Intraoral scanners

Best Intraoral Scanners for Digital Impressions (2026)

If I were recommending an intraoral scanner for a modern dental practice today, my shortlist would be Medit i900, Dentsply Sirona Primescan 2, 3Shape TRIOS 5, and iTero Lumina.

There isn't one scanner that's best for every dentist. The right choice depends on whether you primarily perform crowns and bridges, implants, full-mouth rehabilitation, orthodontics, or general dentistry.

My assessment combines recent clinical research, available technology, and practical workflow considerations.

Top 4 scanners

• 

(Best overall value)

1. Medit i900

• Excellent scanning accuracy.
• Lightweight, ergonomic design.
• Open STL/PLY export workflow.
• Attractive software ecosystem.
• Particularly interesting for restorative and general dentistry.

My take: One of the strongest choices if you want excellent digital impressions without committing to an expensive closed ecosystem.

Official Medit website

---

• 

(Best for restorative accuracy)

2. Dentsply Sirona Primescan 2

• Excellent full-arch accuracy.
• Strong restorative workflow.
• Cloud-based scanning capabilities.
• Particularly attractive for CEREC users.

My take: A very strong choice for crowns, bridges, restorative dentistry, and practices invested in the Dentsply Sirona ecosystem.

Official Dentsply Sirona website

---

• 

3. 3Shape TRIOS 5

• Wireless scanning.
• Excellent clinical workflow.
• Strong laboratory integration.
• Good restorative and orthodontic applications.
• Established digital dentistry ecosystem.

My take: Excellent for dentists who work with multiple dental laboratories and value flexibility.

Official 3Shape website

---

• 

4. iTero Lumina

• Advanced optical scanning technology.
• Excellent orthodontic workflow.
• Strong Invisalign integration.
• Useful visualization and patient communication tools.

My take: Particularly attractive if Invisalign and orthodontic treatment represent a significant part of your practice.

Official iTero website

What does the clinical research say?

One particularly interesting 2026 clinical study published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry compared six scanners in 10 participants.

The following are reported full-arch trueness measurements. Lower values indicate better agreement with the reference.

Importantly, the study found no statistically significant difference between Primescan, Primescan 2, and Medit i900.

Source: Complete arch accuracy of six intraoral scanning devices (2026).pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+1

Another important consideration: full-arch implant impressions are more challenging than single crowns. Scanner selection, scan-body design, and scanning technique can substantially affect accuracy.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+1

My recommendation by dental specialty

Five things I would evaluate before purchasing

1. Accuracy: Especially full-arch and implant scan accuracy.
2. Scanning speed: Time required for a complete upper and lower arch.
3. Software: Ease of editing margins, identifying undercuts, and exporting files.
4. Open architecture: Whether you can export STL/PLY without restrictive fees.
5. Total ownership cost: Hardware, annual subscriptions, software upgrades, service, and warranty.

---

Let me narrow this down to the best scanner for your practice.

I would like to know one important thing first:

What type of dentistry do you perform most frequently?

1. Your primary clinical focus

---

2. Your investment budget

---

3. Preferred digital workflow

[Find my best scanner]

I can then give you a more definitive recommendation, including which scanner I would personally invest in and which ones I would avoid.

Choosing the "best" intraoral scanner (IOS) depends heavily on your clinic's primary workflow (restorative, ortho, or heavy implant/All-on-X work ), your budget, and whether you prefer an open ecosystem or a closed, tightly integrated suite.

The top-performing intraoral scanners currently dominating the market balance speed, weight, open-architecture file export, and recurring fee structures:

1. The Value & Open-Architecture Champion: Medit (i900 / i700 Wireless)

• Best for: Everyday general practice, ease of use, and zero forced subscription/license fees.
• Why it stands out: Medit has built a massive cult following among clinicians because of its open software policy (exporting .stl, .ply , and .obj freely), regular feature-packed software updates, and great tracking speed. The newer Medit i900 Classic refines the tactile interface and ergonomics even further, while the Medit i700 Wireless remains a reliable staple for operatory mobility.
• Price Range: Generally bundled around $17,000–$21,000 via providers like the Tatum Surgical Medit i900 Listing.
• Catch: You supply or bundle your own PC/laptop specs (though many bundles include it), and heavy integration with proprietary mill suites requires extra bridging.

2. The Implant & Full-Arch Innovator: Shining 3D (Aoralscan Elite Wireless)

• Best for: Digital workflows that mix standard restorative work with high-precision full-arch implant photogrammetry.
• Why it stands out: The Aoralscan Elite Wireless breaks new ground by combining standard intraoral scanning with built-in Intraoral Photogrammetry (IPG) directly in the handpiece. Weighing just 194g with Wi-Fi 6, it hits high accuracy (5 μm for IPG workflows and 10 μm for single units) without needing a bulky external photogrammetry rig.
• Price Range: Around $23,999 (viewable via merchants like Articon Shining 3D Aoralscan Elite).

3. The Lightweight & Sub-Fee Option: 3DISC (Heron IOS)

• Best for: Budget-conscious clinics wanting a true plug-and-play, lightweight tool with zero ongoing fees.
• Why it stands out: At roughly 150 grams with a rotating tip and zero required warm-up time, the Heron IOS is designed to reduce hand fatigue and speed up chairside handover. It features complete open architecture and lifetime software upgrades included in a one-time purchase price.
• Price Range: Around $17,849 (available via DuraPro Health 3DISC Heron IOS).

4. The Industry Workhorses (Closed/Semi-Closed Giants): Align (iTero ) & Dentsply Sirona (Primescan)

• Best for: Invisalign-heavy practices (iTero ) or single-visit chairside milling with CEREC (Primescan).
• Why it stands out:
  • iTero remains the undisputed king if your practice relies heavily on Invisalign simulation tools, time-lapse oral health tracking, and direct alignment integration.
  • Primescan offers blazing-fast data acquisition and deep integration if you run a same-day crown/inlay chairside workflow with in-house milling.
• Catch: Higher entry costs and proprietary ecosystems or data-transfer friction compared to open-architecture brands.

To help narrow down the ideal pick, tell me:

• What is your primary procedure mix (e.g., 80% general restorative/crowns vs. heavy ortho vs. full-arch implants)?
• Do you want an open system (working with any lab/software) or a closed system tied to specific brands like Invisalign or CEREC?