If you’re getting crowns, bridges, or other dental work, you’ll need digital dental impressions to create a perfect fit. Understanding how long this process takes helps you plan your appointment and know what to expect.
At Truly Yours Family Dental, we use digital impression methods to ensure you get the most comfortable and efficient experience possible. Book your appointment today to discover which option works best for your needs.
What are dental impressions?
Dental impressions are exact molds or digital scans of your teeth and gums that capture their exact shape and position. Your dentist uses these impressions to create custom dental restorations, dental appliances, or treatment plans that fit your mouth perfectly. Think of them as a 3D blueprint of your smile that helps dental professionals create precise treatments tailored specifically to you.
What are dental impressions for?
- Crowns and Bridges – Dental impressions ensure your new crown or bridge fits perfectly over your prepared tooth. This precise fit prevents gaps where bacteria could enter and helps your restoration last longer.
- Dentures and Partial Dentures – Creating comfortable, well-fitting dentures requires accurate impressions of your gums and remaining teeth. These impressions help technicians craft dentures that stay in place and allow you to eat and speak naturally.
- Orthodontic Treatment – Before getting braces or clear aligners, your orthodontist needs dental impressions to plan your treatment. These help create custom orthodontic appliances and track your progress throughout treatment.
- Night Guards and Mouth Guards – Custom protective devices require dental impressions to ensure they fit snugly and comfortably. A proper fit means better protection for your teeth during sleep or sports activities.
- Dental Implant Planning – Impressions help your dentist plan the exact placement of implants and create temporary or permanent crowns. This ensures your new teeth look natural and function properly with your bite.
How long do traditional dental impressions take?
Traditional dental impressions typically take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, though the entire appointment may last 20 to 30 minutes. The process involves placing impression material in a tray and holding it in your mouth while it hardens. Your dentist usually takes dental impressions of both your upper and lower teeth, with each arch requiring about 5 to 7 minutes for the material to set properly.
How Do You Take Traditional Impressions
- Impression Tray Selection – Your dental professional chooses the right size tray for your mouth. They may try several sizes to find one that covers all your teeth comfortably without being too large.
- Material Preparation – The assistant mixes impression material, usually alginate or polyvinyl siloxane, until it reaches the right consistency. This dental putty-like material starts soft but gradually hardens to capture details.
- Dental Tray Placement – Your dentist fills the tray with impression material and carefully positions it over your teeth. They’ll ensure full coverage of all teeth and gum areas needed for your treatment.
- Setting Time – You’ll bite down gently and hold still for 3 to 5 minutes while the material hardens. Breathing through your nose and focusing on something else can help the time pass quickly.
- Removal and Inspection – Once set, your dentist carefully removes the dental tray and checks the impression for accuracy. If any areas didn’t capture properly, they may need to retake the impression.
5 Factors That Affect How Long Traditional Dental Impressions Take
Patient Cooperation
Your ability to stay still and follow instructions directly impacts how quickly impressions can be completed. Patients who remain calm and breathe steadily through their nose help the process go smoothly. If you’re anxious or have a strong gag reflex, your dentist may need extra time for breaks or to try different techniques.
Type of Restoration Needed
Simple single-tooth impressions for one crown take less time than full-arch impressions for dentures or multiple bridges. Complex cases requiring bite registration or impressions of both dental arches naturally take longer. Your dental professional will explain the specific requirements for your treatment before starting.
Number of Teeth Involved
Taking impressions of just a few teeth goes faster than capturing your entire mouth. Full-mouth impressions for complete dentures or extensive restoration work require careful attention to capture every detail. Each additional tooth or area adds time to ensure accurate results.
Experience of the Dental Professional
An experienced dental professional who regularly takes impressions can work more efficiently while maintaining accuracy. They know how to position trays correctly the first time and can quickly identify when an impression needs to be retaken. Their expertise helps minimize the total time you spend in the chair.
Quality of the First Attempt
Sometimes impressions need to be retaken if bubbles, tears, or incomplete areas appear in the material. Digital impressions reduce this risk since your dentist can see results immediately and rescan problem areas. Good first attempts save significant time compared to complete do-overs.
How long does it take for digital dental impressions to be made?
Digital impressions are significantly faster than traditional methods, typically taking just 3 to 5 minutes per arch. The entire scanning process for both upper and lower teeth usually completes in under 10 minutes. Since there’s no waiting for materials to set, your dental professional can immediately review the digital scan and retake any sections if needed, making the process more efficient and comfortable.
What Happens During the Dental Procedure
- Mouth Preparation – Your dental professional dries your teeth and may apply a light powder to reduce shine. This helps the scanner capture clearer images of your tooth surfaces.
- Scanner Positioning – The dentist uses a small handheld wand about the size of an electric toothbrush. They’ll explain how to position your mouth for the best scanning angles.
- Scanning Process – Moving the scanner slowly over your teeth, the device captures thousands of images per second. You’ll see your teeth appear on a computer screen in real-time as a 3D model.
- Review and Verification – Your dentist checks the digital model on screen for completeness and accuracy. They can instantly rescan any areas that need better detail without starting over.
- Digital Transmission – Once satisfied with the scan, your dentist sends it electronically to the dental lab. This eliminates shipping time and gets your restoration started immediately.
Does getting dental impressions hurt?
Dental impressions shouldn’t cause pain, though some patients find the entire process mildly uncomfortable. Traditional impressions may trigger a gag reflex when the material reaches the back of your mouth, but your dental professional can use techniques to minimize this sensation. Digital impressions are generally more comfortable since they only require a small scanner in your mouth without any messy materials. Most patients prefer digital impressions because there’s no taste, no waiting time, and no worry about breathing while the material sets.
Digital Impressions vs. Traditional Dental Impressions
Speed and Efficiency
Digital impressions win hands down when it comes to speed, taking just 3 to 5 minutes per arch compared to 10 to 15 minutes for traditional methods. You don’t need to wait for any material to set, and your dentist can instantly see if they need to rescan any areas. Traditional impressions require mixing time, setting time, and sometimes complete retakes if something goes wrong.
Comfort Level
Most patients find digital impressions far more comfortable than traditional ones since there’s no gooey special putty material that can trigger gagging or anxiety. Traditional impressions work well for patients who don’t mind the material, but digital is best for anyone with a sensitive gag reflex, anxiety about dental procedures, or concerns about breathing during the process.
Accuracy and Detail
Both methods can produce highly accurate impressions when done correctly, but digital impressions offer more consistent results. Digital scanners capture precise measurements down to fractions of a millimeter and eliminate human errors from material mixing or tray placement. Traditional impressions remain excellent for certain complex cases, but digital technology is best for most routine crowns, bridges, and aligners, where precision directly impacts the fit of your restoration.
Cost Considerations
Traditional impressions typically cost less upfront since they only require basic materials and trays that dental offices already have. Digital impression systems require significant investment in equipment and training, which may slightly increase the cost of your procedure. However, digital impressions often save money in the long run by reducing remake rates and eliminating shipping costs to labs.
Conclusion
Whether you need traditional or digital dental impressions, the process typically takes between 5 and 30 minutes, depending on the method and complexity. Digital impressions offer the fastest, most comfortable experience, while traditional methods remain reliable for certain procedures.
Ready to experience modern dental impression technology? Schedule your appointment with us at Truly Yours Family Dental to see which option best suits your needs. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more dental tips, and check out our reviews on Yelp to see why patients trust us with their smiles.