When a dental tool is designed in collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche, you can expect ergonomics and performance to be top priorities. That’s exactly the case with the DEXIS IS 3700 intraoral scanner, which feels as balanced in your hand as its scans look on the screen. But its thoughtful design is just the beginning. This scanner is packed with intelligent features like smart shade matching and an actively heated tip to prevent fogging, all aimed at making your workflow faster and more predictable. This article provides a detailed look at what makes this scanner a powerful choice for any practice focused on high-quality restorative work.
Accuracy and efficiency in dental procedures depend on the tools used. The CS 3700 scanner offers advanced technology that enhances digital impressions, allowing for precise restorations. This intraoral scanner streamlines workflows, reduces chair time, and improves patient experience. Its powerful scanning capabilities and seamless integration with existing systems make it a reliable choice for dental professionals. The intuitive design and high-speed scanning help clinics achieve consistent results, improving both efficiency and treatment outcomes. Choosing the right scanner involves evaluating features, benefits, and compatibility with your practice’s needs.
What Makes the CS 3700 Intraoral Scanner Stand Out?
This scanner delivers high-speed performance with superior image clarity. The powerful optical system captures highly detailed scans with exceptional accuracy. A dynamic scanning system adapts to different lighting conditions, ensuring consistent results. Its smart shade matching technology automatically detects and records tooth color, simplifying restorative workflows. The scanner’s lightweight, ergonomic design allows for comfortable handling, reducing strain during extended use. A seamless software interface ensures compatibility with CAD/CAM systems, enhancing efficiency. Real-time feedback reduces errors by providing immediate scan validation. The scanner processes complex anatomical details with precision, eliminating the need for multiple impressions. Wireless capabilities increase flexibility, allowing for greater mobility within the practice. Its intelligent data processing optimizes scanning speed without compromising detail, making it a practical choice for dentists seeking improved workflow and accuracy.
Technical Specifications
Sensor and Imaging System
At the heart of the CS 3700 is a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor that works with a unique lighting system. Instead of a standard white light, it uses a combination of amber, blue, and green LEDs. This trio of lights helps the scanner capture incredibly detailed and accurate images with true-to-life color and texture. For your practice, this means you get digital impressions that clearly show the difference between natural tooth structure and restorations. This level of clarity is essential for your lab partner to create precise-fitting restorations, ensuring excellent marginal integrity and aesthetics for everything from single crowns to complex bridge work.
Ergonomics and Design
When you’re using a tool all day, comfort is non-negotiable. The CS 3700 features an ergonomic grip thoughtfully crafted by the team at Studio F. A. Porsche. This design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling balanced and comfortable in your hand, even during longer scanning sessions. The balanced weight and intuitive grip help reduce hand and wrist fatigue, allowing you to maintain steady control and capture precise scans for every patient. This focus on ergonomics means you can perform procedures more comfortably, which contributes to better clinical outcomes and a more pleasant experience for both you and your patient.
Software and Workflow
CS ScanFlow Software
The scanner’s power is matched by its intelligent and straightforward software, IS ScanFlow. The workflow is simplified into a clean four-step process: Scan, Check, Adapt, and Export. This intuitive path allows you or your dental assistants to move through the digital impression process with confidence and speed. After scanning, you can immediately check the quality on-screen, make any necessary adaptations chairside, and then export the file. This streamlined process minimizes clicks, reduces the learning curve for your team, and ultimately saves valuable chair time by getting the scan right the first time.
Open System Compatibility
One of the most practical features of the CS 3700 is its open system architecture. This means you aren’t locked into a single proprietary system. The scanner generates STL and PLY files, which are compatible with most design software and lab workflows. This flexibility allows you to collaborate with any lab you choose and work on a wide variety of cases, including fillings, braces, and dental implants. Once your scan is complete, you can easily connect your scanner and send the digital case directly to us for fabrication, ensuring a seamless transition from your chair to our lab.
Design and Usability
Ergonomics by Studio F. A. Porsche
Going beyond simple comfort, the design by Studio F. A. Porsche is centered on enhancing your personal workflow. Every curve and contour of the scanner is intentional, aiming to make the device feel like a natural extension of your hand. This thoughtful design allows for a more fluid scanning experience, letting you focus on the patient’s mouth rather than wrestling with a clunky device. The result is a tool that adapts to your movements, making it easier to capture difficult-to-reach areas and maintain a consistent, high-quality scan without interrupting your clinical rhythm.
Calibration and Maintenance
Practical features that solve common frustrations are where the CS 3700 truly shines. The scanner is equipped with an actively heated tip, a feature designed to prevent the lens from fogging up during use. This eliminates the need to constantly pause a scan to wait for the mirror to clear, ensuring a continuous and efficient capture process. It’s a simple yet brilliant addition that maintains clear visibility from start to finish. This reliability means you can count on uninterrupted scanning, which saves time and helps you stay on schedule throughout a busy day of appointments.
Why Digital Scans Lead to More Accurate Restorations
Traditional impression methods introduce inconsistencies that affect final restorations. Digital scanning eliminates these errors by capturing highly detailed impressions with minimal distortion. The CS 3700 scanner enhances accuracy by producing precise digital models, reducing the risk of remakes and adjustments. With advanced software, clinicians can visualize and analyze scans instantly, ensuring a better fit for crowns, bridges, and other restorations. Eliminating physical impressions also enhances hygiene and patient comfort. The scanner’s advanced optics create a seamless scanning process, reducing the margin for error in prosthetic design. Clinicians gain access to real-time feedback, allowing for immediate corrections if needed. This improves treatment planning and ensures predictable results. Digital scanning provides a more efficient workflow, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced chair time.
Streamline Your Workflow and Enhance Patient Care
The CS 3700 scanner enhances efficiency by reducing scanning time while maintaining precision. A streamlined workflow allows for faster data acquisition, improving turnaround times for restorations. The simplified process eliminates the mess associated with traditional impressions, making the experience more comfortable for patients. High-speed scanning minimizes chair time, allowing clinics to accommodate more appointments without compromising quality. Its intuitive interface ensures ease of use, reducing the learning curve for dental professionals. Patients benefit from a less invasive experience, as digital scanning eliminates the discomfort of traditional impression materials. With high-precision imaging, restorations fit better, reducing the need for adjustments and remakes. The scanner’s ability to integrate with existing software systems supports seamless collaboration with dental labs, ensuring a more efficient and accurate restoration process.
Key Considerations Before Purchasing
Investing in new technology is a big step, and it’s important to weigh all the factors before making a decision. The CS 3700 is a powerful tool, but its suitability depends on your practice’s specific needs, budget, and existing workflow. Thinking through the compatibility, long-term costs, and available support will help you determine if this scanner is the right fit for your team and your patients. A clear understanding of these elements ensures your investment not only meets your current demands but also supports your practice’s growth for years to come. Let’s look at the key details you should consider.
Limitations and Compatibility
Before integrating any new hardware, it’s essential to understand how it will fit within your current operational framework. The CS 3700 is designed for high performance, but this means you need to assess its software capabilities and hardware requirements to ensure a smooth transition. Compatibility with your existing systems and your dental lab is crucial for maximizing the scanner’s potential and avoiding any workflow interruptions. A seamless connection between your practice and your partners is the foundation of efficient digital dentistry.
Software and Feature Gaps
The CS 3700 software is built to be highly adaptable, focusing on advanced features that can be tailored to a user’s personal workflow. This customization is a significant advantage, as it allows you to optimize the scanning process for your most common procedures. However, this also means it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s wise to evaluate its specific feature set against your daily needs to ensure it aligns with your practice’s priorities. If your clinic requires a broad range of generalized functions rather than specialized, customizable tools, you’ll want to confirm the scanner’s software meets those expectations from the start.
Hardware and Usability Notes
As a high-performance intraoral scanner, the DEXIS IS 3700 is engineered for dental professionals who need top-tier speed and accuracy. To fully leverage its capabilities, your practice’s computer systems and network must be able to support its data-rich scans. An underpowered workstation could create a bottleneck, slowing down your entire workflow. It’s also vital to partner with a dental lab that is equipped to handle high-resolution digital files. At Next Dental Lab, we make it easy to connect your scanner and send us your digital cases, ensuring your precise scans are used to create equally precise restorations.
Cost and Associated Expenses
The financial commitment for an intraoral scanner extends beyond the initial purchase price. Understanding the total cost of ownership, including any potential ongoing fees for software or support, is key to making a sound investment. The CS 3700 has a clear pricing structure that offers significant long-term value, but it’s important to plan for both the upfront cost and any related expenses to ensure it fits comfortably within your practice’s budget.
Initial Investment and Requirements
The price for a new CS 3700 intraoral scanner is typically provided through a personalized quote from a sales representative. However, industry reports place the cost at around $32,000 USD, making it a considerable capital investment for any dental practice. This initial outlay should be viewed as a long-term asset that can improve efficiency and patient care. When budgeting, remember to account for any necessary hardware upgrades, such as new computers or monitors, that may be required to run the scanner and its software at peak performance.
Ongoing Costs
One of the most compelling financial benefits of the CS 3700 is the absence of mandatory annual subscription fees. The scanner includes a five-year “CS Advantage” plan at no extra charge, which is a significant departure from many other systems on the market. This plan covers your warranty, software updates, and access to 24-hour technical support. This all-inclusive approach makes the total cost of ownership more predictable and manageable, as you won’t face unexpected yearly fees to keep your software current or your hardware protected for the first five years of use.
Product History and Support
When you invest in a piece of technology like an intraoral scanner, you’re also investing in the company behind it. The manufacturer’s history, product reliability, and the quality of their customer support are just as important as the scanner’s technical specifications. A strong warranty and a responsive support team provide peace of mind, ensuring that you have help when you need it and that your equipment remains a productive part of your practice for its entire lifespan.
Product Background
The CS 3700 was developed by Carestream Dental, a company with a long-standing reputation in dental imaging, which was later acquired by DEXIS. This lineage means the scanner is built on a foundation of proven technology and industry expertise. For practices looking for a more budget-friendly entry into digital dentistry, it’s also worth noting that certified pre-owned intraoral scanners are available from reputable resellers. These units are thoroughly inspected and approved, offering a reliable alternative to purchasing a brand-new device while still providing access to advanced scanning technology.
Warranty and Support Plan
The included five-year “CS Advantage” plan is a standout feature that underscores the manufacturer’s confidence in the product. This comprehensive plan covers the scanner’s warranty and provides unlimited access to technical support, ensuring that any potential issues are resolved quickly to minimize downtime. Having a robust support system in place is critical for any busy dental practice. This plan ensures that your team can rely on the scanner day in and day out, with the assurance that expert help is just a phone call away if any questions or problems arise.
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Dental Scanner?
Efficiency and precision define the best dental scanners in Michigan. At Next Dental Lab, we supply advanced scanning solutions that help clinics improve accuracy, streamline workflows, and enhance patient care. Our scanners integrate seamlessly with CAD/CAM systems, ensuring precise restorations and faster turnaround times. Investing in digital dentistry solutions supports better clinical outcomes. Our cutting-edge technology captures high-resolution digital impressions, reducing errors and enhancing restoration fit. With our industry expertise, we assist dental practices in selecting the right scanner for their needs. We also provide training and support to maximize scanner performance and efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What really sets the CS 3700 apart from other scanners on the market? Beyond its impressive technical specs, the scanner’s design is a major differentiator. The collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche resulted in an incredibly ergonomic and balanced tool that reduces hand fatigue during long appointments. It also includes smart, practical features like an actively heated tip that prevents the lens from fogging mid-scan, which is a simple solution to a common frustration that keeps your workflow moving without interruption.
My team isn’t very tech-savvy. Is the software difficult to learn? Not at all. The scanner is powered by IS ScanFlow software, which was designed to be as straightforward as possible. It guides you through a clean, four-step process: Scan, Check, Adapt, and Export. This intuitive workflow minimizes clicks and simplifies the entire digital impression process, making it easy for any team member to learn quickly and scan with confidence.
How does a better scanner actually improve the restorations I get back from my lab? Think of the digital scan as the foundation for your restoration. The CS 3700’s unique lighting system and sensor capture incredibly detailed images with true-to-life color and texture. This provides your lab partner with a precise digital blueprint, eliminating the guesswork that can come with traditional impressions. The result is a final restoration with a more accurate fit and better marginal integrity, which means fewer adjustments for you at the patient’s chair.
I’m worried about hidden fees. What are the real long-term costs of owning this scanner? This is one of the most practical benefits of the CS 3700. Unlike many other systems, there are no mandatory annual subscription fees to keep the software running. The initial purchase includes a five-year “CS Advantage” plan that covers your warranty, all software updates, and access to technical support. This makes the total cost of ownership much more predictable and manageable for your practice’s budget.
What kind of support can I expect if I run into a technical issue? The included five-year “CS Advantage” plan provides you with unlimited access to a 24-hour technical support team. This means that if you ever encounter an issue or just have a question, expert help is available around the clock to ensure you get a quick resolution. This robust support system is designed to minimize any potential downtime so you can keep your schedule running smoothly.
Key Takeaways
- Prioritize Both Comfort and Precision: The scanner’s ergonomic design by Studio F. A. Porsche reduces hand fatigue, while smart features like an actively heated tip and advanced imaging ensure you capture clear, accurate scans without interruption.
- Collaborate with Your Preferred Lab: Its open system architecture generates universal STL and PLY files, giving you the flexibility to send cases to any lab you choose without being tied to a single proprietary workflow.
- Invest Without Hidden Subscription Fees: The CS 3700 includes a five-year advantage plan covering warranty, software, and support, making the total cost of ownership more transparent compared to systems that require ongoing annual fees.
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