scan results are submitted directly to Invisalign, with consultation simulations often returned in 2 business days

  2. Crown and bridge fabrication - producing more accurate restorations that require fewer adjustments

  3. Custom whitening trays

  4. Sports mouthguards and night guards

  5. Retainer fabrication after orthodontic treatment

  6. Sleep apnea oral appliances

  7. Monitoring changes in tooth structure over time

Advantages Over Traditional Impressions

  1. No impression material - eliminates the gagging that impression trays can cause

  2. Immediate digital model - no waiting for plaster to set

  3. Digital storage - your scan is saved and available at future appointments

  4. Easily shared electronically with dental labs and specialists

  5. NIRI technology can identify early decay at the same time as the scan

Frequently Asked Questions - Digital Scanning

  • Not at all. The scanner wand is small and lightweight. Patients who previously found impression trays difficult consistently find digital scanning far more comfortable.

  • A full upper and lower arch scan typically takes 5 to 10 minutes.

  • Yes - digital scans are generally more accurate than traditional impressions for crown fabrication, resulting in restorations that fit more precisely with fewer adjustments.

  • At Foundation Dental, yes. We use the iTero scanner for all Invisalign cases because it produces the most accurate treatment simulations and the fastest turnaround with Invisalign's lab.

Experience impression-free dentistry.

Give us a call at 778-400-8335 or click on the book now button below to request an appointment directly.

885 Carnarvon St
New Westminster, BC V3M 1G2

(778) 400-8335
info@foundationdental.ca

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