Joh Härich discusses the Preparation Margin Repair tool

Joh Härich

Thu. 14. November 2024

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A major highlight of DentalCAD 3.2 Elefsina is the Preparation Margin Repair tool. This new tool allows dental professionals to digitally restore a preparation margin, which is a considerable enhancement. The tool, like the entire exocad software program, is based on actual workflows and fulfils customers’ needs in daily laboratory work. It is included in the DentalCAD Core version.

The preparation margin is crucial for a perfectly fitting restoration. However, it is precisely here that sources of error can arise, both in an intra-oral scan and in conventional impressions. For example, we have all seen artefacts and holes on the preparation margin. With the new Preparation Margin Repair tool, DentalCAD users can now digitally repair these.

Using the Preparation Margin Repair tool

In the Margin Line Detection step, the tool appears in the wizard window under the new Repair/Draw function. It allows users to remove and manually redraw the preparation margin or smooth the scan. Additionally, users can now place a preparation margin over a hole or artefact in the scan. The software makes an optimised adjustment, allowing a usable result to be achieved without altering the original scan data (Figs. 1 & 2).

The work steps are precisely documented. This means that both the original scan and the edited version with the repaired preparation margin are saved in the documentation (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2: As soon as the new preparation margin is determined, the corrected stump can be seen in yellow. Only the lower area, directly at the border, deviates clearly from the original scan.

Fig. 3: The modified preparation is saved as a single file and will automatically load with the case in the future. This ensures that any corrections, such as those made by a master dental technician before passing the case to another technician, are retained. The original scan data remains available and visible for reference.

Beneficial for dental technicians, dentists and patients

This tool saves time and reduces the effort for everyone involved. For example, patients do not need to return for another (digital) impression. For dental technicians, the Preparation Margin Repair tool allows even more freedom to work cleanly. It also serves as an excellent tool for communication with practices, as dentists can receive an optimised scan view through the free exocad webview, making coordination easier and more efficient (Fig. 4).

My user tip: Use hot keys to speed up the workflow

There are various hot keys (keyboard shortcuts) that allow dental professionals to work on their projects faster more easily than when using a mouse. These facilitate quicker changes to visualisations during the work process. For example:

Jaw scans can be shown and hidden by pressing the S key for scanning and the shift and S keys to display the scan as translucent or opaque.
Individual objects can be made to disappear by pressing the control key and the mouse wheel at the same time and then restored by pressing the shift and control keys and the mouse wheel.

These shortcuts offer an unobstructed view of transparent areas, enabling users to examine the project from all angles without any interference (Fig. 5).

Fig. 4: The exocad webview enables users to share a design preview, including the modified preparation margin, with a practitioner prior to consultation. The preview can be opened free of charge in any standard browser on a PC or smartphone.

Fig. 5: The practical tool tips in the Show/Hide window show the corresponding hot key for each object, allowing for quick visibility changes. If a user forgets the hot key for an object, DentalCAD provides an automatic reminder