At Nexus, we are excited to be able to offer you state of the art orthodontic care with Itero Digital Impressions at our New Hyde Park office. Gone are the days of the “goopy stuff” sitting on your teeth for an uncomfortably long time in order to get the necessary impressions for effective orthodontic care. Now, with state of the art technology from Itero, we are able to take initial impressions and scans with minimal disruption to you. All you have to do is sit back and relax. We’ll use the iTero handheld wand to take digital, 3D images of your teeth. Unlike the putty-like material that is often associated with taking impressions, the wand is non-invasive and you’re able to breathe and swallow, or adjust, as you need throughout the procedure. While the impressions are being done, you’ll be able to see them in real-time as your orthodontist moves the wand.
Thanks to these technological advances that Nexus is taking advantage of, we are able to streamline processes and make your care plan as efficient as possible, so you can unlock your smile — with ease.
How the iTero Scanner Works
The iTero scanner is a small handheld wand that captures digital images of your teeth and gums as it moves through your mouth, assembling them into a detailed 3D model on screen in real time. There’s no tray, no putty, and no waiting for material to set — if a spot needs re-capturing, we simply rescan that area in seconds rather than starting over.
Because the scan is digital from the start, your records are immediately ready to use — no shipping physical molds to a lab, and no distortion from an impression that shifted in transit.
What We Use Your Scan For
Your digital impression does a lot of work across your treatment:
- Diagnosis and treatment planning — a precise 3D record of your bite from day one
- Invisalign treatment design — iTero scans integrate directly with Invisalign, so aligner treatment can be planned from the same scan taken at your consultation
- Progress tracking — comparing scans over time shows exactly how your teeth are moving
- Appliance fabrication — retainers and other appliances can be made from the digital model, often with a better fit than putty impressions provide
Why Patients Prefer Digital Impressions
- Comfortable — no gagging, no goop hardening in your mouth; breathe and swallow normally throughout
- Fast — scanning typically takes minutes, and there’s no re-do if a section needs touching up
- Accurate — a high-resolution digital model, with no material shrinkage or distortion
- Visual — you see your own teeth in 3D during the appointment, which makes it much easier to understand what treatment will do
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iTero scan safe? Yes. The wand captures optical images — there’s no radiation involved in a digital impression scan.
How long does a scan take? Most full scans are completed in a matter of minutes as part of a regular visit.
Can kids be scanned? Absolutely. The wand-based scan is especially helpful for younger patients and anyone with a strong gag reflex, since nothing sits in the mouth.
Do I still need a scan if I want braces instead of Invisalign? Yes — the same digital records improve diagnosis, planning, and retainer fit for every treatment type, braces included.
