Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassiny has tested over 30 intraoral scanners, and in this episode he reveals what the industry won't tell you about investing in digital dentistry.
Ahmad joins Dr. Luken de Arbeloa on the DSD Quarterback Dentist podcast to cut through the marketing noise and give dentists the honest breakdown they actually need. From a $25,000 3D printer that ended up collecting dust to the real reason only 10% of dentists ever go beyond scan-and-send, this conversation covers the digital dentistry investment decisions that matter most.
Ahmad shares his top five intraoral scanners currently in clinical use (including CEREC Primescan, Shining 3D Elite, TRIOS 5, Medit i900, and Alliedstar), explains why education should always come before any equipment purchase, and discusses the CAD software barrier that still holds most clinicians back.
Whether you're just starting out with digital dentistry or trying to figure out what comes after the scanner, this episode is for you.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 - Teaser and Opening
00:29 - Welcome and Guest Introduction
02:17 - How Pain Led to Creating iDD
03:17 - Ahmad's Origin Story in Digital Dentistry
04:36 - The 3M True Vision Moment That Started It All
05:53 - Misinformation Still Plagues the Industry
06:56 - Education as Your First Investment
08:43 - Real Stories of Costly Equipment Mistakes
09:28 - From E4D to CEREC, Why Ahmad Owns So Many Scanners
10:44 - The $25,000 EnvisionTEC Printer Mistake
12:16 - Getting Objective Advice from Trusted Sources
13:15 - 30+ Scanners Tested and Reviewed
14:05 - Ahmad's Top 5 Intraoral Scanners for Clinical Use
15:48 - Alliedstar, Best Value Scanner on the Market
17:16 - iTero's Role in Interdisciplinary Dentistry
18:14 - The Course That Changed Ahmad's Career
19:17 - Digital Dentistry Is an Evolution, Not a Revolution
20:19 - From 20 Minutes to 30 Seconds, Scanning Mastery
21:44 - Why Digital Dentistry Shouldn't Be a Separate Specialty
23:35 - First Course Recommendation for Beginners
25:02 - Soft Tissue Management and Scanning Technique
26:24 - Different Pathways, Smile Design vs CAD/CAM vs Aligners
27:08 - Make Your Impression Material Expire
27:55 - Building Your Digital Roadmap
30:22 - Why Only 10% of Dentists Go Beyond Scan-and-Send
32:00 - The Smartphone as Your Most Powerful Digital Tool
33:24 - Diagnose Your Practice Before Buying Equipment
34:35 - The Intraoral Scanner Is Your Gateway to Digital
35:28 - 3D Printing, 70-80% of Dentistry Can Be Printed
36:33 - CBCT, Facial Scanners, and Beyond
37:02 - Ahmad's Final Thoughts on Digital Investment
38:20 - In-House Manufacturing vs Lab Partnerships
39:30 - 3D Printing vs Milling, Choosing the Right Output Device
39:54 - The CAD Software Barrier Nobody Talks About
41:43 - Why Digital Dentistry Has Never Been This Exciting
42:43 - Reducing Stress Through Digital Workflows
43:14 - Closing Thoughts and What's Next
Read the full blog post:
https://instituteofdigitaldentistry.com/podcast/s04-e05-i-have-used-every-scanner-on-the-market-heres-what-nobody-tells-you/
🔗 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
iDD Scanner Reviews: https://instituteofdigitaldentistry.com/category/intraoral-scanner-reviews/
DSD Quarterback Dentist Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalSmileDesignOfficial
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