3D Design

3D design is the stage in which a restoration’s form, marginal fit and occlusion are defined digitally before anything is produced. At Marjinal CAD, every case is designed in 3Shape, Exocad or Dentalwings, and nothing goes into production without the dentist’s approval.

Design software we use

We choose the software that best suits the case. 3Shape and Exocad offer extensive libraries for crowns, bridges, veneers, implant superstructures and smile design. Dentalwings gives us flexibility when working with data from different workflows. For implant cases, the scan body position is matched to the library of your implant system before the superstructure is designed.

Intraoral scanner compatibility and STL intake

We accept data from iTero, 3Shape TRIOS and Medit intraoral scanners directly. Files from other scanners that export open STL or PLY can also be used. A complete case package speeds up the design:

• Scans of the preparation and the opposing arch
• Bite registration
• For implant cases, a scan with scan bodies and the implant system details
• Tooth numbers, shade, preferred material and photos where available

If you work with conventional impressions, they are digitised in the lab on a high-precision desktop scanner and follow the same design process.

How we design

The preparation margin is defined first, followed by the cement gap, contact points, occlusion and anatomical form. In the aesthetic zone, the smile line and harmony with the adjacent teeth are taken into account. Minimum wall thicknesses are checked for the chosen material to secure the strength of the restoration.

Design approval

The finished design is sent to you as screenshots or a PDF report showing the restoration from several angles, together with contact and occlusion maps. If you request changes, we apply them to the design and send it back for approval. The file you approve is produced exactly as designed on the 5-axis CAD/CAM milling unit, by laser sintering or on the 3D printer, and is stored in our digital archive.