How to get an intraoral scan for grillz in Mexico City (what to ask for)
If you want custom grillz (some people spell it grills) made on your own teeth, the intraoral scan is step one, and it is required. We don't work from photos, mold kits or a standard size. Every piece we make starts from a 3D scan of your mouth.
This guide is what we send every English-speaking client of PROCA GrillZ, a dental lab in Mexico City: what the scan is, exactly what to ask for, where to get it and what happens once we have your files.
What an intraoral scan is
An intraoral scan, also called a digital impression, is made with a small handheld camera that the provider moves over your teeth. The software builds a 3D model of the surface of your teeth. There's no tray full of impression paste. How long it takes depends on the provider and on your case.
The scan is exported as digital files. We work with STL files, the standard format intraoral scanners export. Before you pay for a scan, confirm that the center will hand the files to you.
Exactly what to ask for (copy this list)
- A 3D intraoral scan. Not an X-ray and not a CT or cone beam scan (CBCT). Those show bone, not the surface of your teeth.
- Upper arch, lower arch and bite. Even if you only want top grillz, we need the opposite arch and your bite to see how your teeth close together.
- The STL files, delivered to you by download link, email or USB. Say it plainly: “I need you to send me the STL files.”
- If they ask what it's for: a removable dental piece made over the teeth. That's enough.
If you don't speak Spanish, show the front desk this line: escaneo intraoral 3D de arcada superior, arcada inferior y mordida, con entrega de archivos STL.
Once you have the files, send them to us on WhatsApp and we'll review them. Work starts once your piece is paid in full.
Where to get scanned in Mexico City
Dental imaging centers are the easiest route. Two names you can start with:
- Cedirama, a dental imaging center with several locations in the city that lists a 3D intraoral scan service.
- DRD Diagnóstico 3D, another dental imaging center.
They are not the only options. Many imaging centers and dental clinics in Mexico City have an intraoral scanner. Cedirama, DRD Diagnóstico 3D and PROCA GrillZ are independent businesses: we don't book the appointment for you and we don't set their prices.
You pay the imaging center directly. The scan is not part of the price of your grillz. Call before you go and confirm three things: that the location you picked has an intraoral scanner, their current price, and that they give the STL files to you.
Find a scan center near you with ChatGPT
The quickest way to find one close to where you live or where you're staying is to ask ChatGPT (or any AI assistant). Copy and paste this, replacing the part in brackets:
“Where can I get a 3D intraoral scan near [your neighborhood or city] that gives me the STL files? Include address, phone and hours.”
AI assistants sometimes get a phone number wrong or suggest a place that has moved or closed. Confirm by phone before you go, and use the checklist above so you ask for the right thing.
Outside Mexico City
Many dental clinics and imaging centers offer intraoral scans, so you may be able to get scanned close to home. Before you book one, message us on WhatsApp so we can confirm shipping to your location. Shipping is always quoted separately, based on where your piece is going.
Already scanned for aligners?
If you had an intraoral scan for clear aligners, braces or other dental work, it may be usable. It depends on how recent it is and whether your teeth have changed since. Ask that provider for the STL files and send them to us first, before you pay for a new scan. We'll tell you whether we can work with them.
What does not work
- Photos or a video of your smile. They help us understand the style you want, but we can't make a piece from them.
- Mold kits. At-home impression kits bought online deform easily, and any error carries straight into the piece. We don't work from molds.
- Only one arch. Without the opposite arch and the bite, we can't see how your teeth close.
- Asking for “an X-ray”. That's a different study. The words to use are intraoral scan.
What happens after your scan
- You send us your scan: the STL files of your upper arch, lower arch and bite.
- You pay for your piece. Work starts once it's paid in full. Card payments via Mercado Pago carry an extra fee.
- We print your 3D model from the scan.
- We design your piece on that model, with the size and color you chose.
- We send you evidence for approval. Nothing is processed in metal without your OK.
- We process it in metal and deliver it: cobalt-chrome (CoCr) dental alloy, silver-colored, or gold-colored dental alloy. Shipping is quoted separately.
Estimated delivery is 15 days; the exact date is confirmed when work starts. For prices, read how much custom grillz cost in Mexico City. If you're not sure how many teeth to cover, see how to choose your grillz size. The full walkthrough is on our process page, and when you're ready you can request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get an intraoral scan for grillz in Mexico City?
At a dental imaging center or a clinic with an intraoral scanner. Cedirama and DRD Diagnóstico 3D are two options, and there are many others. Call first to confirm they can do it and that they hand you the STL files.
What exactly should I ask the imaging center for?
A 3D intraoral scan of your upper arch, lower arch and bite, with the STL files delivered to you by download link, email or USB.
Who do I pay for the scan?
The imaging center, directly. The scan is not included in the price of your grillz, and each center sets its own price.
Can I send photos or use a mold kit instead of a scan?
No. Photos help us understand the style you want, but we can't make a piece from them, and mold kits deform. Every piece starts from an intraoral scan.
I already have a scan from aligners. Can I use it?
Maybe. Send us the STL files on WhatsApp before you pay for a new scan and we'll tell you whether we can work with them.
I don't live in Mexico City. Can I still order?
Many clinics and imaging centers offer intraoral scans. Message us on WhatsApp first so we can confirm shipping to your location; shipping is quoted separately.