iTero Lumina Salinas & San Jose, CA

Digital Impressions for a More Comfortable Dental Experience

Dental impressions help your dentist understand your smile and plan treatment. With iTero Lumina, that process starts with a small handheld scanner that captures detailed images of your teeth and gums. These images create a three-dimensional digital model you can view on a screen alongside your dental team.

For many treatments, digital scanning offers an alternative to traditional impression trays and putty. It also gives you a closer look at your teeth, helping you understand your dentist’s recommendations and take a more informed role in your care.

iTero Lumina

What Is the iTero Lumina Scanner?

iTero Lumina is an intraoral scanner—a device that takes images from inside your mouth to create a detailed digital impression. Your dental team gently moves the scanning wand around your teeth, capturing their shape and how your upper and lower teeth fit together.

The resulting model provides a digital record that can support treatment planning and communication with dental laboratories. Its lifelike visuals also make it easier for your dentist to show you areas of concern and explain possible treatment options.

Benefits of iTero Lumina

Digital scanning makes dental impressions easier to understand and more comfortable for many patients.

  • Less Impression Material: Digital impressions can replace trays and putty for many treatment needs.
  • Patient Comfort: A compact scanning wand helps your dental team capture images while working around your comfort.
  • Detailed 3D Images: A digital model records the contours of your teeth and bite.
  • A Clearer View of Your Smile: On-screen images help you see what your dentist sees.
  • Efficient Digital Communication: Scan files can support coordination with compatible laboratories and treatment systems.

How Digital Scans Support Your Care

An iTero Lumina scan gives your dentist a detailed view of the visible surfaces of your teeth and gums. Depending on your treatment needs, digital impressions may help with planning crowns, bridges, clear aligners, or other dental appliances.

For orthodontic care, compatible digital workflows allow scan information to support Invisalign treatment planning. For restorative care, digital impressions can help communicate tooth shape and bite information to a dental laboratory.

Your dentist determines when scanning is appropriate and what additional records are needed. A scan is one part of your evaluation, alongside your examination, health history, and any necessary dental X-rays.

What to Expect During Your Scan

Your dental team begins by explaining the process and positioning you comfortably. A team member then guides the scanning wand around your upper and lower teeth. You may also be asked to bite together briefly so the scanner can record how your teeth meet.

As images are captured, a digital model appears on the screen. Your dental team checks the scan and captures additional details where needed. You can ask for a pause if you need to swallow, rest your jaw, or adjust your position.

Once the scan is complete, your dentist can review the images with you and explain how they relate to your care.

iTero Lumina FAQs

An iTero Lumina scan is noninvasive and generally well tolerated. The scanning wand moves around your teeth without drilling or injections. You will need to keep your mouth open, and the wand may touch parts of your mouth during scanning. Let your dental team know if you have a sensitive gag reflex, jaw discomfort, or difficulty opening wide so they can adjust the process.

The iTero Lumina digital impression process uses optical scanning technology rather than X-rays to capture the surfaces of your teeth and gums. It does not expose you to ionizing radiation. Your dentist may still recommend dental X-rays to evaluate areas a surface scan cannot show, including tooth roots, supporting bone, and certain areas between teeth.

Digital scanning can replace traditional impression trays and putty for many treatments. However, the best impression method depends on the procedure, your oral condition, and the requirements of the laboratory or appliance being used. Your dentist will recommend the approach that provides the information needed for your care.

Capturing a digital impression generally takes a few minutes, although the time varies with the area being scanned and the details needed. A scan of both arches and your bite may take longer than a scan of a smaller area. Your dental team also checks the images before finishing to make sure the necessary information has been captured.

No. iTero Lumina is a scanning tool with applications beyond clear aligner treatment. A scan may support restorative treatment, dental appliance planning, or a discussion about your oral health. If you are interested in Invisalign, your dentist will evaluate your teeth, bite, and treatment goals to determine whether it is appropriate.

Take a Closer Look at Your Smile

Understanding your dental care starts with a clear picture. iTero Lumina helps make that conversation more visual, giving you and your dentist a detailed view of your teeth. Contact our Salinas or San Jose to schedule an appointment and learn how digital scanning may fit into your treatment.