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Do I need an intraoral scanner (IOS) to do digital dentures?

Definitive Answer: No, an intraoral scanner is NOT required

 

Needing an IOS to do digital dentures is the most common misconception needing to be corrected:

  • This is one of the biggest misconceptions about digital dentures (prevalent among students, patients, and clinicians)
  • Assumption that digital dentures must begin with intraoral scan is fundamentally incorrect
  • This misconception represents a significant barrier to adoption
  • Even in 2025, the majority of digital denture workflows still begin with conventional impression

 

Why does it matter that you don't need an IOS to do digital dentures?

  • Dramatically lowers barrier to entry for practices without scanning technology
  • Allows clinicians comfortable with conventional impressions to continue familiar techniques
  • Eliminates substantial capital investment requirement ($5,000 to $40,000 for an IOS scanner)
  • Makes digital dentures accessible to all practitioners regardless of equipment investment

 

How digital denture workflows work without an introral scanner:

  • Take conventional impressions (alginate, polyvinyl siloxane) using a familiar technique
  • Pour impressions in stone or send directly to ROE
  • ROE uses benchtop scanner to digitize the physical impressions/casts
  • Digital file enters the same digital denture production workflow as if scanned intraorally in the practice
  • There is no difference in final outcome between conventionally captured and digitally scanned impressions

 

How can a lab use traditional impressions for digital dentures

  • All larger dental laboratories have benchtop scanning equipment
  • This is standard infrastructure for laboratories offering digital services
  • When you send conventional records to ROE, we routinely digitize them
  • ROE maintains the digital records in a database, creating a permanent archive
  • This is useful for quick reorders due to loss or breakage. Replacements can be produced and shipped within a day
  • ROE charges no additional fee for this digitization service

 

When using an intraoral scanner is advantageous for digital dentures:

  • Immediate dentures with many remaining teeth (abundant landmarks for scanning)
  • Patients who gag severely with impression materials
  • When same-day workflow is desired (scan, design, print trial same day)
  • Eliminating impression shipping time and potential damage during transport
  • Practices with high digital case volume justifying equipment investment

 

The IOS challenges in scanning soft tissue for digital dentures:

  • Edentulous ridges lack distinct anatomical landmarks present on teeth
  • More movable tissue can distort during the scanning process resulting in inaccurate scan
  • Moisture control and tissue reflectance issues can compromise scan accuracy
  • Endentulous cases require specific scanning protocols different from dentate scanning and as a result the learning curve steeper than scanning dentate arches

 

Best digital denture practices without an intraoral scanner:

  • Master conventional impression technique (this is still an essential skill)
  • Ensure complete anatomical landmark capture in impressions
  • Communicate clearly with ROE about digitization needs
  • Request confirmation of a successful scan before proceeding to design
  • Consider scanner investment only after establishing a successful digital workflow with conventional impressions

 

What is the digital denture hybrid approach:

  • Initally take conventional physical records as usual
  • Use an intraoral scanner for the digitization of these physcial records extraorally
  • Dentures, wax rims, or casts can all be digitized with an intraoral scanner
  • This approach leverages existing equipment for expanded purposes
  • Useful for a reference denture duplication without worrying about the lab turnaround time 

 

Additional Resources

For more information concerning the digital dentures:

 

Contact Information

For help with a digital denture solution for your next case, contact ROE Dental Laboratory: