The 5 intra oral scanners I recommend dentists compare in 2025

Digital impressions are now the daily driver for many restorative and ortho workflows. The right scanner should feel intuitive in the hand, play nicely with your lab, and return its investment through fewer remakes and quicker chair time. Below I review five scanners dentists in the UK ask us about most. I include typical current prices so you can compare like for like. Prices are indicative and usually quoted ex VAT unless stated. If you want the lab view from people who process these files every day, that is us at Bremadent and we are happy to speak.

The 5 intra oral scanners I recommend dentists compare in 2025
Digital impressions are now part of daily dentistry. The right scanner should feel comfortable in your hand, integrate smoothly with your lab, and help you save chair time with accurate fits and fewer remakes. Below is an honest review of five scanners that UK dentists ask about most. I have included typical current prices so you can compare them fairly. Prices are approximate and may vary depending on the supplier and support package. If you want the lab’s view from people who process these files every day, that is us at Bremadent.

1. IDDA Scanner
If you want a capable entry point without spending five figures, this is the scanner many practices are turning to. The IDDA scanner currently sells in the UK from around four thousand pounds depending on the bundle and support options. It runs smoothly on a standard Windows laptop with reasonable specifications and exports open format files, which makes lab integration simple.
Many people believe it is the same manufacturer as Medit, but it is co developed with a different company. The look and feel are similar, but that is where the connection ends. For the price point, it is an excellent value option. It produces reliable results for crown and bridge, aligners, splints, and prosthetics when used with good scanning technique.

2. Medit i900 and i700
Medit scanners remain a popular choice for mixed private and NHS practices. The software is friendly, the updates are regular, and it works well with most labs. The i900 currently retails around eleven and a half to twelve and a half thousand pounds depending on the reseller. The i700, which is an earlier model, can be found for about five thousand pounds or less when purchased as a demo or refurbished unit.
From the lab perspective, Medit Link is one of the easiest systems to work with. The file export options (STL, PLY, OBJ) are open and compatible with all major design systems. Margin detection and scan analysis tools are solid. When used with consistent scanning technique, the accuracy across the i500, i600, and i700 range is clinically excellent for single units and short span work.

3. 3Shape TRIOS 5 Wireless
The TRIOS 5 Wireless is a favourite among cosmetic and implant dentists. It is ergonomic, light, and powered by the new ScanAssist engine which helps even new users produce clean results. It integrates directly with the 3Shape Unite platform which hosts design, smile simulation, and patient communication apps.
The TRIOS 5 Wireless starts from around twenty one and a half thousand pounds excluding VAT in the UK. It is a premium device, but it earns its place with precision, reliability, and a strong software ecosystem. We often see near perfect margin detail and occlusion capture when dentists use TRIOS consistently. For practices offering smile design, same day veneers, or full arch cases, it delivers the smoothest workflow of all the scanners listed.

4. iTero Element 5D
If your practice already works within the Invisalign ecosystem, the iTero Element 5D is an obvious choice. The current UK price sits around fifteen thousand pounds including VAT. The system is compact and portable, and the NIRI feature helps detect caries by using near infrared imaging, which is a great patient communication tool.
From the lab side, iTero scans are clean, consistent, and easy to import. The TimeLapse feature lets you show patients wear or tooth movement over time, which leads to higher case acceptance and more restorative and aligner work. For Invisalign providers, this scanner offers a complete digital pathway from scan to treatment plan.

5. Dentsply Sirona Primescan
Primescan is the performance car of the scanner world. It is fast, detailed, and works seamlessly with CEREC systems for same day restorations. The current pricing varies by package, but expect a figure in the mid twenty thousand pound range for a new Connect configuration. On the used market you can find them in the low to mid teens depending on age and warranty.

For practices running full digital workflows or in house milling, Primescan is an excellent investment. It delivers high quality scans, accurate margins, and exceptional detail across large spans. If you prefer to send your digital cases to a lab like ours, it integrates easily and provides precise data for crowns, bridges, and implant work.

Price overview
Here is a quick summary of the typical UK pricing at the time of writing:

• IDDA Scanner: around £4,000
• Medit i700: around £5,000
• Medit i900: around £11,500 to £12,500
• iTero Element 5D: around £15,000
• 3Shape TRIOS 5 Wireless: around £21,500
• Primescan: around £24,000

These prices change depending on offers, bundles, and service plans, but they show the general market structure from entry level to premium.

What matters more than price
Operator skill and consistency matter far more than brand when it comes to scan quality. A well trained dentist with an entry level scanner can often achieve better clinical outcomes than someone using a top of the range system without good scanning habits.
Keep your preps clean and dry, follow a consistent scan path, and always capture the full margin. Take an extra bite scan if occlusion is unclear. Include shade and stump photos with your submission. These small steps save remakes and reduce turnaround times.

Lab insights
From a lab’s perspective, every scanner has its strengths. We process files from TRIOS, iTero, Medit, IDDA, and Primescan every day at Bremadent. When scans are clean and margin detail is clear, restorations fit beautifully on the first try. Open file formats such as STL or PLY are easiest for us to work with because we can import them directly into CAD software without conversion.

If your scanner allows both STL and PLY, always send the PLY version as it retains the colour and texture that help us read the prep and surrounding tissue accurately. A good scan plus good lab communication equals a perfect fit.

Final thoughts
If you want the best balance between price and performance, the IDDA scanner is hard to beat. It is affordable, open, and produces reliable results. If you want a more polished user experience with great support, the Medit i700 or i900 are solid choices. For high end work and cosmetic precision, the 3Shape TRIOS 5 leads the field. Invisalign providers will always benefit most from iTero’s integrated ecosystem, while advanced digital practices looking at chairside milling will love the Primescan.

At the end of the day, choose a scanner that fits your clinical style, your budget, and the type of dentistry you want to do. All of these scanners can produce accurate digital impressions when used correctly.

Call to action
If you would like honest advice from a lab that works with all of these systems every day, contact Bremadent Dental Laboratory. Our digital team can help you set up your scanner, fine tune your settings, and show you how to get restorations that fit first time.

Call or email Bremadent today and let us help your scanner work harder for you and your patients. Together, we can make your patients smile.

📍: 25A St James Street, London, E17 7PJ  📞: 0208 520 8528  📧: [email protected]