3Shape Dental System
by 3Shape · 3shape.com ↗
3Shape's lab CAD system: broad indications, tight TRIOS integration, lab management and AI crown proposals through Automate. Subscription-based and sold only through resellers, with no public price.
3Shape Dental System review: our verdict
By the Denture-ID Research Desk · updated Sep 30, 2026 · based on vendor documentation, published pricing and public user reviews; not hands-on tested
Reviewed by Dr. Pavani Molli, DDS, MS, Board-Certified Periodontist & Oral Implantologist · Editorial Board
3Shape Dental System is the main alternative to exocad in dental labs, and the natural choice for labs built around TRIOS. It combines broad design indications with lab management and a direct feed from 3Shape's scanners, and adds AI crown proposals through Automate.
It is subscription-only and priced by reseller quote. Labs that value ownership or open price comparison will lean towards exocad.
Strengths
- Covers crowns, bridges, dentures, partial frameworks, implant work, aligners and trays
- Direct case flow from TRIOS via 3Shape Unite, and imports from other scanners
- AI design proposals for crowns, inlays and onlays in about 90 seconds
- Dental Manager lab management included
- LabCare service with updates, support, training and replacement
Watch-outs
- No public pricing; quotes only through resellers
- Subscription model
- AI design has a fair-use cap of 1,200 units per seat per year
- Few public user reviews
What 3Shape Dental System is
Dental System is 3Shape's CAD software for dental laboratories. The current release is Dental System 2025. It covers crowns, bridges, veneers, full and partial dentures, removable partial frameworks, implant abutments and bars, clear aligners and custom impression trays, among other indications.
It includes Dental Manager for lab case management, implant and tooth libraries, and connections to TRIOS and third-party intraoral scanners. 3Shape Automate adds AI design proposals for crowns, inlays and onlays in about 90 seconds, subject to a fair-use limit of 1,200 AI design units per seat per year.
Pricing
3Shape sells Dental System on subscription through its partner network and does not publish prices. The optional LabCare service covers updates, support, training, warranty and replacement. Ask your reseller for:
- the subscription price per seat and what modules it includes;
- whether Automate AI design is included, and what happens above 1,200 units;
- the LabCare price and the contract term.
For comparison, exocad publishes reseller prices from $5,800 perpetual: exocad review.
Where Dental System is strong
- TRIOS workflow. Cases arrive from TRIOS clinics through 3Shape Unite without export steps.
- Lab management built in. Dental Manager handles orders and case tracking.
- AI proposals. Automate speeds up routine crown work.
- Breadth. Almost every lab indication in one product.
- Service. LabCare bundles support, training and hardware replacement.
Where it falls short
- No public price and reseller-only purchase.
- Subscription only. No option to own a version outright.
- AI cap. 1,200 units per seat per year may not cover a high-volume crown lab.
- Thin public feedback.
Alternatives to compare
- exocad DentalCAD: 3Shape Dental System vs exocad.
- CEREC Software: 3Shape Dental System vs CEREC.
- Medit ClinicCAD: 3Shape Dental System vs Medit ClinicCAD.
All systems: dental CAD ranking.
Bottom line
If most of your clients scan with TRIOS and you want lab management and AI proposals from one vendor, Dental System is the obvious shortlist. Get the total subscription and LabCare cost over five years and compare it with an exocad perpetual licence for the same modules.
Sources for this review (3)
- 3Shape: Dental System — indications, release, Automate limits, subscription and reseller model
- 3Shape: Automate — AI design service
- 3Shape: Dental System updates — version history
Data Index profile
Table view
| Axis | 3Shape Dental System | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 5.9 | 10 of 17 tracked capabilities confirmed (0 unverified) |
| Integrations | 6.9 | 7 verified integrations |
| Pricing clarity | 2.0 | quote only |
| Support | 7.5 | 2 channels, onboarding included, 2 training formats |
| Vendor stability | 9.0 | 1001–5000 staff |
| User rating | no data | No public ratings found |
Of the 5 axes we could measure, 3Shape Dental System is strongest on vendor stability (9.0/10) and weakest on pricing clarity (2.0/10). An established vendor that does not publish pricing — expect a sales call. It ranks #3 of 15 in dental CAD, 1.2 points above the category median of 4.9. We could not verify user rating yet, so those axes are left blank rather than scored.
- Features5.9
10 of 17 tracked capabilities confirmed (0 unverified). What this measures ⓘ
- Integrations6.9
7 verified integrations. What this measures ⓘ
- Pricing clarity2.0
quote only. What this measures ⓘ
- Support7.5
2 channels, onboarding included, 2 training formats. What this measures ⓘ
- Vendor stability9.0
1001–5000 staff. What this measures ⓘ
- User ratingno data
No public ratings found. What this measures ⓘ
CAD indications & automation
3Shape Dental System confirms 10 of 17 capabilities we track for this category. Relatively rare among its 15 peers: full arch, surgical guides, aligners, and ai crown proposal.
- ✓ Crowns
- ✓ Bridges
- ✕ Inlays/onlays
- ✕ Veneers
- ✓ Abutments
- ✕ Implant bars
- ✓ Full arch
- ✕ Full dentures
- ✕ Partial frameworks
- ✓ Splints
- ✓ Surgical guides
- ✓ Models
- ✓ Aligners
- ✕ Smile design
- ✕ AI margin
- ✓ AI crown proposal
- ✓ Material library
- Implant libraries
- 90
- Sold via resellers only
- Yes
See how every dental CAD product compares on these features →
Integration web
3Shape Dental System lists 7 verified integrations, all native. None of the 6 most-connected systems in our database (Open Dental, Dentrix, and Eaglesoft…) are on its verified list. 6 products in our database list 3Shape Dental System as a supported integration — a proxy for how central it is to the ecosystem.
Pricing & 3-year cost
- License model
- Quote only
- Price transparency
- Quote only
- Starting price
- Not published
- Free trial
- Not verified
- Price last checked
- Sep 30, 2026
- Minimum term
- Not verified
- Auto-renew
- Not verified
- Cancellation notice
- Not verified
- Early termination fee
- Not verified
- Data export on exit
- Not verified
3Shape Dental System is quote-only — like 9 of 15 other products in this category. 6 competitors publish at least partial pricing.
Compliance & security
“Claimed by vendor” means a public statement we could cite; it is not an audit. Ask for the SOC 2 report or signed BAA before you share patient data.
Who it’s for
Best for
- Labs whose clients mostly scan with TRIOS
- Labs that want CAD, case management and order flow from one vendor
- Labs interested in AI-generated crown proposals at volume
Not ideal for
- Buyers who want to own the software outright
- Labs that want to compare published prices
- Small labs that only design occasional crowns
Practice size
- Specialties
- Dental lab
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Open API
- ?
- Support
- phone, email
- Onboarding
- Included
Company
- Vendor
- 3Shape
- Employees
- 1001–5000
- Customers (vendor claim)
- 8,000
Markets
Vendor also markets the product globally.
Markets the vendor actively sells into: Global.
FAQ
How much does 3Shape Dental System cost?
3Shape does not publish prices. Dental System is sold on subscription through 3Shape's reseller network, with an optional LabCare service plan. Ask for the price per seat, which modules are included and whether AI design is part of the subscription.
What is 3Shape Automate?
Automate is 3Shape's AI design service. In Dental System it generates design proposals for crowns, inlays and onlays in about 90 seconds, with a fair-use limit of 1,200 AI design units per seat per year. It requires Dental System 24.1.1 or newer.
3Shape Dental System or exocad?
Both cover almost all lab indications. 3Shape is subscription-based and strongest with TRIOS scans and its own lab management; exocad can be bought with a perpetual licence and is known for its openness to other hardware. See our 3Shape Dental System vs exocad comparison.
How much does 3Shape Dental System cost?
3Shape Dental System does not publish pricing; it is sold on a quote basis. 2 competitors in dental CAD publish a starting price.
Is 3Shape Dental System HIPAA compliant?
Yes — 3Shape Dental System's vendor states HIPAA compliance. Always request a signed BAA before sharing PHI.
What are the best alternatives to 3Shape Dental System?
By our Data Index, the strongest alternatives in dental CAD are exocad DentalCAD (7.5), Clinux (6.2), and Medit ClinicCAD (5.7).
Sources18 cited · 27 field-level citations
- 3Shape Dental System - Dental CAD software for labs · 3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape Integrations · livepreview-test1-www.3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape Unite: The Complete Dental Platform · 3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape Unite for Partners · 3shape.com · vendor site
- Find a 3Shape Reseller · livepreview-test1-www.3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape FAQ · 3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape Automate · 3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape Dental System Software Updates · 3shape.com · vendor site
- Privacy and Compliance Center · support.3shape.com · vendor site
- PMS Integration availability by support region · support.3shape.com · vendor docs
- 3Shape Dental System Software Updates · 3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape | LinkedIn · linkedin.com · review platform
- 3Shape Dental System | 3Shape · 3shape.com · vendor site
- 3Shape reward your doctors with unparalleled restorations · 3shape.com · press release
- Dental Lab & Clinic Software Solutions | 3Shape · 3shape.com · vendor site
- Digital Dentistry: Dentsply Sirona and 3Shape Expand Their Workflow Integrations · 3shape.com · press release
- 3Shape now open to Planmeca intraoral scanner and milling machine · 3shape.com · press release
- 3Shape, CIM System and DGSHAPE create integrated digital denture workflow · 3shape.com · press release
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