Completely eliminating the need for messy, traditional impressions, 3D images of the teeth can now be captured with a digital scanning process. By moving a compact and lightweight wand around the teeth, a sophisticated software program can digitally stitch together images from multiple angles to produce a highly accurate 3D digital model of a patient’s upper and lower teeth and bite. Far more comfortable for the patient than impressions taken with putty like materials, a digital impression can be viewed on a computer screen in real time. This highly accurate impression data can also be readily transmitted to orthodontic labs and manufacturers to produce custom appliances.