The i700 is the second scanner I have purchased. It is hands down far superior in terms of quality and ease of use than my first scanner (3M Tru Def). I was hesitant to enter the market again but wanted to mainly for implant reasons. After talking...read moreThe i700 is the second scanner I have purchased. It is hands down far superior in terms of quality and ease of use than my first scanner (3M Tru Def). I was hesitant to enter the market again but wanted to mainly for implant reasons. After talking with Laura and watching her presentation with my staff, we were sold! The i700 was extremely reasonable in price while being similar to units costing twice as much. CAD-Ray made this possible. I found their on line training to be adequate in learning the necessary skills to start scanning, I continue to watch these videos as I sharpen my skills. Initially I was concerned about the on line training. But now I actually prefer this way of training as it is self paced and you always have the library of videos to watch when needed. Laura has been there to answer questions and help me whenever needed and I’m talking on nights and weekends too! I admit I was was extremely hesitant to get another scanner, especially with an online outfit; but I have no regrets and highly recommend CAD-Ray and Laura for anyone needing a scanner! They provide excellent services.read less - 4/23/2022
Samir Rana
Ive had the medit since 2018. One of the best decisions in dentistry ive made. I met some of the great trend setters in digital dentistry(armen, jonathan ab and others through social media platforms). Medit Has changed The way i practice, live and ...read moreIve had the medit since 2018. One of the best decisions in dentistry ive made. I met some of the great trend setters in digital dentistry(armen, jonathan ab and others through social media platforms). Medit Has changed The way i practice, live and think! Happy not to have a monthly fee as i did for years. Support is always a message or call away. Would be glad
To further share my experience with you if u need.read less - 6/16/2020
Matt McReynolds
These guys are ALWAYS there to help if you get stuck. I’ve been happy with the mill (coritec one) and scanner (i500) I bought from them 2 years ago. I’d do business with them again. - 7/01/2021
Aaron - Cooleysmiles
fantastic experience with this company for over 7 years! Top customer service and support! Its great having them as part of our team! Highly recommend! - 3/22/2022
Diana Teverbaugh
What can I say ! I have been extremely pleased with my scanner ! I recommend it to all my colleagues ! The support is the best , I bought the extended warranty and my scanner hada small crack and within one day they shipped my a new one ! I can’t wo...read moreWhat can I say ! I have been extremely pleased with my scanner ! I recommend it to all my colleagues ! The support is the best , I bought the extended warranty and my scanner hada small crack and within one day they shipped my a new one ! I can’t work without it ! Thank you !read less - 2/09/2022
Scot Bruce
We found the digital training very informative - 8/20/2021
Gregory Camfield
These guys are 1st in class service every time! - 7/08/2022
Mary Oliverie
Last year when I started looking into the Medit i500 I had my front desk call 3 sellers to get preliminary information. She told me hands down call CAD-RAY and don’t bother with the others. Boy was she right! Frank got us going with all our hardware ...read moreLast year when I started looking into the Medit i500 I had my front desk call 3 sellers to get preliminary information. She told me hands down call CAD-RAY and don’t bother with the others. Boy was she right! Frank got us going with all our hardware needs and trained us until all our questions were answered. Then Jonathon and Armen jumped in at our 2 day live training in Baltimore. I still review my notes to implement all the great ideas. When I get myself in a jam time to time CAD-RAY responds immediately and fixes my problem. Best decision I have made in the practice in a long time - Thank you everyone at CAD-RAY!read less - 10/09/2019
Going with CAD-RAY and Laura is one of best investment I've made year 2020 ( I have MEDIT 500). Jumping into scanning is something that intimidated me since I am not a techie person and taking PVS impression is something second nature to me. Laur...read moreGoing with CAD-RAY and Laura is one of best investment I've made year 2020 ( I have MEDIT 500). Jumping into scanning is something that intimidated me since I am not a techie person and taking PVS impression is something second nature to me. Laura made everything a breeze, she is very accomodating and most importantly responds so fast, I never felt left out. Attending the level 1 course of Armen M. was awesome , learned the basics and it was taught in a way so easy to apply. Since my first scan, I never looked back, thinking to myself , I should have done this earlier. The crowns comes back with little to no adjustements which saves a lot of chair time. Cannot get better than this. Big shout out to CAD-RAY, Laura and Armenread less - 10/19/2021
I got the Medit scanner last fall and I have been nothing but impressed by it and the support by CAD-Ray. The level of support, training videos, and continuously upgraded software is really impressive. If you are on the fence, you should feel confide...read moreI got the Medit scanner last fall and I have been nothing but impressed by it and the support by CAD-Ray. The level of support, training videos, and continuously upgraded software is really impressive. If you are on the fence, you should feel confident in moving forward with CAD-Ray.read less - 6/16/2020
Michael Pagano
I bought a Medit i500 from Cad-Ray. The service was fantastic. This group also does ongoing training to keep you up to date on how to use the technology.I had a minor issue with hardware and Cad-Ray resolved the issues no questions asked!They have a ...read moreI bought a Medit i500 from Cad-Ray. The service was fantastic. This group also does ongoing training to keep you up to date on how to use the technology.I had a minor issue with hardware and Cad-Ray resolved the issues no questions asked!They have a very active online forum that is supportive. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase more equipment from them!read less - 10/13/2020
Linsay N Brandon Jarvis
As a lab we see a lot of scans. Great quality and easy to create great restorations from the Medit offices that send us work.- Jarvis dental lab - 1/29/2019
Bracy Haynie
I have had the wonderful experience of working with Ryan at Cad-Ray for the last several weeks and he has been very professional and informative on how to properly use the Medit I700 scanner with regard to the software. I would highly recommend using...read moreI have had the wonderful experience of working with Ryan at Cad-Ray for the last several weeks and he has been very professional and informative on how to properly use the Medit I700 scanner with regard to the software. I would highly recommend using Cad-Ray and contacting Ryan for any of your Medit needs.read less - 1/27/2023
Evan Sachs
Great staff and support when needed! There is a bit of a learning curve like with any new tech, but I highly recommend the Medit i500 and the Cad-Ray staff is great. Special thanks to Laura and Jeff for helping out! You guys rock. Great company and ...read moreGreat staff and support when needed! There is a bit of a learning curve like with any new tech, but I highly recommend the Medit i500 and the Cad-Ray staff is great. Special thanks to Laura and Jeff for helping out! You guys rock. Great company and product!read less - 11/11/2020
Suzanne Stock
Excellent experience, customer service has been stupendous! - 11/20/2023
AJ Ganir
Cadray has great support and service! They are very responsive to questions. Love the new medit scanner! - 5/06/2021
Cristy Duval
Kaila is an incredible Rep! Hope Cad-Ray knows what a great employee they have. Thank you Kaila! - 12/16/2021
Cooper Owens
I bought my Medit I-500 from them. Everything has been been first class, from the training to the customer support. I highly recommend buying through CAD RAY. - 6/16/2020
Chirag Vaid
I ordered my Medit scanner from them in Feb 2020, so far no issues with support or the product. They are a great company with great support. Disclosure: they did promise me a scanner tip for this review, but in all honestly I was meaning to give it t...read moreI ordered my Medit scanner from them in Feb 2020, so far no issues with support or the product. They are a great company with great support. Disclosure: they did promise me a scanner tip for this review, but in all honestly I was meaning to give it to them anyway.... if you are looking to buy, this is a great way to go about it.read less - 7/19/2020
Brent Hale
I bought a scanner from Nick Statly at Cad-ray a few months back and have nothing but good things to say about them. They were very helpful with setting up my computer that's linked to the scanner and since then have been very eager to help with ques...read moreI bought a scanner from Nick Statly at Cad-ray a few months back and have nothing but good things to say about them. They were very helpful with setting up my computer that's linked to the scanner and since then have been very eager to help with questions that I had regarding the system.read less - 12/08/2021
Blake Ferando
I purchased my medit in April of 2019 from Cad-Ray. The support offered is second to none, and the training videos are some of the best out there. Add to that a great support team that is fast to answer questions and issues, its hard to beat Cad-Ray. - 6/19/2020
Mostafa Koperly
I love my medit scanner. I purchase many dental equipments each year and by far it’s the best thing I got for the bucks I spent ( beating my 6 digits equipments ).
We have omnicam and I hated it, multiple crushes, expensive monthly service fee, hor...read moreI love my medit scanner. I purchase many dental equipments each year and by far it’s the best thing I got for the bucks I spent ( beating my 6 digits equipments ).
We have omnicam and I hated it, multiple crushes, expensive monthly service fee, horrible support, etc. I was so frustrated and had to look for an alternative. Many mentioned itero to me and I was about to purchase it and suck another monthly fee until I came by Armen’s video about medit on one of the Facebook group in 2018. I was surprised with the image and the speed and started digging more and contacted Frank to explain the scanner more. Ended purchasing it late 2018 and I’m a happy user Since after. The support is excellent, Frank is there when you need any help plus the Facebook community is there to answer anything. Recently, I attended Armen’s course to learn how to mill from the medit and I got shocked by the AI and the options that the software has. This machine is a beast and you won’t regret it getting it from Armen and Frank. They go beyond and not like other salesman or equipments where you are left behind after they sale you and finish their training. We are in 2020 and I still get the same support as I bought it in 2018.read less - 1/09/2020
Medit i500 is an incredible scanner. I have experience with other types of scanners including IO and Desktop but this one is really impressive. It is blazing fast and takes beautiful scans. But more importantly is the company itself. Medit is an amaz...read moreMedit i500 is an incredible scanner. I have experience with other types of scanners including IO and Desktop but this one is really impressive. It is blazing fast and takes beautiful scans. But more importantly is the company itself. Medit is an amazing company and is constantly trying to improve. They are always on the cutting edge and releasing new improvements all the time. They are always LISTENING to the customers on how to improve the scanning experience and change accordingly. The customer service is second to none. I highly recommend this scanner but even more highly recommend considering buying the scanner as a result of the great company and PEOPLE that stand behind it.read less - 10/09/2019
Support was our main concern, and we chose very carefully. Frank is 100% every step of the way - 1/25/2023
Mark Gerome
When I bought my first scanner a few years ago I was blown away by CAD-RAY’s support! They do a great job of getting you and your team ready to go with it. Frank D. has been a huge help with getting us confident with our scanners and making sure we a...read moreWhen I bought my first scanner a few years ago I was blown away by CAD-RAY’s support! They do a great job of getting you and your team ready to go with it. Frank D. has been a huge help with getting us confident with our scanners and making sure we are taken care of. He and his colleagues at CAD-RAY are always a responsive to our calls. Thank you!read less - 2/21/2023
Rusty Fitton
Super happy with our purchase of the Medit i500 from Cad Ray. Overall its a work horse scanner that has handled anything weve thrown at it. The key to success with it is definitely taking the time to actually learn how to use it after purchase. Ca...read moreSuper happy with our purchase of the Medit i500 from Cad Ray. Overall its a work horse scanner that has handled anything weve thrown at it. The key to success with it is definitely taking the time to actually learn how to use it after purchase. Cad Ray has an immense library of straight forward education videos that are updated basically daily. I havent done the 2 day course but that is also included in the purchase. You really cant find that sort of service and education with any of the other scanners on the market. Id recommend them to anyone.read less - 6/26/2020
AMISH DESAI
Awesome! Great support. If you are planning on getting a scanner, make sure you have Cad-Ray on your side ! - 4/20/2022
North Bakersfield Dental
Excellent customer service and product!! - 3/16/2022
John Eum
Love all the staff there. Great support and instruction from Armen, Laura, Damien. We are very grateful for Kaila who has been incredible in getting us going - very friendly, professional and responsive. Thank you! - 7/03/2024
Dr. Terry Zervos, DDS,PA.
Today I had to order new tips and Laura was EXTREMELY helpful, Cad-Ray has all the products you need for digital dentistry and they do Education, if you buy Medit scanner from them they include 12 CE training course. Cant just buy a Lamborghini you h...read moreToday I had to order new tips and Laura was EXTREMELY helpful, Cad-Ray has all the products you need for digital dentistry and they do Education, if you buy Medit scanner from them they include 12 CE training course. Cant just buy a Lamborghini you have to learn how to drive it!read less - 7/02/2020
Kyle Coffin
Bought a medit 6 months ago and customer service has been nothing short of amazing. Always very responsive and helpful. Great scanner, too! - 6/16/2020
David Blanco
Cad-Ray is great! Great customer service and they are consistent with their followthrough . Always helpful when you need questions answered and helping to lower the learning curve with newly purchased equipment. I’m very satisfied with my medit i-...read moreCad-Ray is great! Great customer service and they are consistent with their followthrough . Always helpful when you need questions answered and helping to lower the learning curve with newly purchased equipment. I’m very satisfied with my medit i-500 intraoral scanner. Armen and Frank are solid!read less - 6/16/2020
Jim Ellis
I've only worked with this company for a short time but I have found them to be wonderful in every way. Call, emails, and texts are returned very quickly and the equipment that we have purchased works wonderfully. I would highly recommend. Dr Jim Ell...read moreI've only worked with this company for a short time but I have found them to be wonderful in every way. Call, emails, and texts are returned very quickly and the equipment that we have purchased works wonderfully. I would highly recommend. Dr Jim Ellisread less - 5/12/2020
Krystyna
I recently purchased Medit scanner and my assistant and I went through training with Andy. He was great, knowledgeable and patient with us. Customer service is great! - 2/05/2023
Mike Davis
I have been very happy with the Medit I purchased from Cad Ray. Everyone has been very helpful and quick to respond to my questions. They have an awesome video library for the medit, I am new to scanning and have really enjoyed the tutorial videos. - 6/16/2020
Lawrence Falender
W are an Oral Surgery practice. We started treating TMD patients with the Urbanek TMJ device and decided to switch from impressions to a scanner. We have no past experience with using a scanner. Ryan was very nurturing and patient. Though we are no...read moreW are an Oral Surgery practice. We started treating TMD patients with the Urbanek TMJ device and decided to switch from impressions to a scanner. We have no past experience with using a scanner. Ryan was very nurturing and patient. Though we are not ready to make the switch, we are well on our way. Looking forward to our next session.read less - 11/21/2022
Stephanie O'Rourke
I am fairly new to scanning with my Medit I700. I am loving this in my business. It has had its challenges at times but the best part is the accessibility and support from Frank DeLuca. He has been instrumental in helping me when I have a patient in...read moreI am fairly new to scanning with my Medit I700. I am loving this in my business. It has had its challenges at times but the best part is the accessibility and support from Frank DeLuca. He has been instrumental in helping me when I have a patient in the chair and need assistance. I couldn't be more grateful for his help. Thanks, Frank!read less - 12/16/2021
lizette aguero
Highly recommended. Ericka help me through all the process when we were having some trouble with our scanner. The help was super fast and secure. She answered all our questions and made sure our scanner were working perfectly. - 4/29/2025
arthur lyford
I cannot say enough about the support I have received from the beginning. I chose CadRay ultimately because of the support reviews...I can attest first hand...they are all right on...though I have been practicing for more than 35 years, this old dog ...read moreI cannot say enough about the support I have received from the beginning. I chose CadRay ultimately because of the support reviews...I can attest first hand...they are all right on...though I have been practicing for more than 35 years, this old dog has been taught a lot of new tricks from the support staff at Cad Ray...Truly impressed with every interaction so far! Thanks 10/4/2023 And they did it again today with ten minutes before the pt came in 3Shpe server would not connect with the computer and Andy got to 3Shape directly and had us up and running...thankfully I didn't have to call anyone but CadRay...thanks again....read less - 10/05/2023
Eric Turner
I bought my Medit from Cad-Ray a little over a year ago. The very few times I've needed any kind of help with it, Cad-Ray has been absolutely ON IT. Issues get completely resolved within minutes. It's great!! - 11/01/2021
David Christensen
I purchased the Medit i500 from Cad-Ray December 2018. I couldn’t be happier with the scanner. The improvements Medit has made over the last 10 months are nothing short of astounding! I can’t imaging what they’ll come up with next.
As for Cad-Ray...read moreI purchased the Medit i500 from Cad-Ray December 2018. I couldn’t be happier with the scanner. The improvements Medit has made over the last 10 months are nothing short of astounding! I can’t imaging what they’ll come up with next.
As for Cad-Ray, their support has been second to none. Never have I experienced the kind of attention and help from any other company. Wether it’s with help installing, computer hardware issues or technical help they respond IMMEDIATELY!
Armen is also a huge reason why I chose Cad-Ray. No one selling a product has helped me more evolve my scanning technique. He’s quick to respond to questions and issues I feel his service is a huge reason why to buy from CAD-RAY.read less - 10/09/2019
Danielle was super helpful and kind trouble shooting to get us back up and going very quickly this morning. We appreciate it! - 4/15/2025
Miguel DeLeon
I seriously can't believe the amount of support I get from Cad-Ray. I bought a medit scanner 2 months ago through Laura and she was very quick to get it shipped to me. She helped me through the whole process and ensured that I was passed to the right...read moreI seriously can't believe the amount of support I get from Cad-Ray. I bought a medit scanner 2 months ago through Laura and she was very quick to get it shipped to me. She helped me through the whole process and ensured that I was passed to the right people to train me. They were always available whenever I called, even one time I ran into an emergency after hours and Kaila picked up and saved the night. Very cool how they can remote access to my computer and guide me through as if they were right next to me.I also recently bought an Ackuretta Sol printer with Laura's help and she got me paired up with Jessica for my printer training. Jessica is so awesome! She is very knowledgeable and guided me through a lot of troubleshooting and set me up for success.Thank you guys so much!! I will always refer my friends to you all.read less - 4/13/2022
Faisal Mir
Exceptional customer service! - 4/11/2025
Dong Lim
I’ve been using Medit for close to 2 years. It’s a must for any practice. No evil monthly subscription and great support from CAD ray - 6/16/2020
Robert Mabry
I don't scan in my practice my assist does. She says it's awesome. Better than the trios or cerecs we have had in the past. The image quality while designing cases is amazing. Haven't seated a restoration from it yet but expect it to be great as well...read moreI don't scan in my practice my assist does. She says it's awesome. Better than the trios or cerecs we have had in the past. The image quality while designing cases is amazing. Haven't seated a restoration from it yet but expect it to be great as well.read less - 6/16/2020
Cad Ray has always provided me with the best customer support for my Medit scanner. Today, I worked with Destiny. She is quick to respond and identify problems and also great at explaining how to fix them! I highly recommend this company! - 5/01/2025
Ma. Teresa Santana
Best support and customer service ever! My scanner is long past warranty and they still answer all my questions. When it's time to upgrade I'll be buying from them again. A friend bought same scanner from another vendor and got zero support. I had to...read moreBest support and customer service ever! My scanner is long past warranty and they still answer all my questions. When it's time to upgrade I'll be buying from them again. A friend bought same scanner from another vendor and got zero support. I had to help them. Told her next time buy from Cad Rayread less - 5/10/2024
With the Meditlink software you can design a case and then export the designs and take them to any milling machine of your choice. In this demonstration, we use the CORiTEC ONE to mill out the metal abutment in 45 minutes. This procedure is not intended to be a single appointment visit so timing is not critical and you don’t place undue wear and tear on the milling machine.
The crowns were milled with two different milling machines. A Celtra Duo block was used and milled with the CEREC MCXL and retrofitted to the abutment to verify the fit and accuracy. The same crown stl was milled out of Vita material in the imes icore machine. The whole point of the demonstration is that you can take scans from any intra-oral scan, take it to CAD software (in this case exocad) and then export the case and take it to any printer or milling machine of your choice. You must make sure critical information is accurately transferred from your CAD software to your CAM software, which is generally the construction / project file that accompanies the STL files of the prosthetic components
The same crown was milled out of Vita’s Suprinity material in 20 minutes with the imes-icore CORiTEC ONE. Take note of the internal adaptation of the metal abutment and the restoration and how when it is flipped upside down, the restoration does not fall out easily!
For our advanced users, we demonstrate how to plan and manage a two unit molar case so they can deliver multiple chairside restorations in a single visit. There are numerous short-cuts to this treatment protocol and we present them in great detail during our courses. The limiting factor for most doctors is that they have a single milling machine and we show our users how to balance prep and mill time so that they can complete 2 units in less than 90 minutes.
In this case however, we present two restorations that were prepared and delivered at the same time. The sequence of steps are:
Anesthetize the upper right first and second molar
While the patient is getting numb, image the arch to be prepped, image the opposing, and image the bite WITHOUT the teeth being prepared
Reduce the occlusal height of your preparation but do not image them
Check your reduction visually or with the camera function of the Medit i500
Reduce more tooth structure until you have the proper clearance for material strength
Finish refining your preparations, displace the tissue, reach hemostasis, and then crop out the area of the model that you have altered
Image the two preps into that equation. Most people turn on the HD mode for capturing the margins
For distal extension cases, we recommend that you take the second bite. While imaging the second bite (NOT the left vs right bite), if the occlusal model turns green, it is a clear Indication that the vertical has no changed from the pre-op to the prep situation and that you will have minimal post-op adjustments to make. If the second buccal bite does not register in green, it should serve as a warning to you that the vertical dimension has changed
As advanced users, you quickly recognize what areas in the model need to be closed either with imaging or with the “close hole” options during the processing step of the Meditlink software. If you are familiar with exocad or other CAD software programs you can just ignore these areas as they do not have any clinical significance whatsoever.
Once the case is designed you can mill them with your milling machine of choice. The testing of materials, fit, and milling machines are a constant at CAD-Ray.com so we milled the first molar with emax material and the MCXL and the second molar, a Celtra Duo material, was milled with the Imes Icore CORiTEC Once
An immediate post-op bitewing X-ray was taken to verify fit and to make sure that there was no excess resin cement left behind in the interproximal area. The premolar mesial to the working field also needs to be replaced and will be in the near future
In the following three videos we walk you through the steps of how the digital “scanbody drop” works to identify the location of an implant fixture. In the demonstration videos, we highlight this upcoming feature and how you an integrate the CAD software for implant designs and restorations. In the final video, we demonstrate how you can take the construction files to the milling machine of your choice and mill out the abutment and/or suprastructure.
When you start a case in exocad or in Meditlink, you have to define a project or define the job by entering a prescription. A dentalproject file is created that has all the pertinent data, like the type of restoration, the shade, the material, parameter settings,etc..
After the case is designed a dental cad project file is formed, along with the stl file of the restoration, accompanied by the construction information. Once the construction file is formed, the case can be import it into CAM software like cerec inlab. It carries a lot of information like the margin line.
Some CAM software can process simple redirections without the need for any other pertinent information from the construction file, while others require it. Some are so specific that a simple typo or wrong character will lead to mis-production.
In the case of cerec inlab, it’s best to have the construction file accompany the stl of the restorations, although there are numerous work-arounds in case you don’t. Once processed, the restoration is taken to the Mcxl milling machine.
Why are we so focused on teaching this concept ? Because it is critical for milling metal abutment where you have to keep track of an object that is cylindrical and symmetric in shape. The code in these files will dictate the indexing of the connections and how these abutments are milled.
The new Medit i500 software will feature the ability to mark margins in the imaging step before you import the case into a CAD software or send it to the lab. In this article we showcase a case where a 12 year old implant crown needed replacement. The pre-op images were captured, along with the opposing and the bite.
After the area was anesthetized and the crown was removed, expasyl was used to achieve hemostasis and tissue retraction. The margins of the abutment were imaged. Note how we used a feature in the Medit scanner to change the scan light from blue to white, which allows you to pick up red (blood and tissue) that is normally difficult to capture.
Once the margins were captured, we activated the margination tool. You highlight the area you want to address and the meshwork is calculated and processed locally, where you can then designate your margins that are exported to CAD software along with the jaw model, the opposing, the pre-op and the bite.
Alternatively, the traditional way would be to not place the margins in the native Medit software and to place it in the CAD software itself. As you can see both options are very viable and you do not lose any resolution of the scanned data between the imaging program or the design software.
The Medit i500 intra-oral scanner has two different software programs to operate, one is of which is geared towards clinical dentistry and the other is geared towards laboratories. Our advanced users are encouraged to use the lab version as it has a lot more functionality. One of them is to directly link to exocad software.
In this particular preview we show you the interface where you can launch the iScan program and define the work order and set all the parameters for your restorations.
Once all the settings are chosen, you launch the Medit scanner and image the case. Here, we defined the custom abutment for the crown and the opposing, which activated the catalog box for the antagonist, the arch, the scanbody, and the buccal bite. All respective images were captured.
Once the implant type is identified then you can design the abutment and crown with great control, where you can contour the underbelly of the abutment to help provide tissue support.
The design and the construction file is taken to the milling machine. Here, we used the CORiTEC ONE to mill the titanium abutment and then the Lithium Disilicate crown. You can see the great internal adaptation when the crown and the abutment are flipped around completely and the abutment does not fall out.
This case shows the amount of control one can have over the fit of a restoration. The upper right first molar was imaged with the Medit i500 and then imported into exocad design software. Once the margins are marked, the user can then define parameters that affect the fit of the restoration.
The diameter of the drill can be taken into consideration; in the design, 1.0 mm was chosen, but ultimately, we used the 0.6 mm bur to mill the intaglio of the emax restoration. The cement gap can be controlled as can the distance from the margin where it takes effect. The minimum thickness parameter also reinforces the material at the margins which will reduce the chances of chipping and ditching at deep chamfer margins. All of this translates into well fitting restorations with little space needed for the resin. That ultimately translates to easier clean up.
The case was milled using a few different materials and at varying speeds to see how thin the margins could be handled and how much detail the 0.6 mm burr can carve into emax and the glass ceramic material
At any given time, we are milling restorations with 3 or 4 milling machines. Recently, we designed a restoration with the Medit i500 scanner, designed in exocad, and milled with a chairside mcxl cerec milling machine. Here are the steps we took to do this:
You may have to install some .net framework files from Microsoft. It’s generally an automated installation
Once installed, make sure to have your milling machine turned on and connected. A lot of the functionality is closed if your machine is not on and connected to the PC with the software.
We had to follow certain steps in sequence to get this to work. We had to activate the license in a pre-installed CEREC software and then move that thumbdrive to the machine where the inlab CAM was going to be installed
You can contact Mr. Milos Gedosev who runs DentalCADCAM in Germany and has earned a great reputation over two decades if you have any questions.
If you are new to digital dentistry, this introductory video will show you how to judge if digital models are related to each other. As a simple exercise, we opened one digital model and then imported the exact same model as a pre-op scan into the equation.
Once the models are in the design software, they are manually related to each other with at least 3 common points. After the merge, we performed “best fit matching” and then demonstrate how the color histogram in exocad has the both models painted completely blue.
We then slightly altered one model by adding material to one cusp tip, reduce the adjacent cusp tip, and then smoothing the third cusp tip. We then re-aligned both models to each other again and you can see how the software lets you know the range of discrepancy in those areas. Notice that all three areas have the same histogram color but all three have distinct meshwork areas from the original.
Once you understand this concept, it opens up many avenues for you that you can never achieve with traditional impressions.
There are may advanced ways that you can articulate the maxilla with the mandible if you happen to have models that are not accompanied by a bite registration or the arches were scanned intra-orally in separate folders as files
Generally, when you scan intra-oral and complete the case with both arches and the buccal bite, the models maintain their relationship to each other when exported to CAD software. But if you do not include the buccal bite scan, or if you scan the arches in separate files or cases, there is no way for a software to know how they are supposed to align with each other.
This simple video tutorial shows beginners how they can hand articulate the arches together with digital software. There are two steps you should take to make this an easier process to visualize, once you become comfortable with the moving models around as a system or as independent units. Crop the model at its base so that you can see through it and then turn on the feature “show distances” in exocad that will give you a color map and help you with alignment.
Obviously a bite alignment scan will come in hand, whether you use a desktop scan or an intraoral buccal bites scan
Once in a while, our users get themselves in a bind and you have to rely on manual alignment of jaws to each other. Sometimes, it feels like you are doing gymnastics to get the process to work. The sequence of how you import the models and how you set up the case is important in exocad.
Here we have 3 models; one of the upper, one for the lower, and one for the bite. Don’t ask how we ended up here:) The “direction of travel” is important to keep in mind, and as you can see in this video that is sped up, how the case was managed. if you bring in the upper and lower models in together, and then the bite, as soon as you align the bite to one jaw, you end up dislodging it when you tack it to the opposing jaw.
Reversing the sequence of import helps. We first bring in the upper jaw and the bite alignment and stitch those together. Then we bring the lower jaw into the equation and then merge that to the whole complex. Once that is done, the arches now know their relationships to each other and when you save each arch individually and import them into other programs, they will know exactly how to line up.
At the end of this video demonstration you can see how we re-import the two models in stl format just to verify that they do align properly
In this particular case, we demonstrate an emax restoration fabricated with the Z4 milling machine by VHF. In the first video, you can see how the case was set up initially within the software. You will notice how we image the preop, image the opposing and can even image the bite out of sequence, all while the patient is being anesthetized.
Once the preparation is captured, we place the margins and design a crown in exocad. The emax is milled, tried in, and them placed in the oven for crystallization. It is then delivered to the patient. Note how the decay at the contacts of the adjacent teeth was drilled out and restored, while the crown was milling / crystalizing. An immediate post op x-ray was taken to make sure there was no resin left behin
When imaging a preparation, all you really need for a restoration to “fit’ is the contact area of the adjacent teeth (above the height of contour) and the opposing occlusal surface.
But the more you feed the computer aided design software the less work you have to do in the design of the restoration. For example, in the video below, you can see how the software automatically recognizes the adjacent teeth and a great initial proposal is rendered.
However, if you don’t capture all the data in the adjacent teeth, you will have to manually plot the adjacent teeth and spend more time in the design steps.
With exocad, the first step is to align the orientation of the arch so that the occlusal surface is directly facing you. Once the prepped arch and the opposing models are imported, then you place the margins.With the color OBJ files from the Medit i500 it is very easy to identify the margin based on color and geometry. Once the margins are placed, the next step in the wizard is to calculate the initial proposal.
This video demonstrates how the CAD software recognizes the adjacent teeth and renders a great initial proposal
Download the OBJ files and import them into smile design software and do a virtual wax up for a real case
This patient has had crown lengthening procedure performed on all the teeth in her smile line, greatly increased the tooth structure visible in this video. Her chief complaint was a gummy smile and now she is ready to “fill in the buccal corridor”
This is a first molar crown that was replaced with an in-office milled eMax restoration. The adjacent second molar had recurrent decay under the existing class 2 restoration. That was removed and replaced and pre-existing crown was also removed.
The preparation was refined and the recurrent decay was removed. Once hemostasis was achieved and the tissue was retracted the area was scanned with the medit i500. The crown was designed to full contour and milled chairside. After it was chrystalized, it was bonded into place with Nx3 resin cement. The excess was removed and an immediate post-op bitewing was taken to verify that no excess cement was left behind.
Pre-Op
This video shows the design of a crown after the impression was taken where vivid colors of the retraction cord, the sulcus, the preparation, and the details of the adjacent tooth can be visualized.
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Immediate Post-Op
Download the case files in OBJ Format
There are so many incredible and robust features to exocad and it is precisely why there are over 35,000 users around the world. There are many distributors to the software, including us, at CAD-Ray.com
We focus mostly on our clients who are generally dentists, and our main goal is to streamline your workflow and make this easy and not intimidating. During our two day hands-on course for new medit i500 owners, we install the software and design four cases in exocad.
Here are some of the top highlights for you to understand. The software is installed and self contained within a folder that you can place anywhere on a computer’s directory. What’s great about this is that your software operates completely independent of the windows operating system. So whenever there is an automatic windoes update, it does not mess with your configurations or settings and you don’t have to deal with firewalls and other technical terms we don’t even comprehend.
Another benefit to this is that you can place this folder on the cloud like dropbox and then you can go to ANY machine- at home, in another operatory, at another office and launch the program there, instead of carrying a laptop around. Since the data can only be accessed by a real license / dongle, there are no concerns about HIPAA violations as it is encrypted and only accessible by the active license. Moreover, one machine can be running Windows 7 and another could be runnng Windows 10, and you wouldn’t know the difference or have to worry about configurations
Also, multiple doctors in multiple locations could be working off the same program on the cloud, as long as they have an active dongle. This really allows for a lot of flexibility in a practice or a group setting.
You can see the basic elements in the folder, which are broken down into a case data storage folder, the CADApp and the DentalDB folders. We’ll explain what these other two folders do below.
As a distributor, we can custom make our own private label version of exocad. Since we are focused on chairside dentistry, or on dentists, generally, we strip the software down to the essentials. Namely, we’ve programmed it for inlays, onlays, crowns, and veneers. We also include bridges that can fit in 40mm blocks. You can choose to add on other modules like implant planning, implant designs, dentures, etc.. if you choose to.
It is important for you to understand that we provide a fully functional version of this software, and if you want to add more features as your confidence grows, all you have to do is swap out these files called WorkParamsDB.xml
Watch the video that shows you how we have multiple versions of the file. We provide you with many versions of this file that you always have access to and they are all configured differently. In seconds, you can change the look and the feel of the software to your liking, and turn on multiple modules that we hide from the version that we provide. Please note that we only provide support and tutorials for the what we call the Dentist Version of exocad, as opposed to the lab version. If you grow to the point where you want to add the other components, it is very to transition, just recognize that we don’t support the heavy duty version. We certainly can refer you to the right people to learn how to use those extended functions.
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One more thing for you to get excited about is the WorkParamConfigTool.exe
Now, if you are scared of the mouse and can’t press the “Any Key” button on keyboard, stop reading any further.
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