Digital acquisition of the clinical situation in the mouth seems much more logical than digitizing the impressions. Intraoral scanning systems are laser supported or video based. The retraction of the gingiva plays a special part in the accurate display of the preparation border. The working procedures in the dental practice and in the dental laboratory have been changed fundamentally by this new technology. Workable solutions are already available and rapid further developments can be expected in the near future. Keywords: CAD/CAM, digitization, impression, intraoral scanner, model production