Example: Implants

In this page will be followed and explained the wizard for scanning 1 model with 4 implants and parts of silicon gingiva.

To create this project in Exocad, click on the DentalDB icon on your desktop. The project manager will open.

Fill in the project information, the kind of restoration that needs to be designed and the extra parameters. For this kind of project make sure that you have selected the Implant type and the Separated Gingiva.

For further information on how to create projects in Exocad, visit the specific page on the Exocad Wiki!

Here is the project definition for our demo project:

Once the project has been defined just click OPT in the Actions section to launch the scanning software.

The first thing the scanning software shows is the project created in Exocad, if the project is correctly defined click the Accept Button .

Project definition starting from ScanWay

All projects can be defined in the scanning software as well, regardless the CAD that will be later on used to design.

Launch the scanning software double-clicking on the ScanWay icon on your desktop. The Welcome Page will open; to create the project click on the first icon.

For detailed information on how to define a project visit the specific page: Create a New Project.

Here is the definition of our demo project:

Both the project definitions described lead to the same wizard, which will be now followed step by step.

Step 1: Upper Model

Since there isn't an opposing model in the defined project, the first required scan is the scan of the upper model, which will be the reference for the positioning of all the other scans.
This step is divided into two sub-steps.

Scan Step

Place the upper model on the model holder and click the Scan Button.

AT THIS STAGE, ONLY THE STONE MODEL IS REQUIRED. REMEMBER TO TAKE OFF THE MODEL THE GINGIVA, MARKERS, AND ANY OTHER ACCESSORY OBJECT

Once the scan is finished the result will be shown.

Click to access the edit step for the Upper model.

Edit Step

This step allows to edit the acquired image; for detailed information on all the available options in this step visit the Edit Tools page.

The image at this step can be both edited or trimmed. At this stage, it is actually important not to edit too much the image or cutting big chunks of information, since it would make it more difficult for the software to calculate the automatic alignment of the object to its reference.

Here below an example of how to trim using the cut base tool and simply double-clicking on the image to remove the unwanted parts.

When you are satisfied with the result click to access the next wizard step.

Step 2: Markers

This step requires the user to scan the markers or scanbodies that will be used to mark the correct positioning of the geometry and screw channel of the implant in the CAD software.
The scan of the markers is divided into different steps.

Definition

It is not necessary to have one marker for each implant on the model, since the markers can be scanned in different groups. To demonstrate this possibility, the 4 markers that need to be scanned for this project have been divided into two scanning groups, as follows:

Click to access the scan step for the first group.

First Group

Scan

Depending on the number of scan groups created, the software will propose one or more scanning steps.

First, the software requires the user to insert the markers screwed on top of the model in the scanner and acquire the items of the first group.
As a reminder, it marks the items to be scanned together on the right of the window, under the live view.

Place the model with the selected markers on the model holder and click the Scan Button. Once the scan is finished the result will be shown.

Click to access the edit step.

Edit

Follows the edit step to clean or trim the image. This time the rectangular selection tool has been used and the cut action has been activated in the contextual menu.

Click to access the alignment step.

Alignment

The alignment for all scanned items is always automatic and it shows its results after the editing step.
To learn more on the automatic alignment and the manual procedure visit our Alignment Interface page.

Marker Identification

When a scan group has more than one item, the user will be asked to separate each marker from the others to correctly identify it.
To learn more about the identification of the dies visit the Scan Interface page.

Click to continue.

Second group

Scan

Since in the project the markers have been divided into two groups, this is the last scan of the marker acquisition step.

As before, the software shows a reminder and marks the items to be scanned together on the right of the window, under the live view.

Place the model with the selected markers on the model holder and click the Scan Button. Once the scan is finished the result will be shown.

Click to access the edit step.

Edit

This image has been edited with the polygonal selection tool; the cut action has been activated in the contextual menu.

Click to access the alingment step.

Alignment

The alignment for all scanned items is always automatic and it shows its results after the editing step.
To learn more about the automatic alignment and the manual procedure visit our Alignment Interface page.

Marker Identification

When a scan group has more than one item, the user will be asked to separate each marker from the others to correctly identify it.
To learn more about the identification of the dies visit the Scan Interface page.

Click to continue.

Step 3: Gingiva

If in the project has been specified the presence of a silicon gingiva, that can be separated from the model, the software will ask the user to scan it on top of the reference model.
Also this step develops in different phases.

Scan Step

Place the upper model with the gingiva on the model holder and click the Scan Button.
Once the scan is finished the result will be shown.

Click to continue.

Edit Step

This item has been trimmed using the rectangular selection tool; the selected part has been deleted by pushing the DELETE (DEL) button on the keyboard.

Click to continue.

Automatic Alignment

As for the other items, the image of the gingiva aligns automatically to its reference (the upper model). The model part that matches the reference will then be removed automatically to keep only the actual gingiva part in mesh format.

Click to continue.

Step 4: Healthy and Pontics

At this stage, the project has been scanned, unless the user wants to rescan the healthy and pontics. In this case, since there are no healthy teeth there is no need to rescan.

Click to continue.
The software will then propose a further edit step to allow the user to modify the healthy image. Proceed in the edit step as previously explained.

Step 5: Marker Alignment

To serve their purpose, the markers need to be aligned to a implant library: a virtual, geometric, accurate representation of the scanbody that has been screwed to the stone analog to mark its position.
The alingment to the library can be performed either in the scanning software or in Exocad. Since the market of libraries and scanbodies is so diverse, it is possible that some libraries will not work in our system.

Here below the library selection performed for our demo case:

Immediately after, the user will be asked to align the STL of the Marker to the scanned items:

To learn more about how to select a library and align the scanbodies to it, visit the section Marker alignment of the page Alignment Interface.

Step 6: Mesh Generation and Export

At this point, the software immediately starts mesh generation. The meshes can be edited and exported individually or as a unique image. To learn more about mesh editing visit our Mesh Tools page.

Click on the Export Button to export to CAD.

If the project has been started from Exocad, the CAD will automatically open and the design can be started immediately. Otherwise, the software will ask the user how to export the file.