Scanomics in Dentistry: The Smart Business Case for Everyday Intraoral Scanning

David Claridge
Sep 4
3 min read

Business of Dentistry Summit

18 October 2025, 08:30–17:00Birmingham

Digital dentistry has moved well beyond novelty — it’s now a strategic business decision. Among the most impactful tools in a modern workflow is the intraoral scanner. But the real economic power of scanning lies not just in capturing digital impressions — it’s in what we now call scanomics.

Scanomics refers to the systematic use of scan data over time to drive better diagnostics, engage patients, and unlock new revenue streams — all while boosting clinical efficiency.

If you’re a practice owner or associate thinking about ROI, long-term scalability, or clinical leverage, scanomics deserves your attention.

💰 Why Scanomics Makes Business Sense

1. Turn a Scanner Into a Recurring Revenue Tool

Most scanners are sold as impression alternatives. But when used consistently — not just for crown and aligner cases — they become diagnostic and marketing tools that help drive:

Treatment plan acceptance
Recare appointment retention
Upsells in cosmetic, restorative, and ortho

The economics improve when scanning is done routinely, not selectively.

2. Better Treatment Acceptance Through Visuals

Patients struggle to understand pathology — but they understand change.Scanomics allows you to show before/after visuals of wear, gum recession, alignment, or enamel loss. This builds trust and increases case conversion without aggressive selling.

🧠 It’s simple psychology: when patients see it, they believe it.

3. Clinical Efficiency = Time Saved

Digital records are quicker to access, compare, and share
Preps, temporaries, and lab comms are faster and cleaner
Reduced need for retakes and adjustmentsAll of this translates into more patients seen, fewer remakes, and smoother chairside workflows.

Even a conservative estimate of 10–15 minutes saved per scan-based case adds up fast over a week.

4. Build a Data-Driven Preventative Model

Scanomics supports:

Monitoring bruxism and wear over time
Detecting early gum recession or gingival inflammation
Tracking tooth movement post-ortho

This allows for early intervention and long-term planning, both of which open the door to additional preventive or elective treatment that otherwise might be missed.

📈 Workflow ROI: Real Numbers, Real Impact

Let’s say you scan 10 patients a day for monitoring and diagnostics:

30% accept treatment based on visible changes (e.g., aligners, occlusal guards, cosmetic bonding)
That’s 3 extra cases per day
Even at £300–£500 per case average, you’re adding £900–£1,500 daily potential revenue
Across a 4-day week, that’s £3,600–£6,000 per week

And that’s without factoring in saved lab fees, reduced chair time, or improved retention.

🧩 Integrating Scanomics into Everyday Practice

To unlock scanomics in your clinic:

Scan every patient annually (ideally every 6 months), regardless of treatment need
Use tools like iTero TimeLapse, 3Shape Patient Monitoring, or Medit Link to compare changes
Train your team to capture scans and explain visuals to patients
Incorporate scan reviews into your clinical exams and consultations
Bundle scan reviews into check-up visits — it adds perceived value without major time cost

🚀 Final Thoughts: This Is More Than Just Tech

Scanomics represents a shift in how dentists document, diagnose, and drive value. It’s no longer about whether you need a scanner — it’s about how smartly you use it.

When done right, scanomics: