If you still take conventional impressions, you are not alone, and you probably have a good reason. When the ADA surveyed its Clinical Evaluators Panel, 53% of dentists used an intraoral scanner, and two out of three non-users named the same barrier: the financial investment. So the real question is not whether scanners work. It is whether the numbers work for your practice.
This guide puts the evidence, the real costs and the alternatives side by side, so you can decide with data instead of a sales pitch.
Key Takeaways
- An overview of 28 systematic reviews found no significant difference in marginal and internal fit between restorations made from digital scans and from conventional impressions.
- In US general practice, 99.5% of crowns made from digital scans were clinically acceptable, compared with 94.0% to 95.8% for crowns from impression trays.
- Across 17 clinical studies, scanning was faster than conventional impressions, and patients generally preferred it.
- Conventional impressions still do better for complete-arch fixed prostheses and extensive or removable cases.
- List prices for current scanners run from about $10,500 to about $45,000, before care plans and subscriptions.
Quick Answer
For most practices that send a steady flow of crowns, bridges and implant crowns to a lab, an intraoral scanner is worth it. Current evidence shows restorations fit as well as those from conventional impressions, scanning is faster, and patients prefer it. The main costs are the purchase price, yearly care and software plans, and training time. Practices that do not want to buy a scanner can often get one through a lab program in exchange for a monthly volume of lab work.
Do Restorations From Scans Fit as Well?
For everyday crown and bridge work, yes. A 2024 overview of 28 systematic reviews concluded that restorations made after digital scanning and after conventional impressions show no significant differences in marginal and internal fit. The same overview found one clear exception: for complete-arch fixed prostheses, conventional impressions were more accurate.
Where Scanning Is Strong, and Where It Is Not
| Case type | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| Single crowns and short-span bridges | Fit comparable to conventional impressions |
| Implant crowns and short implant bridges | Comparable accuracy and fit |
| Full-arch implant cases | Comparable overall; with more than 4 implants, conventional methods were slightly more accurate |
| Complete-arch fixed prostheses on teeth | Conventional impressions more accurate |
| Removable and extensive definitive cases | An umbrella review recommends the conventional approach |
| Subgingival margins | Scan accuracy drops; retraction and a dry field help |
Does Scanning Save Time?
A 2021 systematic review of 17 clinical studies, including 9 randomized trials, found intraoral scanning faster than conventional impressions for both quadrant and complete-arch scans, for tooth- and implant-supported restorations. The time saved continues in the lab: nothing has to be shipped, poured or trimmed before design starts.
Do Patients Prefer It?
Generally, yes. The same 2021 review found that patients preferred scanning over conventional impressions regardless of the size of the scanned area. Patients with a strong gag reflex notice the difference most, and a scan on screen makes it easier to explain why a crown or a night guard is needed.
What Does a Scanner Really Cost?
List prices vary widely by brand and model. These are published US list prices; dealers often discount, and bundles change.
| Scanner | Published list price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3Shape TRIOS 6 | From $27,900, first year of TRIOS Care included | 3Shape US, 2026 |
| Dentsply Sirona Primescan 2 | $24,995 | Institute of Digital Dentistry review |
| Align iTero Lumina | About $45,000, plus a service plan of about $380 per month | Institute of Digital Dentistry review |
| Medit i900 Mobility | $21,999 | Institute of Digital Dentistry review |
| Medit i600 | $10,500 | Institute of Digital Dentistry review |
The purchase price is only part of the cost. Before you buy, add:
- care or warranty plans and software subscriptions, which usually renew every year after the first;
- scanner tips or sleeves, and a computer or cart if one is not included;
- training time for the doctor and assistants who will scan;
- slower appointments during the first weeks, while the team gets faster;
- replacement, since scanners and their software keep changing.
Against this, count what you stop paying for: impression materials, trays, shipping of impressions and models, and the chair time lost to retakes and remakes.
Buy a Scanner or Get One Through Your Lab?
Some labs offer a scanner program: the lab provides the scanner, and the practice commits to a monthly minimum of lab work instead of paying for the device. It makes sense if you already send most of your cases to one lab and want to go digital without a large purchase.
| Buying a scanner | Scanner through a lab program | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Full purchase price | No purchase; a monthly minimum of lab orders |
| Ownership | The practice owns the scanner | Usually a lease; the scanner stays the lab's property |
| Care plan and software | Paid by the practice | Depends on the program; ask who pays after year one |
| Which labs you can use | Any lab | Depends on the program; ask whether you can send scans elsewhere |
| Best for | Full ownership, or cases split across many labs | Steady volume to one lab |
Questions to Ask About Any Lab Scanner Program
- What is the monthly minimum, and what happens in a month that falls below it?
- Is there a fixed term, or do you keep the scanner as long as you meet the minimum?
- Is the scanner new, and who pays for shipping it to you and back?
- Can you still send scans to other labs or aligner companies?
- Who pays for care plans and software after the first year?
- Who is responsible if the scanner is damaged, lost or stolen?
The Elegant Dental Laboratory Scanner Program
We are an authorized 3Shape partner, and we offer new 3Shape TRIOS scanners to practices across the United States:
- Two scanners: TRIOS 3 Wired and TRIOS 6 Wireless. Each page lists the monthly minimum of lab orders for that scanner.
- No purchase: the scanner is leased and stays our property. You keep it as long as you meet the monthly minimum, with no fixed term. If a month falls below the minimum, we charge the difference.
- Ready to use: the scanner arrives with a computer that already has the software installed. You register with 3Shape yourself, and 3Shape TRIOS Care is included for the first year.
- Your choice of labs: you do not have to send us every case. Meet the minimum, and send other scans wherever you like.
- Shipping covered: we pay for shipping the scanner to you and back. Delivery usually takes 2 to 3 weeks after approval.
- Open to all practices: new and existing clients are welcome.
The practice is responsible for damage, loss or theft. After the first year, TRIOS Care and software subscriptions are arranged directly with 3Shape. If you stop working with us, the scanner comes back to the lab.
Already have a scanner? We accept STL and PLY files and connect with all major systems. See how to connect your scanner. To compare options, visit Go Digital or call 877-335-5221. Choosing a lab at the same time? Read How to Choose a Dental Lab.
FAQ
Is an intraoral scanner more accurate than a conventional impression?
For single crowns and short-span bridges, restorations from scans fit as well as those from conventional impressions, according to an overview of 28 systematic reviews. For complete-arch fixed prostheses, conventional impressions are still more accurate.
How many dentists use intraoral scanners?
In a 2021 ADA Clinical Evaluators Panel survey, 53% of dentists said they use one. Among those who did not, 66% named the financial investment as the main reason.
How much does an intraoral scanner cost?
Published US list prices for current models range from about $10,500 to about $45,000, plus yearly care plans or subscriptions for most brands.
How long does it take to learn to scan?
Most teams scan routine crown cases confidently after short training and practice. Research shows inexperienced operators are slower at first, and training improves both speed and accuracy.
Can I get a free intraoral scanner from a dental lab?
Some labs, including Elegant Dental Laboratory, provide a scanner with no purchase cost to practices that meet a monthly minimum of lab orders. The scanner is usually leased, so read the terms on shortfalls, ownership and returns.
Can I use a lab's scanner to send cases to other labs?
It depends on the program. In ours you can, as long as you meet the monthly minimum with us.
Sources
- Revilla-León M, et al. Intraoral scanners: An American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators Panel survey. J Am Dent Assoc. 2021;152(8):669-670. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2021.05.018
- Kaitatzidou A, et al. Digital scans versus conventional impressions in fixed prosthodontics: An overview of systematic reviews. J Prosthet Dent. 2025;134(6):2156-2164. doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.11.002
- Lawson NC, et al. Clinical acceptance of single-unit crowns and its association with impression and tissue displacement techniques: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. J Prosthet Dent. 2020;123(5):701-709. doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2019.05.016
- Liu X, et al. Accuracy and Efficiency of Digitally Fabricated All-Ceramic Crowns from Conventional Impressions and Intraoral Scans: A Single-Blind Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Prosthodont. 2024;37(1):8-15. doi:10.11607/ijp.8143
- Siqueira R, et al. Intraoral scanning reduces procedure time and improves patient comfort in fixed prosthodontics and implant dentistry: a systematic review. Clin Oral Investig. 2021;25(12):6517-6531. doi:10.1007/s00784-021-04157-3
- Joda T, Brägger U. Time-Efficiency Analysis Comparing Digital and Conventional Workflows for Implant Crowns. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2015;30(5):1047-1053. doi:10.11607/jomi.3963
- Alfaraj A, et al. Comparative analyses of accuracy between digital and conventional impressions for complete-arch implant-supported fixed dental prostheses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Prosthodont. 2026;35(3):252-274. doi:10.1111/jopr.14094
- Afrashtehfar KI, et al. Accuracy of intraoral scanners versus traditional impressions: a rapid umbrella review. J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2022;22(3):101719. doi:10.1016/j.jebdp.2022.101719
- Andrade Villalobos M, et al. Accuracy of Intra-Oral Scanners for Full Crown Tooth Preparations with Subgingival Margins: A Systematic Review. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2025;33(1):104-112. doi:10.1922/EJPRD_2812Matias09
- Limones A, et al. Impact of operator experience on intraoral digital scanning: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. J Prosthet Dent. 2026;135(2):297.e1-297.e13. doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2025.09.008
- 3Shape. TRIOS 6 (US pricing page). 3shape.com
- Institute of Digital Dentistry. Scanner reviews: Primescan 2, iTero Lumina, Medit i900 Mobility.
Reviewed by Gary Fingerman, founder and CEO of Elegant Dental Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York (founded 2007). Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. Prices are published list prices at the time of review and change often.
