Impression techniques for mouth molds have come a long way, since my father used plaster in dental school, which had to harden in the mouth, been “broken” apart, and then glued together.  In my years at The OSU, we used many different kinds of “goop,” which took a long time to harden and then had to be poured – while the patient got their faces cleaned or “de-gooped.”)  Today, digital impressions are made with a scanning device, and after they are analyzed on the computer screen, they are forwarded to a 3-D printer to be fabricated.   These 3-D prints are then used to fabricate crowns, bridges, and veneers, which may also be made via computer.  This can speed up the process and result in better fitting restorations.  Moving forward, the scanning devices should also be more effective in processing partial dentures, dentures, and implant procedures; in this latter area, they are already being used in both guided surgery and prosthetics.  Digital impression technology is just another way we are improving our patient experience and providing higher-quality care.