Cost of digital impressions


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The initial outlay for dentists is high; however, in the long-term, switching to digital technology could actually save a lot of money, as well as time. The cost of scanning units varies according to the system and model; you can expect to pay in excess of £15,000 for one of the latest scanners and it’s also a good idea to factor in training costs when drawing up a budget. Once you’ve covered the investment in the unit and training costs, additional costs are minimal, as the images are produced and sent electronically.

Traditional methods may seem like a cheaper option, but the cost of each impression usually works out at around £20 and there is always a risk of inaccuracies and having to create remakes; over a prolonged period of time, the cost of making and disposing of traditional moulds soon mounts up.


The exact cost comparisons will depend on the individual dentist or clinic; factors that will be taken into account:

  • the number of units of treatment carried out on average per year (a clinic that does a lot of restorative work will find buying  scanner much more cost-effective than one that rarely carries out such work)
  • the make and model of the scanner
  • training costs
  • the cost of materials used to create traditional impressions
  • labour costs (digital impressions require less time in the dental chair)
  • the cost of mistakes

« What happens when a digital impression is created? Dental cone beam computerised tomography (CBCT) scans »



Guide to Digital Impressions and Scanning




Further Information about Dental Treatment