iTero Digital Scanning in Cibolo, TX
Reviewed by Dr. Dima Kalakech, Board-Certified Orthodontist
What is an iTero® scanner? The iTero scanner is a handheld digital wand that captures a precise 3D model of your teeth and gums in minutes, with no impression putty. At Embrace Orthodontics, every treatment starts with an iTero scan: faster, cleaner, and far more comfortable than the impressions patients remember.
If you’ve ever gagged through a tray of pink impression putty, this page is good news. Unpleasant putty impressions are a thing of the past at Embrace. The iTero system captures the contours of every tooth and the surrounding gum structure digitally, producing an orthodontic scan so detailed that comparing it to a putty impression is like comparing HDTV to standard definition.
How the iTero Scan Works
The handheld wand glides over your teeth while a camera builds the 3D model in real time; there’s no radiation involved in the scan itself. You can breathe and swallow normally, pause whenever you like, and watch your teeth appear on the screen as Dr. K scans. Re-dos are rare because accuracy is first-rate, and the whole thing typically takes just a few minutes.
Instead of shipping impressions to a lab, your digital model transmits electronically and is available in the Invisalign® ClinCheck system as soon as the next day, which means aligner treatment starts sooner.
See Your Future Smile Before You Start
The scan powers the Invisalign Outcome Simulator: an on-screen preview of what your smile could look like after treatment, generated in minutes from your own teeth. It’s one of the most popular moments of a first visit, especially for patients on the fence about starting.
One Scan, Many Uses
Your iTero® 3D model isn’t just for aligners. It supports every service we offer, from braces planning and appliance fabrication to precise retainer production or replacement: a stored digital model can spare you a return visit.
Your scan also becomes part of your permanent digital record. Progress comparisons, refinement planning, even a replacement retainer years from now, all start from data we already have. One comfortable scan keeps paying off long after the appointment ends.
Frequently Asked Questions About iTero Scanning
What is an iTero scanner used for?
Orthodontic records, Invisalign treatment planning, appliance and retainer fabrication, and progress tracking. It replaces physical impressions for nearly everything we do at Embrace.
Are digital scans really better than putty impressions?
Yes, on every axis that matters: accuracy, comfort, speed and repeatability. Putty can distort while setting; a digital scan captures exact geometry and can be checked on-screen instantly, which is why re-takes are rare.
Can the scan show what my smile will look like after treatment?
It can. The Invisalign Outcome Simulator uses your scan to generate a preview of your projected result during your visit. It’s a simulation rather than a guarantee, but it’s a remarkably useful way to see where your plan is headed.
Are there any downsides to iTero scanning?
Honestly, few. Some diagnostic questions still need X-rays (a scan maps surfaces, not roots or bone), and that’s why comprehensive records include both. For the impression step itself, we haven’t met a patient who wants the putty back.
Experience the Scan at Your Free Consultation
Your first iTero scan happens at your free first visit, no putty required. Call (210) 253-2424 or request an appointment online. Embrace Orthodontics serves Cibolo, Schertz and surrounding communities.