The process of getting a dental impression is something most of us could live without with those cold metal trays and that goop. But now, dentistry is changing and going digital.

"Before, with an impression, I would not only look at the impression and think it was good, I'd sent it off, they'd pour up the model, they would make a crown and I wouldn't know it was bad until the patient was back in my chair again. Then we'd have to go through the process again and basically start over, said Dr. Michael Gile, DDS.

Now Gile is using the new iTero system – a wand that takes 3D digital scans that can be immediately displayed on a computer screen.

It's super neat technology. I just push this send button and it gets emailed off to the company," said Gile.

Cadent iTero based in New Jersey makes the mold, then a lab in Bellevue makes the crown. Dr. Gile admits to being skeptical at first, but he's sold on the technology now.

I've done well over a thousand cases and I've sent one back because I didn't like how it fit, said Gile.

Patients like Jim Nicholson find it a lot less invasive.

"The quality of image that you have here now lets you know that it looks like its going to be a good job when we put the permanent caps on," said Nicholson.

Because of the time savings, Dr. Gile says the cost to patients is the same as with the old-fashioned method. Another advantage, this digital system can be used for both gold and porcelain, and to create almost any type of dental restoration from crowns to veneers.

Dr. Gile of Bellevue was one of the testers for the new iTero system. So was Dr. Bret Jacobsen of Federal Way. Both dentists are currently using the system in their practices.