Best Intraoral Scanners 2026 — Full Comparison Guide for Dentists

How this guide was built Specifications, pricing and features were cross-checked against manufacturer data, authorized distributor listings and independent reviews (Institute of Digital Dentistry and others). US list prices are used as an orientation point — pricing for Europe typically varies by ±30–40% depending on distributor, VAT, bundled accessories and financing plans. Always request a local quote before purchasing.

Quick comparison table

Scanner	Manufacturer	Weight	Wireless	Accuracy (full-arch, approx.)	Color	Caries / AI detection	System	Approx. price
TRIOS 6	3Shape	~299 g	Yes	Flagship-grade (TRIOS 5 gen.)	Yes, hyperspectral	Yes (Dx Plus)	Open	~$27,900
TRIOS 5	3Shape	299–300 g	Yes	Flagship-grade	Yes	No	Open	~$25,900
TRIOS Core / TRIOS 3	3Shape	Higher, older design	Optional	Good	Yes	No	Partially open	$12,400–$18,000
Medit i900	Medit	165 g	No (light cable)	10.9 µm ± 0.98	Yes	Yes (AI shade matching)	Open	~$18,000–$20,000
Medit i700 Wireless	Medit	328 g w/ battery	Yes	10.9 µm ± 0.98	Yes	Yes (AI tissue filtering)	Open	~$21,000–$24,000
Medit i700 (wired)	Medit	245 g	No	10.9 µm ± 0.98	Yes	Yes	Open	~$14,000–$17,000
Medit i600	Medit	245 g	No	10.9 µm ± 0.98	Yes	Partial	Open	~$10,000–$12,000
iTero Lumina	Align Technology	260 g	Cabled to cart/mobile unit	Best-in-class per Align's own testing	Yes, photorealistic	Partial (rolling out)	Closed (Invisalign ecosystem)	$45,000–$50,000
iTero Element 5D Plus	Align Technology	Larger	No (cart/laptop)	Very good	Yes	Yes (NIRI)	Closed	$42,000–$48,000
Primescan 2	Dentsply Sirona	Light, wireless	Yes (cloud-native)	Very good	Yes	Fluorescence + NIR (partial)	Semi-open (CEREC optional)	~$24,995
Primescan (AC / CEREC)	Dentsply Sirona	457 g (wired)	No	Top-tier in independent testing	Yes	Not native	Semi-open	$16,000–$40,000
DEXIS IS 3800W (ex-Carestream CS 3800)	Envista / DEXIS	240 g	Yes	Good, clinically tested	Yes	Not native	Open	~$11,000–$16,000
Planmeca Emerald S	Planmeca	229 g	No (USB)	Very good	Yes	Yes (Cariosity transillumination)	Open	~$15,000–$20,000
Aoralscan Elite (Wireless)	Shining3D	124 g	Optional	Very good	Yes	Partial AI	Open	~$20,000 (incl. photogrammetry kit)
Aoralscan ELF	Shining3D	106 g	No	Identical to Elite	Yes	AI caries (software)	Open	~$11,999
DWIO / Virtuo Vivo	Dental Wings / Straumann	213 g	No	Good, below flagship level	Yes	No	Open	~$13,000–$19,000
AI-30	Aident	156 g	No	~10 µm (manufacturer data)	Yes, powder-free	No	Open	Sub-$15,000

Prices are indicative US list prices and may vary considerably for the European market depending on distributor, VAT, financing and bundled accessories (laptop, cart, extra software). Always request a local quote.

🏆 Premium / flagship tier

RestorativeOrthoOpen system

3Shape TRIOS 5 / TRIOS 6

⚖️ ~299 g📡 Wireless🎨 Hyperspectral color

TRIOS remains the benchmark "does everything well" scanner — restorative, ortho, implant and edentulous workflows. TRIOS 6 adds an AI diagnostic layer (Dx Plus) that automatically flags tooth wear, plaque, gingival recession and surface caries from a single scan. TRIOS 5 keeps the same hardware without the AI layer, at a lower price. The Unite software ecosystem has the broadest lab network of any brand.

$25,900–$27,900Manufacturer site →

Value flagshipOpen system

Medit i900 / i700 Wireless

⚖️ 165–328 g📡 i700W wireless / i900 wired🎯 10.9 µm ± 0.98

Medit has become the price-to-performance benchmark for "near-premium" scanners. The i900 is the lightest wired scanner on the market (165 g) with the widest field of view in the Medit lineup, meaning faster full-arch scans with fewer stitching errors. The i700 Wireless offers the same accuracy with full freedom of movement. Medit Link is a fully open ecosystem — free STL/PLY export, no hidden fees.

$14,000–$24,000Manufacturer site →

OrthodonticsInvisalign

iTero Lumina / Element 5D Plus

⚖️ 260 g (Lumina)🎨 Photorealistic 3D🔬 NIRI caries detection

The default choice if Invisalign is a meaningful part of your practice. Lumina is the fastest, smallest iTero wand yet, with six scanning modules built into the tip, direct ClinCheck integration and the Invisalign Outcome Simulator. NIRI (Near-Infrared Imaging) detects interproximal caries without radiation, with sensitivity reported to exceed bitewing X-rays in Align-sponsored studies. Trade-off: the most closed ecosystem and highest entry price on this list, plus monthly subscription fees.

$42,000–$50,000Manufacturer site →

CEREC / chairsideCloud-native

Dentsply Sirona Primescan / Primescan 2

📡 Primescan 2: fully wireless☁️ DS Core cloud🔋 ~4 scans per charge

The classic wired Primescan has long been considered an accuracy benchmark, confirmed in independent full-arch precision testing. Primescan 2 changes the game entirely — the first cloud-native scanner, requiring no dedicated hardware and working wirelessly on any internet-connected PC, laptop or tablet via DS Core. Surprisingly competitive launch price for a Dentsply Sirona product. Remains semi-open: STL export is available, but the CEREC chairside design-and-mill workflow is where the real value lies.

~$24,995 (Primescan 2)Manufacturer site →

⚖️ Mid-range tier

WirelessOpen system

DEXIS IS 3800W (ex-Carestream CS 3800)

⚖️ 240 g📡 Wireless🎨 Full color

Formerly Carestream, rebranded DEXIS after the Envista acquisition. At just 240 g it's one of the lightest wireless scanners available, designed in collaboration with Studio F.A. Porsche. The current DTX Studio Clinic software has matured considerably, with a built-in model builder and orthodontic simulator. A solid choice for practices that want wireless and an open system without TRIOS or Primescan pricing.

$11,000–$16,000Manufacturer site →

Integrated imagingCaries detection

Planmeca Emerald S

⚖️ 229 g🔌 USB, plug-and-play🔬 Cariosity transillumination tip

The real strength of the Emerald S isn't the scanner alone (though it's fast at 65 fps and very light) — it's the Romexis platform that unifies CBCT, panoramic imaging, intraoral scanning and CAD/CAM into one ecosystem. The interchangeable Cariosity tip detects caries and cracks via radiation-free transillumination. Ideal for practices already invested in Planmeca imaging hardware. No monthly subscription fees — lifetime license included.

$15,000–$20,000Manufacturer site →

Implants / All-on-XOpen system

Shining3D Aoralscan Elite / Elite Wireless

⚖️ 124 g📡 Wireless option📐 Built-in photogrammetry (IPG)

Shining3D has been the market's biggest surprise of the last two years. Aoralscan Elite introduced intraoral photogrammetry (IPG) — an integrated solution for full-arch implant (All-on-X) scanning that, on other brands, requires a separate, far more expensive device. At around $20,000, the photogrammetry kit is essentially included for free.

~$20,000Manufacturer site →

💰 Budget / value tier

First scannerOpen system

Medit i600

⚖️ 245 g🔌 Wired🎯 10.9 µm ± 0.98

Practically the same accuracy as the i700, at a much lower entry price. The best option for a practice buying its first scanner, without major compromises on precision.

$10,000–$12,000Manufacturer site →

Lightest on marketOpen system

Shining3D Aoralscan ELF

⚖️ 106 g🔌 Wired🎯 Same performance as Elite

Launched in 2026, the ELF (Ergonomic, Lightweight, Functional) delivers identical scanning performance to the Elite, minus photogrammetry, at roughly half the price — a reset for the entire sub-$15,000 segment. Currently the lightest scanner on the market.

$11,999Manufacturer site →

Includes laptopOpen system

Dental Wings DWIO / Straumann Virtuo Vivo

⚖️ 213 g🔌 Wired💻 Laptop included

Straumann repositioned Dental Wings' DWIO technology as Virtuo Vivo, at a significantly reduced price that includes a high-performance laptop — a rare benefit at this price point. Not the fastest or most precise scanner tested, but a solid entry option, especially for practices with existing Straumann implant relationships.

$13,000–$19,000Manufacturer site →

Emerging brandOpen system

Aident AI-30 and other emerging Chinese brands

⚖️ 156 g🎯 ~10 µm (manufacturer data)💨 Powder-free

A wave of Chinese manufacturers (Aident, Runyes and others) has entered the entry-to-mid segment aggressively, with on-paper specs close to market leaders at significantly lower prices. Worth considering for smaller practices or as a second/third scanner in a larger clinic — but accuracy claims come from manufacturer data, not independent testing, and local distribution/service in Europe is still limited for many of these brands. Confirm local support before buying.

Sub-$15,000Check with local distributor

What actually matters when choosing

Open vs. closed system. TRIOS, Medit, Emerald S, DEXIS, Shining3D and Dental Wings export STL/PLY freely with no extra per-file fees. iTero remains the most closed ecosystem, built around Invisalign integration; Primescan sits in between, with CEREC as an optional upgrade. If you work with multiple labs or switch CAD software often, an open system saves headaches.
Wireless isn't automatically "better." Wireless scanners (TRIOS 5/6, Medit i700 Wireless, Primescan 2, DEXIS IS 3800W) are heavier due to the battery and need charging management. The latest wired scanners (Medit i900, Emerald S) are often considerably lighter with zero connectivity issues.
AI caries detection is a plus, not a replacement. NIRI (iTero), Cariosity (Planmeca), Dx Plus (3Shape) and similar tools are excellent for patient communication and monitoring, but they don't replace bitewing radiographs for definitive diagnosis — they're screening and case-acceptance tools.
Total cost, not just sticker price. Check monthly subscription fees, per-tip/sleeve consumable costs, software upgrade fees, whether a dedicated laptop is required (some scanners include one, others don't), and annual maintenance. The real 5-year gap between two similarly priced scanners can run into thousands of euros.
Photogrammetry for All-on-X. Long-span scanning is still a weak point for many scanners. TRIOS 5/6, Primescan and Medit i900/i700 handle it reasonably well thanks to larger fields of view, but if full-arch implantology is a significant part of your practice, the Shining3D Aoralscan Elite — built specifically for this workflow with included photogrammetry — deserves a serious look.

Quick recommendation by practice profile

Practice profile	Recommended scanner
General practice, limited budget, first scanner	Medit i600 or Shining3D Aoralscan ELF
General practice, best price-to-performance balance	Medit i700 Wireless or DEXIS IS 3800W
High orthodontic / Invisalign volume	iTero Lumina or Element 5D Plus
Mixed restorative + implant + in-house lab	3Shape TRIOS 5/6 or Primescan 2 (especially if already on CEREC)
Focused on All-on-X implantology	Shining3D Aoralscan Elite Wireless
Already invested in Planmeca CBCT/imaging	Planmeca Emerald S, for a unified Romexis ecosystem

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📋 This is an independent editorial comparison by the Conferences.Dental team. Specifications and pricing were compiled from manufacturer data, authorized distributor listings and independent reviews as of July 2026, and are subject to change — always confirm current specs and local pricing directly with the manufacturer or your regional distributor before purchasing.