Checklist: Preparing Before Your Intraoral Scanner Installation
Short answer
Settle four decisions before your intraoral scanner installation day: wired or wireless, the unit's fixed daily workspace, where periodic calibration fits in your routine, and the file-transfer path to your lab. Installation itself is the supplier's job — these four are what decide whether the first week runs smoothly or stalls repeatedly.
Installing an intraoral scanner is our job; but there are four decisions that, if made before installation day, make the first week with the device go a lot more smoothly.
1. Decide wired or wireless before installation
Most common intraoral scanners, including the Medit i700, come in both wired and wireless versions. This decision affects unit layout, where the laptop or PC sits, and even how the assistant moves around the room.
Changing this decision after installation usually means re-arranging the room — better to align with the clinical team before installation day, not on the day itself.
2. Decide the scanner's daily workspace in advance
The scanner and its processing unit (laptop/PC) should sit within the operator's line of sight and reach, not in a corner that needs moving every time. Frequent repositioning itself raises the risk of physical damage to the device and cable.
Room lighting also affects color scan results; if the scanner is color-capturing and powder-free (as most modern models are), even, non-dominant-colored lighting in the room produces a more accurate true-tissue color capture.
3. Build periodic calibration into the routine from day one
Intraoral scanners need periodic calibration — the Medit i700, for example, every 14 days. It's a quick, few-minute task, but if it doesn't become a fixed routine from the first week, it's usually forgotten until scan accuracy visibly drops.
The simplest fix: put a recurring reminder on the clinic calendar, rather than relying on the operator to remember.
4. Test the file-transfer path to your lab in advance
Most modern scanners output in open formats — STL, PLY, or OBJ — so you're not locked into one lab or software. But "not locked in" doesn't mean "already configured": the file-transfer path (email, shared cloud storage, lab platform) should be tested before your first real case, not on the first patient.
A test scan sent to your partner lab before formal installation opens up this path ahead of any first-day problem.
Frequently asked questions
How long does intraoral scanner installation take?
On-site installation is handled by Dentiva and includes initial calibration; details on our installation and setup page.
Is wired or wireless better?
It depends on room layout and how many rooms the device moves between. If the device moves between multiple units, wireless is more convenient; for a single fixed room, wired makes little practical difference.
Who performs the scanner calibration?
The clinic operator, following the manufacturer's instructions. It's a few-minute task; the important part is not forgetting it, not its difficulty.
What if our lab needs a specific software?
Since most scanners output in an open format (STL/PLY/OBJ), this usually isn't a problem. But it's best to test this path with a sample file before your first real patient.
Key takeaways
- Decide wired or wireless before installation, not after.
- Fix the scanner's daily workspace in advance to avoid constant relocation.
- Build periodic calibration into the routine from day one.
- Test the file-transfer path to your lab before the first patient.
- At Dentiva, on-site installation, first calibration and training are included.