The three companies that currently dominate the market are 3shape, exocad, and Dentsply Sirona. Dental CAD software out there include E xocad, 3shape, Blue Sky Bio, Dentsply Sirona, Clinux, Medit, Blender for Dental, and Dental Wings, to name a few. The number of CAD software available for use is increasing, as the technology improves, AI integrations become more widespread, and new applications and materials are released.

So now that we have established what CAD software is, and that your IOS, CAM software and printer are things to first consider, let’s take a look at what is currently available on the market. That STL file can then be imported into any other CAM slicing software, and you can send it right to the printer – avoiding using unnecessarily hard-to-work-with options. Ackuretta’s latest CAM software, ALPHA AI, now allows you to import your CAD file, input and create the supports, orientation, nesting and stacking, and slicing of your applications, and then export that file again as an STL file. Some systems are much more open and user-fried than others. But if you are using any other IOS, a more open system may better suit your needs.Īnother factor that will determine the optimal software for you is what CAM software and printer you intend to use. If your office has a TRIOS scanner, then getting 3shape software is the most logical choice. You can then immediately upload that image to your CAD software.īecause of this step – taking a digital impression of the mouth – one of the most important considerations when selecting your CAD software is what IOS you are using, or would like to use. While traditional workflows require a long and often uncomfortable process using dental putty to make a physical impression of the patient’s mouth, a digital workflow allows for a much faster process, where you use an intraoral scanner (IOS) to get a digital image of the patient’s mouth in under 5 minutes. The first step is getting a digital image of your patient’s mouth. CAD software that is specifically designed for dental applications is therefore the best option for clinicians and lab technicians.ĭesigning your application with CAD software is the second step in your process. The resulting products will be placed into a patient’s mouth, where a mistake measuring less than 100 microns can make a noticeable difference to the patient's experience. CAD software is used in many fields – industrial, mechanical, architectural, aeronautic, engineering, and more – but while many software can be used for more than one type of application, dentistry requires extremely accurate and precise technology.

It is where the application that you want to print is designed. Computer-Aided Design – more commonly known as CAD – software is an essential step in the digital workflow.

Best cad software for 3d printing