Digital Impressions vs. Traditional Molds: The iTero Advantage in Los Alamitos

If you’ve ever had a traditional dental impression taken, you probably remember the experience: a tray loaded with thick, goopy material pressed against your teeth for several minutes while you tried not to gag or move. It works, but it’s not exactly pleasant. Digital impressions change that equation significantly. Instead of physical putty, a handheld wand scans your teeth and creates a precise 3D model in minutes—no mess, no gagging, no waiting for material to set. At Chang Orthodontics in Los Alamitos, Dr. Russell Chang uses the iTero Element scanner to capture these digital impressions for orthodontic treatment planning, Invisalign cases, and retainer fabrication.

The short answer to the comparison: digital impressions with the iTero are faster, more comfortable, and at least as accurate as traditional alginate or PVS molds for orthodontic purposes—and in many cases more accurate, because the scan eliminates distortion that can occur when physical impressions are removed from the mouth or shipped to a lab.

What Traditional Impressions Actually Involve

Traditional dental impressions use one of two common materials: alginate (a powder mixed with water into a rubbery paste) for preliminary models, or polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) for more precise laboratory impressions. A metal or plastic tray is loaded with the material, seated in the mouth over the teeth, and held in place for two to five minutes while the material sets.

Once the tray is removed, the impression captures a negative of the teeth. That physical mold is then either poured in dental stone to create a plaster model, or shipped directly to a laboratory. Both steps introduce opportunities for error: bubbles can form when stone is poured, the material can shift slightly on removal, and shipping can cause minor warping or damage.

For patients, the experience can be uncomfortable. The tray size has to be estimated in advance—too large and material overflows into the throat, too small and the impression doesn’t capture enough of the arch. Patients with a strong gag reflex often find upper impressions particularly difficult. Children and anxious patients may need multiple attempts to get a usable result.

Traditional impressions are not obsolete—they’re used widely and effectively in dental practices every day. But when a practice has access to a digital alternative with comparable or better accuracy, the patient experience and workflow efficiency both improve.

How the iTero Digital Scanner Works

The iTero Element scanner uses optical scanning technology to capture thousands of data points per second as the wand is moved across the teeth and gums. The result is a full-color 3D digital model that appears on screen in real time while the scan is being taken.

The wand itself is about the size of an electric toothbrush handle. It doesn’t require the patient to bite down on anything, and there’s nothing setting in the mouth. The scanning process typically takes five to ten minutes for a full set of orthodontic records, though this varies depending on the case. Patients breathe normally throughout.

Because the model is digital, it can be sent to a lab or to Invisalign’s manufacturing system within minutes. There’s no impression material to pour, no physical model to ship, and no concern about material distortion in transit. When iTero scans are used for Invisalign cases specifically, they integrate directly with Align Technology’s ClinCheck software, which allows Dr. Chang to show patients a simulated projection of how their teeth might move during treatment before aligners are even ordered.

One practical detail worth knowing: the iTero scanner captures the teeth themselves very accurately, but like all intraoral scanners, it requires the teeth to be dry and visible during the scan. For patients with very heavy salivary flow, slight adjustments during the appointment may be needed.

Accuracy: How Do They Compare?

Research comparing intraoral digital scanners to traditional impressions has generally found that digital scans perform comparably or better for most orthodontic applications. The iTero Element in particular has been validated in published studies for use in Invisalign treatment, crown and bridge work, and retention.

For orthodontic purposes—which is the primary use case at Chang Orthodontics—the relevant question is whether the digital model is accurate enough to fabricate Invisalign aligners, fixed retainers, and Hawley or Essix retainers. The answer in clinical practice is yes. Align Technology (the maker of Invisalign) has built its manufacturing process around iTero scan submissions, and the fit accuracy of aligners fabricated from digital scans is well-established in the field.

One area where traditional impressions may still have a role is in certain complex restorative cases where a prosthodontist needs a physical working model. For orthodontic treatment planning, however, digital scans have become the standard in practices that have adopted them.

It’s also worth noting that digital models don’t degrade. Physical plaster models can chip, crack, or erode over time. A digital file stored on a server is as accurate five years from now as it is today, which matters for comparison records and retention monitoring.

What to Expect at Chang Orthodontics

When patients come in for records at Chang Orthodontics, the iTero scan is part of the initial appointment workflow. Dr. Chang or a clinical team member will explain the process before starting. You’ll be seated comfortably in the chair, and the scanning wand will be moved slowly around your upper and lower arches. You can watch the model build on the screen in real time, which most patients find interesting rather than anxiety-inducing.

For Invisalign patients specifically, the office uses the iTero’s Outcome Simulator to show what treatment might look like at various stages. This isn’t a guarantee of results—tooth movement in orthodontics depends on many biological and compliance factors—but it gives patients a visual reference point for what they’re working toward before they commit to starting.

Retainer appointments for existing patients also use digital scans rather than traditional impressions when applicable, so there’s no repeat exposure to impression material if you’re coming back years later for a replacement retainer.

The practice is located in Los Alamitos, and patients traveling from nearby communities in Orange County will find the appointment workflow similar to what they’d find at other iTero-equipped orthodontic offices in the region. What varies is the clinical judgment applied to the scan data—that’s where Dr. Chang’s evaluation and treatment planning come in.

If you want to schedule a records appointment or a consultation, you can do that at our scheduling page or by calling the office at (562) 430-0541.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does a digital scan hurt? No. The iTero wand doesn’t press against the teeth with any force, and there’s nothing setting or hardening in the mouth. Most patients describe the experience as mildly ticklish at most. The main adjustment is keeping your mouth open for several minutes, which can cause some jaw fatigue if you have TMJ sensitivity—worth mentioning to the clinical team before the scan starts.

Is the iTero scan safe? Does it use radiation? The iTero Element scanner uses optical light, not X-rays. There is no radiation exposure from the scan itself. Separate dental X-rays may still be part of your orthodontic records, but those are taken with standard dental radiography equipment, not the iTero.

Can the iTero scan replace X-rays entirely? No. Intraoral scans capture the surfaces of the teeth and soft tissue contours, but they don’t show bone levels, root lengths, or structures below the gumline. X-rays (and in some cases, CBCT scans) remain necessary for comprehensive orthodontic diagnosis. The iTero scan and X-rays are complementary, not interchangeable.

What if I have a strong gag reflex? Digital scans are significantly easier for most gag-prone patients than traditional impressions because there’s no bulky tray and no material flowing toward the back of the throat. That said, if the gag reflex is triggered by having anything in the mouth, some patients still find upper arch scanning mildly challenging. Breathing through the nose, focusing on a point on the ceiling, or using a numbing throat spray (in some cases) can help. Letting the clinical team know about your gag reflex before the appointment is the best first step.

Will my insurance cover treatment that uses digital impressions instead of traditional ones? Dental insurance coverage is based on the treatment being performed (e.g., Invisalign, braces, a retainer), not the method used to take impressions. Switching from traditional molds to digital scans doesn’t typically affect insurance billing for the orthodontic treatment itself. If you have specific questions about coverage, the front desk at Chang Orthodontics can help you review your benefits before treatment begins.