The free consultation — what really happens with the iTero 3D scan

45 minutes, a 3D scanner instead of impression putty, and at the end you see your future smile. How the first appointment runs.

What the consultation is meant to deliver

Before we start an aligner therapy we need to answer two questions:

Are your teeth and gums healthy enough for orthodontic correction?
Can your goals be reached with aligners — and in what time frame?

We clarify both in a 45-minute appointment. It's free and without obligation. You come without pressure and leave with either a clear plan or an honest no-go — both are fine.

How the appointment runs

1. Short conversation (5–10 min)

We listen first. What bothers you? Which teeth exactly? Did you have braces as a teenager? Are there dates — wedding, career change, job interview phase — that influence the timing? Are there medical topics we should know about (allergies, grinding, jaw joints)?

These answers shape everything that follows.

2. Clinical examination (10 min)

We check teeth and gums for:

Caries or defective fillings
Gum inflammation, pockets
Loose teeth, root issues
Bite dynamics and jaw joints

Whatever we find may need to be treated before the aligner therapy. A small filling is quickly done, a root canal pushes the start by a few weeks. We're honest about what's necessary and what isn't.

3. iTero 3D scan (10 min)

Here happens what you probably came in for in the first place. Instead of an impression tray with putty we run a pen-sized scanner head through your mouth. The iTero scanner builds in real time a high-precision 3D model of your bite — both jaws, occlusion, every tooth surface.

What that means for you:

No gag reflex — no material that has to harden.
No taste — the scanner is hygienic and clean.
Instant — no waiting, no shipping to a lab.
Repeatable — we can rescan whenever needed.

You see the 3D model on screen. We rotate it, zoom in, point out the spots where teeth overlap, tilt or leave gaps.

4. Panoramic X-ray (5 min)

To assess the tooth roots and the jaw bone — neither visible from the outside — we take a digital panoramic X-ray. Minimal radiation, image ready in 30 seconds. We verify root length, impacted wisdom teeth and bone structures.

5. Preview and discussion (10–15 min)

Now comes the part most people love. From the 3D scan the software computes in a few minutes a preview of your possible end position. You see:

Where your teeth stand today
Where they would stand after treatment
How many aligner steps lie in between
Which package fits (easy with 10 aligners or sensitive with 20)
What treatment duration is realistic

We discuss limits honestly: there are movements aligners do more slowly than fixed braces — or not at all. If your case is too complex we say so here, not after a signed contract.

What you have after the appointment

A clear diagnosis
A 3D preview of your possible smile
A transparent cost estimate (easy €1,580 / jaw one-time or from €44 / month in 36 instalments)
An honest recommendation whether now is the right time

And — if you say yes — an appointment for the aligner handover in one to two weeks.

What to bring

Essentially nothing. If you have older X-rays or reports from a previous orthodontic treatment, bring them. They help us read your dental history faster.

No insurance card needed — we bill directly, without insurance contribution.

Why a 3D scan and no more putty?

Classic impressions with alginate or silicone have three problems: uncomfortable, error-prone (air bubbles, distortion when setting) and slow (lab shipping). A digital 3D scan is accurate to a hundredth of a millimetre, available instantly and more pleasant for you. Aligner manufacturers now work almost exclusively from scan data — this raises quality noticeably.