The Top Dental Lab 3D Scanners on the Market
The ability of 3D printing to allow users to create highly accurate, fully customizable appliances is crucial in a sector like dental where perfectly fitted parts are necessary due to the vast differences between individuals. For this reason, 3D scanners made specifically for the dental industry are becoming increasingly popular. Generally, these scanners come in two types, intraoral scanners which allow dentists to scan directly into a patient’s mouth and lab scanners which are designed to scan impressions of a patient’s mouth. There are advantages to both as they are used in different ways, however for 3D printing, lab 3D scanners are often the ones used. We present in alphabetical order the top lab 3D scanners used in the dental industry to help users to understand the available products currently on the market.
AnySCAN VINYL HR Dental Scanner From Reitel
German company REITEL has developed AnySCAN VINYL HR, a dental 3D scanner designed for labs. With a fully automated Z-axis, users can save time when scanning, which can be done in color or not. Its touchscreen and 23-kilogram weight make this 3D scanner easy to handle, and it also incorporates a virtual articulator for easy digitization of jaw models. Users can choose whether to work in open or closed hood mode, and can select the scan mode they prefer to suit their parts. It’s a dental 3D scanner that offers a certain degree of freedom and a faster workflow.
Photo Credits: Reitel
AutoScan-DS-EX from SHINING 3D
Chinese manufacturer SHINING 3D is known for its research and development of 3D scanning and additive manufacturing technologies. Its dental solutions include laboratory scanners, such as its AutoScan-DS-EX Pro(H) model. This tool uses blue structured light 3D scanning and can scan a model at high speed. It has relatively large dimensions of 260 mm x 270 mm x 420 mm and weighs only 5kg. According to the manufacturer, this scanner features a high level of accuracy and detail, a flexible workflow and several versatile scanning modes. Finally, in terms of dental applications, the AutoScan-DS-EX Pro(H) supports multiple dental scanning applications, such as wax-up, die, plaster model, impression, and texture, among others.
Photo Credits: SHINING 3D
CARES
Swiss company Straumann manufactures the CARES® 3 Series and 7 Series dental scanners. Both, according to the manufacturer, provide high scanning accuracy thanks to the latest generation of Blue Laser illumination system. The 7 Series comes with a slightly larger footprint and speed (up to 30 copings in 15 minutes, compared to the 3 Series with 12 copings in 10 minutes). Accuracy is 15 microns and the output format is STL. The fully integrated CARES® Visual software allows the user to design a wide range of prosthetics, followed by direct transfer to the chosen production solution, either in the laboratory or at another specialized facility.
Photo Credits: Straumann
Ceramill Map 600+ from AmannGirrbach
The Ceramill map 600+ from the manufacturer Amann Girrbach is a high-performance scanner with three axes and an open installation space, which enables easy handling with an integrated universal carrier plate. The scanner uses blue light technology and a 3D sensor to produce an HD scan with an accuracy of 4μm. Thanks to intelligent DNA speed scanning, a full jaw scan is created in 18 seconds as an STL or PLY file. The Ceramill map 600 weighs about 55lbs (25 kg) and has a size of 16.3″ x 16.9″ x 18.5″ (415 x 424 x 469 mm).
CS.Neo2 from CADstar
CADstar, an Austrian manufacturer, has developed a series of 3D scanners specifically designed to meet the needs of the dental sector. These include the CS.Neo2, a professional solution that uses structured light 3D scanning technology. This scanner is capable of capturing a complete model with a precision of up to 5 microns. Depending on the scanning mode selected, the CS.Neo2 can scan a dental prosthesis in just 12 seconds. Equipped with two 12 MP cameras, it ensures high resolution for sharp contours and precise details. The scanner is fully compatible with Exocad design software, and offers five export formats: 3Shape, Gamma, Onyx Ceph, STL and PLY. In addition to this solution, CADstar has also launched two other variants, the CS.Neo2 Pro and the CS.Neo2 Max, which retain the fundamental functionality of the CS.Neo2 while incorporating additional features to optimize the scanning process. These additions include additional color cameras with enhanced resolution and the ability to scan two models simultaneously.
Photo Credits: CADstar
DScan 5 from EGSolution
The DScan 5 is the latest dental scanner developed by the Italian manufacturer EGSolutions, launched in 2020. Based on the structured light process, it is equipped with a camera offering a resolution of 13 megapixels. Its acquisition volume is 3.5″ x 3.15″ x 2.16″ (90 x 80 x 55 mm), allowing for easy scanning of impressions, implants, crowns, etc. The DScan 5 offers a precision of 0.005 mm and 4 export formats: STL, PLY, OBJ and ASC. It thus meets the needs of dental clinics and laboratories.
The Evolution Next Dental Lab 3D Scanner From Zfx™
This 3D scanner from Zfx™, a global dental company based in Germany and affiliated with the US medical technology group ZimVie (Zimmer Biomet), offers a solution for dental laboratories. The Zfx™ Evolution NEXT scanner stands out for its ease of use. Its compact size of 405 x 410 x 277 mm makes it easy to integrate into any workspace, while guaranteeing accuracy and speed. One of its major assets is its ability to digitize mono-articulated models, thanks to its 360-degree articulated scanner. The device is equipped with a digital grazing light scanner that projects individualized scratch patterns onto the target object with a visible LED at high speed. What’s more, the projector is based on FULL HD digital light processing (DLP) technology. With two color cameras offering a high resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, this device ensures accurate capture of details.
Photo Credits: Zfx™
The F8 Dental Laboratory Scanner From 3Shape
3Shape was founded to improve 3D scanning. Although initially working in the hearing field, the company has since turned its attention to the dental sector, and is now trying to improve dental care through digital solutions. The latest addition to their collection, the 3Shape F8 scanner, represents a significant step forward in terms of efficiency. It offers dental laboratories the ability to dramatically speed up their scanning processes, digitizing a full arch in just 9 seconds and a full impression in 46 seconds. This translates into increased productivity and improved profitability. In fact, the F8 scanner is the fastest in the entire 3Shape range. With its 4-micron accuracy, automatic start-up features and two separate slots for high and low models, the F8 scanner is the perfect tool for dental laboratories seeking greater efficiency.
Photo Credits: 3Shape
inEos X5 from Dentsply Sirona
The next scanner is the inEos X5. This was launched by Dentsply Sirona, a merger of DENTSPLY International Inc. and Sirona Dental Systems, in 2013. The unique 5-axis scanning technology, the robotic arm and its large range of motion make the inEos X5 an all-round scanner with precise digital acquisition. Both models and impressions can be digitally scanned, so the scanner, which weighs about 88lbs (40kg) and has a volume of 18.7″ x 28.9″ x 18.1″ (474 x 735 x 460 mm), can be used for many different indications. The scan data acquired with the inEos X5 can be flexibly integrated into the further workflow – either via STL export or via wireless data transfer to the inLab CAD software.
Photo Credits: Denstply Sirona
The LS100 scanner from BLZ Dental
The LS100 dental laboratory scanner has been developed to simplify all workflows. It offers the ability to scan a variety of products such as crowns, veneers, partial or complete removable prostheses, and many others. According to the manufacturer, the all-in-one scanning of this 3D scanner can reduce the time usually required for scanning by up to 60%. What’s more, the Scanbody mode is specifically designed for dental implants, requiring high precision of position and direction. In terms of technical specifications, the LS100 scanner features a blue LED light source, a scanning accuracy of 8 μm, the ability to scan an entire arch in just 10 seconds, and compact dimensions of 370 x 280 x 430mm.
Photo Credits: BLZ Dental
SINERGIASCAN From Nobil-Metal
Another dental lab 3D scanner on our list comes from Italian company Nobil-Metal, founded in the 1920s and known best for its dental alloys and solders. The SINERGIASCAN, along with the plus and advancedplus models (the latest version of the scanner), are the company’s CAD/CAM scanning solutions. The base model is an optical scanner that uses structured light technology and has been designed to be easy to use, working fast and not needing frequent calibration thanks to the only moving part being the rotating plate. Additional add-ons like the dynamic articulator and QUAD (which helps optimize scanning time with the photogrammetric plate) modules help to further improve accuracy and repeatability. Resolution is between 10 – 5 µm depending on model and compatible files include STL, OBJ, OFF and PLY.
Photo Credits: Nobil-Metal
The S900 ARTI Scanner From Zirkonzahn
The S900 ARTI Scanner represents a notable advancement from the S600 in dental optical scanning technology, featuring three high-resolution, high-speed cameras that enhance measurement density and efficiency. Due to advanced software features, scanning is accelerated, achieving a precision of ≤ 10 μm. Its scanning field of 115 x 78; 16:9 format allows for comprehensive scans of the articulator and entire dental arches in a single process, easily accommodating various dental models. The scanner’s versatility enables the scanning of an extensive range of objects, including individual stumps, jaw segments, veneers, abutments, and more, without significant limitations. Adding to its capabilities, this scanner offers a Double-Scan function and color scanning feature, which are especially beneficial for crafting precise dental stellites. Alongside these, it incorporates a variety of matching functions, a high-precision gearbox, and intelligent grip support for improved scanning results. Lastly, its user-friendly design includes a laser pointer for quick and straightforward model positioning, and its captured data can be easily digitized and implemented within the Zirkonzahn software.
Photo Credits: Digital Dental Lab
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