Digital impression: the checklist before sending a case to the laboratory
A file sent quickly is not always a usable file. A few chairside checks reduce requests for missing records and help the laboratory start design with confidence.
Check margins and useful anatomy before the patient leaves
The preparation, its margins and the anatomy needed for design must be readable without guesswork.
Inspect the scan from several angles. Look for holes, stretched surfaces, stitching errors and moisture-related artefacts. The margin should remain continuous and visible around the preparation.
For bridges and extended cases, also review edentulous areas, adjacent teeth and enough of the arch to establish orientation. A disorganised overscan can be as difficult to use as an incomplete scan.
Do not treat the bite as a secondary file
Both arches must contain enough information to articulate reliably. Check the buccal bite for visible shifts and document any specific position requested.
Prepared arch
Margins, adjacent teeth and contact areas without gaps or distortion.
Opposing arch
Complete occlusal surface across the area required for design.
Bite record
Stable registration, visually checked and consistent with the clinical situation.
The scan must travel with a complete prescription
- The same case identifier in the portal, prescription and photographs.
- Tooth number, restoration type, proposed material and intended retention.
- Shade, substrate colour and calibrated photographs when aesthetics require them.
- Implant system, platform, scanbody reference and planned components.
- Requested timing and any design approval required before manufacturing.
A simple convention keeps every case traceable
Use a unique case identifier and avoid generic file names. If several versions are uploaded, clearly state which one replaces the previous file.
Before the first case, agree on the portal, accepted formats, photograph channel and the person to contact when information is missing.
Build a clear digital workflow
ISDL reviews your scanner, formats and approval process.