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Digital impressions have fundamentally changed what a dental laboratory can do for a practice. At National Dentex Labs, we see firsthand how intraoral scanning affects restoration accuracy, turnaround time, and — most importantly — the patient experience. Getting that scan right at the chair is where every great case begins.
Why Scan Quality Matters More Than Ever
A precise scan eliminates the guesswork that once came with conventional impressions. At NDX, our clinical IOS (Intraoral Optical Scanning) Training Team has worked with more than 10,000 dental professionals, and every trainer on the team is a licensed clinical professional — a registered dental assistant, certified dental assistant, internationally trained dentist, or registered dental hygienist. That clinical foundation means training is grounded in real-world workflow, not theory alone.
One of the most common errors we observe is an inaccurate bite registration. When patients are reclined during scanning, condyle position can shift. Our recommendation: have patients sit upright, open and close two to three times before the bite scan, and always verify the merged image on-screen matches the actual occlusion in the chair.
Protocols That Make a Difference
Different restoration types require different scanning approaches. For aligners, every surface of the dentition — plus two to four millimeters of gingival tissue — must be captured, both buccally and lingually. The same thorough protocol applies to nightguards, partial frameworks, and any multi-unit case sent to an NDX lab. Skipping soft-tissue capture on those cases is a leading driver of remakes.
The HD photo feature available on most modern scanners is particularly valuable for implant crowns and single-unit preps: it delivers a magnified image of the prepared area that helps our technicians design a more precise, better-fitting restoration the first time.
Your NDX Lab Partner Is One Scan Away
National Dentex Labs supports its DSO and independent practice partners with complimentary intraoral scanning training — on-site, at your convenience. Our team reviews your existing scan library, identifies patterns, and delivers hands-on coaching that measurably improves case acceptance and laboratory outcomes. Connect with your local NDX lab to schedule a session, or explore our continuing education platform at education.nationaldentex.com.
