FAQs:
Simply
request a time and date for your scan appointment at a location that is convenient for you (usually your home or your office). Our scan technician will contact you to confirm details. The scan itself takes 15-20 minutes. From there, our orthodontic team will design a treatment plan customized to your treatment goals and your face shape. Your clear aligners will be delivered right to your door in about 2 weeks.
The scan is completely safe. Our technicians are background checked dental proessionals that are trained in sterile field maintenance. The "scanner" itself is actually a system of cameras, so there is no radiation or chemicals involved in the process.
Q: Why would you do all of this for free?
It is our mission to provide access to quality, affordable, and convenient care. We know that the best treatment outcomes are achieved when the process begins with a perfectly accurate model of the teeth. So we go out of our way to try and ensure everyone has access to professional digital scan.
Q: How long does it take?
The scan appointment will usually take 15-20 minutes including the set up and take down of the equipment. And our scan technician will be happy to spend as much time as you like answering questions for you about the process.
Q: Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my scan?
Brush (and preferably floss) your teeth. Don't worry if you forget though - our scan technicians carry pre-pasted toothbrushes with them.
There are a handful of reasons why a digital scan is better than putty impressions. The most important one is that a digital scan is more accurate which ensures perfectly fitting aligners. Better fit means better results. When we scan your teeth the software digitally aligns the bite (the way the upper and lower teeth come together). Putty impressions have to be manually aligned by a lab technician using the photos provided to them... they're literally eyeballing it! The scan also allows you to get your aligners quicker because it is digitally transmitted to the design team whereas putty impressions have to be mailed to a lab and then digitized, which can take weeks. If all of that weren't enough, a scan is just a more pleasant experience. If you've ever had the experience of gagging on a mouthful of impression putty, you know exactly what we're talking about it. If you haven't, just trust us on this one.
Q: Where does the scan happen?
Most people choose to have the scan at their home or at their office. Whatever you choose, the location must be clean and safe with easily accessible wall outlets. For the scanner to function well there should not be a strong external light source (so outside doesn't work because the sun would be considered a strong external light source).
