The Definitive Guide to Intraoral Dental 3D Scanners: Revolutionizing Modern Dentistry

The rapid advancement of 3D technologies has profoundly impacted numerous industries, and the dental sector is no exception. At the forefront of this transformation are 3D scanners, particularly 3D scanners designed for dental applications. While larger dental lab 3D scanners have long been indispensable tools for dental laboratories, assisting in the creation of appliances from pre-made impressions, a distinct and increasingly vital category has emerged: intraoral scanners. These innovative devices represent a paradigm shift in dental diagnostics and treatment planning, offering unparalleled efficiency and patient comfort.

Intraoral dental 3D scanners are compact, handheld devices specifically engineered to be inserted directly into a patient’s mouth. Their primary function is to meticulously examine the internal oral structures and capture highly detailed, direct digital impressions of the teeth and surrounding soft tissues. Unlike traditional impression methods, which often involve messy and uncomfortable trays filled with putty, intraoral scans are significantly faster. The digital data can be processed almost instantaneously, effectively streamlining the workflow by allowing dentists to bypass the traditional impression stage entirely. This not only enhances the patient experience but also improves the accuracy and speed of subsequent dental procedures, from restorative work to orthodontics. To assist dental professionals in navigating the diverse options available, we have compiled an extensive list of the leading intraoral 3D scanners currently on the market, presented in alphabetical order for easy reference.

AORALSCAN from Shining 3D: Precision and User-Friendly Design

Shining 3D, a globally recognized leader in 3D digitizing and additive manufacturing technologies, presents the AORALSCAN as its premier intraoral dental 3D scanner. This device is engineered with a strong emphasis on user convenience and advanced data processing capabilities. A key highlight of the AORALSCAN is its intuitive operation, which significantly reduces the learning curve for dental practitioners. It incorporates an “intelligent scan” feature, a proprietary scanning software developed by Shining 3D, which integrates a wealth of data processing functions. This advanced software is crucial for generating high-quality digital impressions, ensuring precision and reliability in every scan.

Furthermore, the AORALSCAN excels in producing realistic color scans, providing dentists with accurate visual representations of the oral cavity. Its powderless scanning capability is another significant advantage, simplifying the entire scanning process and eliminating the need for pre-coating teeth with anti-reflection powder. This contributes to a much-improved experience for the patient, reducing discomfort and procedure time. Data optimization is central to the AORALSCAN’s design; it leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to intelligently identify and automatically delete extraneous data, ensuring that only relevant and high-quality information is retained for diagnosis and treatment planning. The scanner operates on a video-based system, capturing data at a speed of 15 frames per second, allowing for smooth and continuous acquisition. For optimal accuracy and performance, Shining 3D recommends operating the AORALSCAN within a temperature range of 50°F to 104°F (10°C to 40°C), noting that deviations outside this range may affect scan precision. The flexibility to export scans in both STL and OBJ file formats ensures compatibility with a wide array of dental CAD/CAM software and other digital platforms, facilitating seamless integration into existing dental workflows.

CEREC PRIMESCAN from Dentsply Sirona: Setting the Industry Standard

Dentsply Sirona stands as an undisputed industry leader in the manufacturing of high-quality dental products and solutions. Within its extensive portfolio, the CEREC Primescan emerges as one of the most innovative and powerful intraoral scanners available on the market. This state-of-the-art device is distinguished by its extraordinary speed and depth of capture, capable of processing more than 1 million 3D data points per second. This rapid data acquisition is matched by an impressive scanning depth of up to 20 mm, enabling dentists to effortlessly digitize even the most challenging-to-reach areas within the oral cavity with exceptional clarity and detail. The Primescan’s advanced optical system ensures comprehensive coverage and precision, which is critical for complex restorative procedures.

Hygienic handling is a paramount concern in any dental practice, and the Primescan addresses this with a versatile range of sleeves, including both autoclavable and disposable options. This flexibility ensures stringent infection control standards are met, providing peace of mind for both practitioners and patients. The scanner’s user experience is further enhanced by an integrated touchscreen and touchpad, guaranteeing intuitive and straightforward operation. Powering the Primescan is intelligent software that can process an astounding 50,000 images per second. When coupled with the broader CEREC software ecosystem, it facilitates an automated workflow that drastically reduces chair time. This synergy allows for the efficient production of high-quality restorations, such as full-zirconium crowns, often within a single patient session. According to Dentsply Sirona, this comprehensive integration empowers dentists to embrace a complete chairside workflow, optimizing efficiency and patient satisfaction while delivering superior clinical outcomes.

CS 3600 by Carestream Dental: A Comprehensive Digital Workflow Solution

Carestream Dental, an esteemed American manufacturer, has pioneered a holistic digital workflow specifically tailored for the dental field, encompassing a wide array of solutions from desktop and intraoral scanners to sophisticated dedicated software. Among their notable offerings, the CS 3600 intraoral 3D scanner stands out as a reliable and efficient tool that has been on the market since 2016. This solution is designed to rapidly and efficiently digitize all relevant patient data, marking a significant departure from conventional impression methods.

Weighing a mere 325 grams (approximately 11.5 oz), the CS 3600 is exceptionally lightweight and ergonomic, making it remarkably easy for practitioners to handle during scans. This ergonomic design reduces operator fatigue and enhances maneuverability within the patient’s mouth, contributing to a more comfortable experience for both the dentist and the patient. The scanner utilizes an LED light source for optimal illumination and possesses a field of view of 13 x 13 mm, ensuring comprehensive capture of dental structures. To accommodate diverse clinical needs and improve access to different areas of the mouth, the CS 3600 comes with two distinct tips that can be interchanged with ease. This adaptability allows for greater flexibility in scanning various tooth anatomies and hard-to-reach areas. Crucially, the intraoral scanner seamlessly integrates with Carestream Dental’s proprietary CS Model software. This powerful software suite enables users to create highly accurate digital models, securely save their 3D scans, and perform extensive editing, facilitating a streamlined process from data acquisition to digital model utilization and treatment planning.

Condor Intraoral Scanner: Compact Design with Advanced Software

Established in 2010, the Belgian company Condor Technologies NV has carved a niche for itself by specializing in the development, production, and distribution of its unique intraoral scanner, aptly named Condor. The Condor scanner distinguishes itself in the competitive market through several innovative features, according to the manufacturer. Its most striking characteristic is its reliance on a unique software-based technology that facilitates the capture of hyper-realistic colors. This advanced color fidelity provides dentists with an exceptionally true-to-life representation of the oral environment, aiding in more accurate diagnoses and superior aesthetic planning for restorations.

Another remarkable attribute of the Condor scanner is its incredibly small physical footprint. It is widely acclaimed as the world’s smallest intraoral scanner, a design feat that significantly enhances patient comfort by minimizing bulk inside the mouth and improves accessibility to posterior regions. Despite its advanced capabilities, the Condor scanner is also positioned as an affordable option, making cutting-edge digital dentistry more accessible to a broader range of practices. Perhaps one of the most compelling advantages for users is the company’s commitment to continuous improvement: the sophisticated software that drives the Condor scanner is available free of charge, ensuring that practitioners always have access to the latest features, enhancements, and technological advancements without incurring additional costs. This commitment to ongoing, free software updates provides long-term value and keeps the scanner competitive with evolving dental technology.

Emerald S from Planmeca: Ergonomic Excellence and Enhanced Diagnostics

Planmeca, a venerable Finnish dental equipment manufacturer founded in 1969, boasts a rich history of providing innovative solutions, including advanced 3D scanners, CAD solutions, and comprehensive software platforms. Among their impressive lineup, the Planmeca Emerald S stands out as an enhanced iteration of their highly regarded Planmeca Emerald intraoral scanner. This model is meticulously designed with ergonomics at its core, ensuring it fits comfortably and naturally into the hands of users. Weighing a mere 229 grams, its compact and lightweight construction contributes to reduced operator fatigue during extended scanning sessions and improves overall maneuverability within the patient’s mouth.

The Planmeca Emerald S is equipped with a sophisticated multi-laser system, utilizing red, green, and blue lasers to capture impressions with remarkable color fidelity and realism. This multi-spectrum approach ensures that the digital models accurately reflect the natural shades and textures of teeth and soft tissues, which is crucial for aesthetic dentistry and detailed diagnostics. A notable performance feature of the Emerald S is its impressive speed; according to the manufacturer, it can efficiently scan a full dental arch in less than a minute, significantly streamlining the impression process and enhancing practice productivity. To further expand its diagnostic and functional capabilities, the Planmeca Emerald S comes with additional specialized tips. The SlimLine tip is thoughtfully designed to be thinner, providing easier access to posterior teeth and cramped oral spaces, facilitating more complete and accurate scans. Additionally, the Cariosity transillumination tip offers a unique diagnostic advantage, designed specifically to aid in the early detection of caries (dental decay) by illuminating tooth structures, allowing practitioners to visualize carious lesions that might be missed by conventional methods. This dual functionality underscores Planmeca’s commitment to providing versatile tools for modern dental practices.

iTero Element 2 from Align: Seamless Integration for Orthodontic and Restorative Work

Align Technology, a global leader in dental technology renowned for its Invisalign clear aligner system, offers the iTero® Element™ series as its flagship line of intraoral dental 3D scanners. This sophisticated system provides versatility to dental professionals through two distinct formats: the iTero® Element™ 2, designed as a mobile cart solution, and the iTero® Element™ Flex 2, a more stationary, portable unit. This flexibility allows practices to choose the setup that best suits their clinical environment and workflow needs, whether for a multi-chair practice or a mobile dental operation.

The iTero® Element™ devices are celebrated for their speed and precision, capable of producing sharp, high-resolution 3D scans of a complete dental arch in as little as 60 seconds. This rapid capture capability significantly reduces patient chair time and enhances overall clinic efficiency. The resulting digital impressions are incredibly detailed, providing practitioners with the accurate data necessary for a wide range of treatments, from restorative dentistry to complex orthodontic cases. The user interface is meticulously designed for ease of use, featuring integrated side buttons and a sensitive touchpad that offer intuitive control and navigation. These ergonomic considerations make the scanning process smooth and comfortable for the operator. Beyond just capturing impressions, the iTero® Element™ scanners are deeply integrated into the Align Digital Platform, offering advanced visualization tools, treatment simulators, and seamless connectivity with other digital workflows, particularly for Invisalign treatment planning. This integration makes the iTero scanners not just impression-taking devices but comprehensive digital dentistry solutions that enhance patient engagement and streamline the path to optimal treatment outcomes.

Medit i700 from Medit: Advanced Comfort and Unrivaled Speed

The Medit i700 is one of the newest and most advanced intraoral dental 3D scanners to have recently entered the market, having launched in April 2021. It has quickly garnered attention for its significant advancements that prioritize comfort and efficiency for both the dentist and the patient. Building upon the success of its predecessor, the Medit i500, the i700 boasts remarkable improvements in design and performance. It is notably 25% smaller and 12% lighter, weighing a mere 245 grams, making it exceptionally easy to handle and less intrusive for patients during the scanning process. This reduced size and weight translate into enhanced ergonomics for the operator, minimizing hand fatigue and allowing for more precise control.

Beyond its physical improvements, the Medit i700 delivers a substantial leap in technical capabilities. Its 3D scanning speed is up to twice as fast as previous models, drastically cutting down the time required to capture a full arch or multiple quadrants. This increased speed is coupled with a deeper scanning depth, enabling the capture of subgingival areas and other challenging anatomies with greater ease and accuracy. Furthermore, the i700 features a quadrupled color expression quality, providing incredibly vibrant and true-to-life digital impressions that are invaluable for shade matching and aesthetic planning. A critical aspect for clinical reliability is its impressive full-arc accuracy of 11 microns, which is paramount for ensuring the precise fit of restorations and appliances. This high level of accuracy unlocks the full potential of a dental clinic, supporting a broad spectrum of procedures with confidence. The Medit i700’s combination of ease of use, superior ergonomics, and advanced technical specifications makes it an ideal choice for seamless integration into any modern dental workflow, promising enhanced efficiency and patient satisfaction.

TRIOS 4 by 3Shape: Innovation and Comprehensive Diagnostic Capabilities

3Shape is a formidable and highly respected manufacturer in the dental industry, known for its groundbreaking contributions to scanner technology. While they also offer excellent dental lab scanner options, their intraoral scanner line is frequently cited as one of the best in the sector, lauded for its innovative features and clinical reliability. The TRIOS series encompasses a range of intraoral scanners, with the TRIOS 4 representing the pinnacle of their technological advancements, alongside the TRIOS 3 and TRIOS 3 Basic models, which offer varying levels of functionality to suit different practice needs.

The TRIOS 4 is 3Shape’s most advanced offering, integrating state-of-the-art features for an unparalleled scanning experience. It utilizes an LED light source for optimal image capture and maintains an ergonomic design, weighing in at a comfortable 0.8 lbs (375g). What truly sets the TRIOS 4 apart is its comprehensive suite of innovative functionalities. It offers flexibility with both wireless and wired configurations, allowing practices to choose based on their specific setup and mobility requirements. Enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity ensures stable and rapid data transfer, further streamlining the digital workflow. The scanner also boasts instant-heat smart tips, which maintain an optimal temperature for scanning, preventing fogging and improving patient comfort. Additionally, an extended battery life supports longer scanning sessions, making it ideal for busy clinics.

A significant diagnostic innovation included with the TRIOS 4 is its Caries diagnostic aid. This feature is designed to assist practitioners in identifying potential carious lesions by analyzing changes in tooth structure, offering a non-invasive method for early detection. However, it is important to note that, at the time of this writing, this diagnostic aid has not yet been cleared for clinical use by the FDA. This feature underscores 3Shape’s commitment to developing tools that not only capture precise impressions but also enhance diagnostic capabilities, positioning the TRIOS 4 as a truly multifaceted instrument for modern dentistry.

Virtuo Vivo from Dental Wings: Pen-Like Design for Effortless Scanning

Founded in 2007 in Canada, Dental Wings has rapidly expanded its global presence, now marketing its advanced dental products to practitioners, clinicians, and laboratories in over 70 countries. Among its innovative range of digital solutions, the Virtuo Vivo intraoral scanner is a standout device that redefines ergonomics and ease of use in dental scanning. Its design is strikingly reminiscent of a pen, emphasizing a natural and comfortable grip that mimics familiar dental instruments. This ergonomic form factor is complemented by its exceptionally lightweight construction, at a mere 4.6 oz (130g), minimizing hand fatigue during extended scanning procedures and promoting superior maneuverability within the patient’s mouth.

The Virtuo Vivo is engineered to capture comprehensive data of the patient’s mouth from virtually all angles, meticulously scanning both dental structures and surrounding soft tissues. This holistic approach ensures that practitioners obtain a complete and accurate digital model, crucial for precise diagnostics and treatment planning across a broad spectrum of dental applications. To enhance the scanning process, the scanner is equipped with a luminescent ring and an audible signal system. These integrated feedback mechanisms provide real-time cues to the practitioner, visually and audibly confirming that data has been successfully digitized and guiding them through the scanning path. Once captured, the digital data is seamlessly transmitted to specialized 3D software. This software not only facilitates the storage and manipulation of the scans but also performs a critical verification of their quality, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the acquired information before it is used for subsequent design and manufacturing processes. The Virtuo Vivo’s blend of ergonomic design, comprehensive scanning capabilities, and intelligent feedback systems positions it as an invaluable tool for enhancing efficiency and precision in modern digital dentistry.

The advent of intraoral dental 3D scanners has undeniably ushered in a new era of precision, efficiency, and patient comfort in dentistry. These innovative devices eliminate the discomfort and mess associated with traditional impressions, offering immediate digital data that streamlines diagnosis, treatment planning, and restoration fabrication. From the user-friendly interface and AI-powered optimization of the Shining 3D AORALSCAN to the industry-leading speed and chairside workflow of the Dentsply Sirona CEREC Primescan, each scanner on our list brings unique strengths to the table.

Whether prioritizing lightweight ergonomics like the Carestream Dental CS 3600 or Dental Wings Virtuo Vivo, advanced diagnostic capabilities such as the Planmeca Emerald S with its Cariosity tip, or the powerful integration with orthodontic platforms offered by the Align iTero Element series, dental professionals now have an impressive array of choices. The Medit i700 pushes boundaries with its unparalleled speed and comfort, while the 3Shape TRIOS 4 continues to innovate with smart tips and potential diagnostic aids. The Condor Intraoral Scanner, with its hyper-realistic colors and commitment to free software updates, highlights the ongoing evolution and accessibility of this technology.

Ultimately, the ideal intraoral scanner for a practice will depend on specific clinical needs, budget, and desired workflow integration. However, what remains constant is the transformative potential of these devices to enhance patient care and revolutionize the dental practice. What are your thoughts on our comprehensive list of intraoral dental 3D scanners? Did we miss any indispensable models? We invite you to share your insights in a comment below or connect with us on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here to receive the latest 3D printing news directly in your inbox!