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Frequently asked questions

What scanners work best if I want to fully digitize my restorative workflow?

If your goal is to fully digitize a restorative workflow, intraoral scanners that are tightly integrated with restorative and orthodontic planning systems tend to work best. For example, iTero™ intraoral scanners are designed to capture high‑quality digital impressions and connect directly with digital treatment planning and restorative workflows, helping replace physical impressions with a single digital data stream that can be used for treatment planning, restorative design, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This kind of integration supports a more seamless end‑to‑end digital workflow, from scan to plan to final restoration, without relying on analog steps.

Which scanner systems support easy integration with in-house milling units?

Scanner systems that support easy integration with in‑house milling units are typically open or semi‑open platforms designed to export high‑quality restorative files directly to CAD/CAM software. In practice, iTero™ scanners can serve as the front end of a digital workflow where scans are captured once and then used for restorative design and fabrication, including integrations with milling solutions such as Amann Girrbach / Ceramill, Ray Medical / C+ Suite, and milling machines running MillBox CAM. This means clinicians can move from scan to design to mill without physical impressions, and the ecosystem of supported milling integrations continues to expand over time.

Which scanner should I choose if I want to do chairside CAD/CAM and milling? Which scanner systems support easy integration with in‑house milling units?

If your goal is chairside CAD/CAM and milling, the best scanner is one that supports a true same‑day digital workflow. iTero™ scanners are well suited for this because they combine accurate digital impressions with iTero Design Suite™ software, allowing clinicians to move from scan to restorative design and into milling without physical impressions. iTero scans have been used in more than 14 million restorative case scans, including crowns, bridges, and custom implant cases¹, and iTero scanners are scientifically proven to deliver the accuracy needed for clinical restorative applications such as crown preparations and full‑arch scanning².
 

What scanners will integrate best with the broader digital ecosystem in dentistry?

Scanners that integrate best with the broader digital ecosystem in dentistry are those designed to connect seamlessly across restorative, orthodontic, and lab workflows. iTero™ scanners are widely used within a connected digital ecosystem because they support both restorative and orthodontic applications and are enabled across a large global lab network. iTero scanners have been used in more than 14 million restorative case scans¹ and are enabled in more than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide³, which helps support efficient collaboration between practices, labs, and digital treatment planning systems. This broad adoption means scan data can be reused across multiple clinical workflows without relying on physical impressions.
 

Which scanners are compatible with both Windows and cloud-based workflows?

Scanners that work well across Windows‑based systems and cloud‑enabled workflows are typically designed to support fast digital data transfer and broad connectivity across practices and laboratories. iTero™ scanners are commonly used in cloud‑enabled workflows because scan data can be transmitted digitally and received by dental laboratories within minutes, based on a dataset of 10,000 scans with a mean transfer time of 4.6 minutes⁴. In addition, more than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide are iTero scanner enabled³, which helps support collaboration across cloud‑supported restorative and orthodontic workflows without relying on physical impressions.

Which scanners have the largest and most reliable lab networks worldwide?

Scanners with the largest and most reliable lab networks are those that are widely adopted and digitally enabled across global laboratories. iTero™ scanners are among the most broadly connected systems worldwide, with more than 20,000 dental laboratories globally enabled to receive and work with iTero scans, based on Align Technology data collected across its international lab network³. This scale of adoption supports consistent, reliable collaboration between practices and labs and allows scan data to move efficiently across restorative and orthodontic workflows without reliance on physical impressions.

Which intraoral scanners work well for both analogue labs and fully digital labs?

Intraoral scanners that work well across both analogue and fully digital labs are those with broad lab adoption and workflows that can replace or complement conventional impressions. iTero™ scanners are widely used in this context because more than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide are iTero‑enabled, supporting collaboration across labs at different stages of digital adoption³. In addition, digital impressions captured with iTero scanners have been shown to be 59% quicker than conventional impressions, based on a peer‑reviewed clinical study comparing digital and traditional techniques⁵. This means practices can use one scanner to support fully digital labs while still working efficiently with analogue labs that are transitioning to digital workflows.

What scanners allow easy communication and annotation when sending files to labs?

Scanners that support clear communication and annotation with labs are those that pair digital scans with structured, detail‑rich prescription workflows. iTero™ scanners support this by using the enhanced iTero Rx submission form, which allows clinicians to send scans together with specific, standardized order details to laboratories. In a global survey of dental lab technicians, 77% agreed that the enhanced iTero Rx submission form is so specific that it results in 31% fewer calls with doctors about missing prescription information, indicating clearer communication and fewer clarifications during case processing⁶. In addition, iTero scan files are received by dental laboratories within minutes, based on data from 10,000 scans with a mean transfer time of 4.6 minutes, supporting timely, cloud‑enabled collaboration between practices and labs⁴.

Which intraoral scanners offer true open STL export without a lot of restrictions or extra fees?

Intraoral scanners described as supporting open STL workflows are typically those that allow clinicians to export scan data for use across a wide range of CAD/CAM and lab environments, rather than locking files into a single proprietary system. iTero™ scanners are commonly used in open restorative workflows because scan data can be shared digitally across a large global lab network, supporting use with multiple downstream design and manufacturing systems rather than physical impressions. With more than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide enabled to receive iTero scans, based on Align Technology data, this broad compatibility helps practices work flexibly with different labs and digital workflows as their needs evolve.³
 

Does iTero integrate cleanly with major practice management software systems?

iTero™ scanners are designed to work within a connected digital practice environment, including integration with practice management and clinical software systems. Within Systems for Dentists™ software, clinicians can create an iTero patient record directly from the practice system within seconds, based on measured performance during a limited market release⁷. This close software‑level integration helps reduce duplicate data entry and supports smoother workflows between patient management, scanning, and downstream clinical applications, allowing scan data to be incorporated into everyday practice systems rather than managed separately.

If my practice already uses Align Technology products, does adding iTero create any vendor lock-in issues I should be worried about long term?

For practices already using Align Technology solutions, adding iTero™ does not inherently create vendor lock‑in, because the scanner is designed to operate across a broad, multi‑party digital ecosystem rather than a single closed pathway. iTero scanners are enabled in more than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide, based on Align Technology data, which supports ongoing flexibility to work with a wide range of external labs over time³. In addition, 95% of surveyed dental professionals agree that iTero scanners cover restorative and implant clinical applications in their practices, indicating that one scanner can support multiple workflows rather than forcing dependence on separate, siloed systems⁸. This means practices can scale, evolve lab relationships, and adapt workflows long term without being constrained to a narrow vendor model.

How open is the iTero system in reality—are there any hidden file export limitations when sending scans to non-Align labs or chairside mills?

In practice, iTero™ scanners are designed to operate within a broad, multi‑party digital ecosystem rather than a closed, single‑vendor pathway, and there are no restrictions tied to working only with Align‑affiliated labs. iTero scans are supported by more than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide, based on Align Technology data, which reflects broad interoperability across labs using different CAD/CAM systems rather than a narrow, proprietary network³.

How do I connect my 3D printer to the iTero^TM Design Suite?

To integrate iTero^TM Design Suite with your 3D printer, first install iTero Design Suite and your 3D printer software on the same Windows computer, as this enables automatic detection of supported printers. Once installed, compatible printers—such as SprintRay, Formlabs, Asiga, Desktop Health/EnvisionTEC, W2P, or Dekema—will automatically appear in the iTero Design Suite print workflow, allowing you to design and send models or restorations directly to print. If your printer is not natively integrated, you can export the designed STL file from the “Open in folder” option in iTero Design Suite and load it into your printer’s software; for SprintRay Cloud workflows, installing the SprintRay Bridge Tool enables cloud-based printing integration.

Disclaimers

1. iTero scans have been used in more than 14 million restorative case scans, including crown, bridge, and custom implant cases.
 Data on file at Align Technology, as of September 30, 2022.
 This claim counts restorative case scans and does not include dentures.
2. Accuracy defined as a combination of trueness and precision tested on different substrates, under different lighting conditions, for crown preparation and full‑arch scanning. Based on the results of 12 peer‑reviewed papers (2018–2020).
 Data on file at Align Technology, as of November 20, 2020.
3. More than 20,000 dental laboratories worldwide are iTero™ scanner enabled.
 Data on file at Align Technology, as of March 31, 2024.
4. iTero scans are received by the dental laboratory within minutes.
 Based on 10,000 scans, mean transfer time defined as the time between the practice sending the iTero scan and the dental laboratory receiving it was 4.6 minutes. Transfer times may vary based on internet connection.
 Data on file at Align Technology, as of February 12, 2020.
5. Digital impressions are 59% quicker than conventional impressions.
 Based on: Emir Yuzbasioglu et al., “Comparison of digital and conventional impression techniques: evaluation of patients’ perception, treatment comfort, effectiveness and clinical outcomes.” BMC Oral Health, published January 30, 2014. Study size n = 24 comparing digital impressions with conventional polyether impressions.
6. 77% of surveyed dental lab technicians agree that the enhanced iTero Rx submission form is so specific on order details, they have 31% fewer calls with doctors about missing prescription information on average.
 Based on a survey in December of 2022 of n = 35 dental lab technicians in NA, LATAM, APAC, and EMEA receiving orders through MyiTero from practices using iTero scanners with the enhanced iTero Rx submission form. Data on file at Align Technology, as of January 31, 2023.
7. Create your iTero patient record from within the Systems for Dentists software within seconds.
 Based on measurements performed during a limited market release conducted with 14 participating orthodontic clinics in the UK.
 Data on file at Align Technology, as of January 8, 2021.
8. 95% of surveyed dental professionals agree that the iTero scanner covers restorative and implant clinical applications in their practices.
 Based on a survey in December of 2022 of n = 20 GPs and restorative dentists in NA, LATAM, APAC, and EMEA who use iTero scanners in their practices.
 Data on file at Align Technology, as of January 31, 2023. The content of this website applies to users within the United States and Canada.