Does the intraoral scanner hurt?
No. It's a completely painless procedure. The camera doesn't apply pressure to the teeth; it just passes near them.
Atria Sampaio · Technology
Intraoral scanner in Santiago
Digital 3D impressions, without silicone molds, without gagging, with micrometric precision.
The intraoral scanner is a handheld device that captures a full three-dimensional model of your mouth in seconds. It completely replaces traditional tray-and-silicone or alginate impressions. In our Vitacura clinic we use it as the first step of almost every treatment: implants, orthodontics, smile design, veneers, rehabilitations, and CAD/CAM crowns.
How it works: an optical camera takes thousands of images per second and the software assembles them in real time into a high-fidelity 3D model. Modern intraoral scanners match or exceed the precision of analog impressions, with the advantage that the model is immediately editable, reviewable, and archivable. We no longer depend on plaster casts that can fracture, or on materials that distort over time.
For the patient, the difference is tangible. No uncomfortable trays in the mouth. No silicone taste. No gagging or claustrophobia. A full-arch scan takes 60 to 90 seconds, and you can see the result on screen immediately. If an area came out incomplete, only that segment is rescanned. Total chair time is reduced by a factor of 3 to 5 compared to a traditional impression.
Clinically, the intraoral scanner enables a fully digital workflow. We can send the model to the laboratory in seconds, to implant planning software, to the smile-design simulator (DSD), or directly to the CAD/CAM mill to fabricate a same-day crown. Every treatment becomes more precise, more predictable, and faster.
At Atria Sampaio we treat this technology as the standard, not as an optional differentiator. It's part of the protocol Dr. Camila Sampaio and Dr. Pablo Atria practice with, inherited from their years of training and teaching at NYU College of Dentistry. If you come in for an evaluation, you'll likely leave with your mouth already digitized and a visually defined treatment plan.
How it works
Step 1 · 2 min
Preparation
You sit in the chair and receive an explanation. No anesthesia, no uncomfortable material in the mouth.
Step 2 · 3 min
Scanning
The scanner passes over your teeth and gums, capturing thousands of images assembled into a 3D model.
Step 3 · 2 min
On-screen review
We review the 3D model with you, verify there are no incomplete areas, and take additional registrations if needed.
Step 4 · 1 min
Send to digital workflow
The model is sent to the lab, the planning software, or the CAD/CAM mill depending on the treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does it completely replace traditional impressions?
In the vast majority of cases, yes. Specific cases of severe bruxism or very complex rehabilitations may require complementary analog registrations, but they are the exception.
What scanner brands do you use?
We work with latest-generation scanners from the leading global manufacturers. In consultation we explain the specific device we use for your case.
Can I see my 3D model afterward?
Yes. We show you the model on screen during the session, and we can include it in your treatment presentation.
How long does a full scan take?
60 to 90 seconds per arch. Total visit time depends on what we do with the model afterward.
Can it be used in children?
Yes. The intraoral scanner is safe and comfortable for pediatric patients. We use it in pediatric dentistry for diagnosis, eruption tracking, early orthodontic planning, and fabrication of functional orthopedic appliances. The absence of silicone molds, associated gagging, and nausea reflex makes it especially well tolerated in children from about age six onward. For younger cases we adapt the procedure to patient cooperation.
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