Hurricane Irma Office Closure (September 2017)
Due to the upcoming hurricane, we will close our office temporarily. We be closed starting Monday (September 11, 2017) and Tuesday (September 12, 2017). Depending on the storm's path we may be closed on Wednesday (September 13, 2017) as well.
Please be safe and know that we are always available even if the office is closed. Please call the office at 904.398.1549. The on call doctor number is on the voicemail.
For More information about the storm please click the links below.
Florida Division of Emergency Management
This notice was posted in September 2017. Our office closed on Monday, September 11, and Tuesday, September 12, 2017, because of Hurricane Irma, and we planned to reopen on Wednesday, September 13. It is kept here as part of the practice's history.
Current hours and contact
For today's hours, appointments and how to reach us, please visit our contact page. If you have an urgent dental problem, see emergency dental care or call the office at 904-398-1549.
Storm preparedness resources
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.
Sources
Florida Division of Emergency Management, floridadisaster.org. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
JaxReady, City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division and Information Technologies Division, jaxready.com. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Digital Dental Impressions: An Option Without Trays
3D Printing and Dentistry
We recently had a patient that simply could not tolerate dental impressions, however it had to be done to complete her treatment. So we used a digital 3D scanner to scan her mouth and had her models 3D be printed. Technology in dentistry today is amazing!
Yes, in many situations a digital 3D scan can record the shape of your teeth instead of a tray filled with impression material. We used this approach for a patient who simply could not tolerate traditional impressions. A scan isn't the right tool for every step of every treatment, but when it fits, it can make an uncomfortable part of the visit much easier.
A patient who couldn't tolerate impressions
We recently treated a patient who could not get through a traditional dental impression. The impression still had to be taken to finish her treatment, so we needed another way to record her teeth.
Instead of a tray, we used a digital 3D scanner to scan her mouth. The scan was then used to 3D print physical models of her teeth, which gave us what we needed to complete her care without the step she found so difficult.
What is a traditional dental impression?
A traditional impression uses a tray filled with a soft material that sets in a few minutes. It captures a mold of your teeth and gums. The mold is used to make models, crowns, bridges, night guards, aligners and other appliances.
For many people this is only a minor inconvenience. For others, the tray, the taste or texture of the material, or a strong gag reflex makes it very hard to tolerate.
How does a digital scan work?
A digital impression uses a small handheld scanner that is moved over your teeth. It records many images and combines them into a 3D model on the computer screen. There is no tray of material to hold in your mouth.
You still need to keep your mouth open while the scan is taken, and the scanner tip moves around your teeth. Most people find that easier than a full tray, and the scan can be paused if you need a break.
Where does 3D printing come in?
The digital model can be sent to a 3D printer to make a physical model of the teeth. That model can be used in the same ways a stone model from a traditional impression is used, such as checking the bite or making an appliance.
Is a scan always used instead of an impression?
No. I choose the method that gives the most accurate record for that particular step. Some situations still call for a traditional impression. The scan is a tool that helps when it fits the treatment, and it doesn't replace the examination and judgment that go into planning your care.
Research supports what we saw with this patient. A 2025 systematic review of studies on implant restorations found that patients consistently preferred digital impressions to traditional ones, and that scanning took less time in the studies that measured it. That review looked at implant treatment specifically, so it doesn't answer every question about other procedures.
If impressions have been hard for you
Tell us before your appointment if impressions, a strong gag reflex or dental anxiety have made past visits difficult. We can talk about which steps of your treatment could use a scan and how to make the visit more comfortable.
You can read more about the digital and 3D imaging we use, see what to expect at your first visit on our new patients page, or contact our Jacksonville office at 3675 Hendricks Avenue. You can also call the office at 904-398-1549.
Sources
Ribeiro CSC, Brandão MTO, Moreira GC, Bitencourt SB, de Carvalho RF, Lemos CAA. Intraoral scanning versus conventional impression for implant prostheses: a systematic review. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2025;33(2):206-218. doi:10.1922/EJPRD_2811Ribeiro13 (retrieved via PubMed)
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.