Clear margin capture is one of the most critical—and most frustrating—steps in digital dentistry.
A single unclear margin can lead to redesigns, remakes, or time-consuming rescans, disrupting both clinical schedules and lab workflows.

While modern intraoral scanners are more capable than ever, margin quality still depends heavily on scanning technique, preparation management, and data handling. The good news is that most margin-related issues are preventable. With the right approach, clinicians can consistently capture clean, readable margins on the first scan—without repeating the entire workflow.

This guide shares practical, experience-based tips to help you improve margin clarity and reduce rescans in everyday clinical practice.

Why Clear Margins Still Fail—Even with Advanced Scanners

When margins appear unclear in scan data, the scanner itself is rarely the main issue. In most cases, margin problems are caused by a combination of clinical and operational factors.

Common contributors include:

• Inadequate soft tissue displacement or moisture control
• Over-scanning or inconsistent scan paths around the margin
• Insufficient visual contrast between the preparation and surrounding tissue
• Premature scanning before retraction and isolation are fully effective

Understanding these factors is the first step toward eliminating rescans.

Start with Margin Visibility, Not Scan Speed

A frequent mistake is trying to complete the scan too quickly, especially around the preparation area. While fast scanning is helpful, margin visibility must come first.

Before scanning:

• Ensure the margin is fully exposed circumferentially
• Confirm that the finish line is visible to the naked eye, not just “mostly visible”
• Allow enough time for retraction cords or retraction pastes to take effect

If you cannot clearly see the margin clinically, the scanner will not capture it accurately—regardless of resolution or software capabilities.

Control Moisture and Soft Tissue Movement

Even small amounts of saliva or soft tissue rebound can obscure margin detail. This is especially true for subgingival or equigingival margins.

To improve scan reliability:

• Maintain a dry field throughout the scan, not just at the start
• Re-check tissue position before scanning critical margin areas
• Pause briefly if tissue movement occurs, rather than scanning through it

Consistent margin clarity often depends more on field stability than on scanning speed or hardware settings.

Use a Focused, Localized Scan Path Around the Margin

One of the most effective ways to improve margin clarity is adjusting how you scan the preparation itself.

Instead of sweeping broadly across the arch:

• Slow down specifically around the margin
• Use shorter, controlled movements along the finish line
• Capture the margin from slightly different angles to improve data redundancy

This localized approach helps the software reconstruct sharper edge detail and reduces stitching artifacts around the preparation.

Avoid Over-Scanning the Preparation

More data is not always better. Excessive passes over the same area can introduce noise, blur margin edges, or confuse margin detection algorithms.

A cleaner strategy is:

• Capture the margin clearly once or twice with intention
• Move on once the margin is visibly complete in the preview
• Resist the urge to “polish” the margin by scanning repeatedly

Clear margins come from precise data, not from excessive data.

Check Margin Quality in the Scan Preview—Immediately

Before proceeding to bite registration or antagonist scanning, take a moment to review the margin area in the scan preview.

Look for:

• Continuous, uninterrupted margin lines
• Sharp transitions between the preparation and adjacent structures
• Absence of soft tissue artifacts overlapping the finish line

Catching margin issues early allows you to rescan only a small area instead of repeating the entire scan.

Understand How Labs Interpret Margins

What appears “acceptable” chairside may still be problematic for CAD design. Dental labs rely on clear, readable margins to define restoration boundaries accurately.

From a lab perspective, unclear margins can lead to:

• Manual margin guessing during design
• Increased communication back-and-forth
• Compromised fit or esthetics

Providing clean margin data upfront improves not only turnaround time but also final restoration quality.

Scanner Software Matters—But Technique Matters More

Modern intraoral scanner software often includes tools such as noise reduction, real-time mesh optimization, and margin enhancement. These features can support better outcomes, but they cannot compensate for poor margin exposure or scanning technique.

Consistently clear margins come from:

• Proper preparation management
• Controlled scanning habits
• Awareness of how data will be used downstream

Technology enhances good technique—it does not replace it.

Reducing Rescans Is About Workflow, Not Hardware

Clear margin capture is not about owning the most expensive scanner or the newest feature set. It is about refining a repeatable clinical workflow that prioritizes margin visibility and data quality.

By focusing on:

• Margin exposure before scanning
• Stable scanning conditions
• Intentional scan paths
• Early data review

Clinicians can significantly reduce rescans and improve digital case success—without adding extra chair time.

Final Thoughts

Clear margins are the foundation of accurate digital restorations. When margins are captured cleanly the first time, the entire digital workflow—from design to milling—becomes faster, more predictable, and more reliable.

With thoughtful technique and consistent habits, intraoral scanners can deliver margin data that meets both clinical and laboratory expectations—without rescans.