Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
by Dr Minoo Ghamari, Gorgeous Smiles, Melbourne, VIC
I have the iTero Element 5D and two other brands of scanner in my practice. Of the three, the iTero is the fastest so it tends to get more use.
What’s good about it
When scanning, you don’t need an assistant to help you. It doesn’t fog with the breathing of the patient, so it can be very quick. It can also show the patient how their teeth will look after Invisalign treatment. The result is AI generated so it’s not 100 per cent reliable. You need to use your clinical knowledge to explain exactly what’s possible to the patient. Every single patient is impressed with the results as it’s almost like an intraoral photo or video. It certainly assists in patient acceptance of treatment.
This iTero uses software called NIRI [Near Infrared Imaging] to scan the internal structure of the tooth. It shows if there is a cavity or decalcification between teeth. It can also be used to show patients their bite by highlighting areas where more pressure is being applied to the teeth. This is very useful for people with a deep or open bite. When I show the patient the results of the scan, it’s easy to visualise and makes sense to them.
The Itero is a great tool to educate patients and for keeping complete records. It integrates seamlessly with Invisalign and is fast, efficient and accurate.
What’s not so good
To be honest, I haven’t used it for my restoratives so I can’t speak to that side of things. I use my CEREC scanner for that as I can immediately create a crown if needed.
