ALIGN TECHNOLOGY
iTero Element 2 Scanner
Fast, accurate, and easy-to-use intraoral scanner streamlines the restorative workflow while offering an invaluable visualization tool for patient education
Chad Duplantis, DDS
When Dr. Chad Duplantis was in dental school, one of the requirements was to take study models on every new patient. But the further from graduation he got, the more he realized that the impressions he was capturing were merely good at best and often unpredictable— not to mention the time it took to pour up and trim the models.
“Now, I can have an accurate replication of the patient’s dentition in a matter of minutes,” he said of using Align Technology’s iTero Element 2 intraoral scanner, adding that it has been a welcome addition to the new patient exam. “We share the impressions with patients in real time, which has not only been great for patient education, but also for case acceptance.”
The iTero Element 2 scanner includes features that simplify visualization for patients, including TimeLapse Technology, which compares a patient’s past 3D scan with his or her present-day scan to identify orthodontic movement, areas of wear, or gingival recession.
For patients concerned about wear, malalignment, abrasion, recession, or inflammation, Dr. Duplantis said he can take subsequent scans and use TimeLapse Technology to share both additive and subtractive changes in the patient’s oral health with them.
"In the end, patient education leads to case acceptance, which leads to productivity and eventually profitability," he said.
"In addition to being a restorative scanner, iTero is the most intuitive tool for treatment planning, patient monitoring, and patient education."
-Chad Duplantis, DDS
A Faster Workflow
It’s estimated that the average practice places 13 crowns a month. To keep up with this demand, it is essential to start the restorative process with an accurate impression.
The iTero Element 2 scanner has transformed Dr. Duplantis' restorative workflow by dramatically reducing lab turnaround time and, at the same time, yielding accurate restorations that drop right into place.
“With iTero scans, restorations return much more quickly from the lab compared to restorations fabricated from analog impressions,” he said. “This has shifted the average turnaround time in our office from about 3 weeks to 1 week, which is huge.”
The iTero Element 2 scanner also helps eliminate errors and retakes through its user-friendly design and enhanced visualization. “When you can not only easily visualize an impression, but also magnify it on the screen, there is never a reason to send off a bad impression to the lab,” concluded Dr. Duplantis
