Digital workflow
Digital vs. Conventional Impressions: What Can Your Dental Lab Accept?
A clinic does not need to be fully digital to work with a digital dental laboratory.
Digidental accepts intraoral scans, conventional impressions and physical models. When a case arrives conventionally, it can be incorporated into a digital laboratory workflow.
What is a digital impression?
A digital impression is captured with an intraoral scanner that records the geometry required for the case.
The data can then be transmitted to the laboratory through the scanner ecosystem or compatible digital files.
Digidental works with systems including:
- iTero
- 3Shape TRIOS
- Medit
- Carestream / DEXIS
- Dentsply Sirona Primescan
What happens when Digidental receives a scan?
The workflow depends on the requested product.
For products covered by our detailed quality-control process — including crowns, nightguards and dentures — the first step is case and input verification.
If the information required to proceed is insufficient, our team contacts the clinic before production.
Does Digidental accept conventional impressions?
Yes.
When a conventional impression is received, Digidental can first pour the impression to produce a model and then digitize that model using our laboratory scanner.
The case can then continue through the appropriate production workflow.
Can an existing physical model be sent?
Yes.
An existing physical model can also be scanned directly at the laboratory to create digital data for the applicable workflow.
Digital or conventional: which should you choose?
There is no single answer for every case.
The appropriate approach can depend on:
- type of case;
- equipment available at the clinic;
- clinical workflow;
- information required for the restoration or appliance;
- transmission method agreed upon with the laboratory.
Digidental can work with both approaches.
What is the transmission advantage of a digital workflow?
When a case can be sent digitally, its data can reach the laboratory without waiting for physical transportation of an impression.
Digital data can also integrate directly into subsequent digital design or manufacturing steps where applicable.
Conventional impressions remain an option for clinics and cases where that approach is used.
Can digital and conventional workflows be combined?
Yes.
A clinic can use an intraoral scanner for some cases while continuing to send conventional impressions for others.
Because Digidental can digitize physical models at the laboratory, conventional cases can enter digital production workflows where applicable.
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an intraoral scanner to work with Digidental?
No. Digidental also accepts conventional impressions and physical models.
Which scanners does Digidental work with?
iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, Medit, Carestream/DEXIS and Dentsply Sirona Primescan are among the supported ecosystems.
What happens to a conventional impression?
It can be poured to create a model, which is then digitized using the laboratory scanner.
Can you scan an existing model?
Yes. Existing physical models can also be scanned directly.