Ensure your workstation meets exocad's hardware requirements and all necessary peripherals (scanners, printers, etc.) are compatible.
Purchase the DentalCAD license; you will receive a physical dongle or activation credentials that are required to run the software.
Install any required frameworks or dependencies as prompted.
Place downloaded library files into the designated software folders.
Configure integration with connected devices (scanners, printers, milling machines) as required.
Adjust software parameters for scanner integration or other device-specific workflows, typically via editing configuration files (recommended for advanced users or with vendor support).
Practice with test or demonstration cases to ensure comfort with workflows.
exocad DentalCAD is highly customizable and designed to fit a wide range of business needs in dental practices and labs. Its open architecture, modular design, and advanced settings give users significant flexibility.
Add-on modules can be selected and integrated according to specific clinical and production requirements (e.g., Implant Module, Bar Module, Bite Splint Module, Virtual Articulator, TruSmile, Model Creator, etc.).
Businesses can scale up or down by purchasing only the modules they need, making their investment cost-efficient and workflow-relevant.
Supports integration with nearly any scanner, 3D printer, or milling machine, maximizing hardware compatibility and protecting existing investments.
Enables workflow connectivity with external devices and third-party digital tools.
Users can adjust project data paths, define naming conventions, and configure software parameters specific to devices or preferred working styles.
The interface can be branded or visually customized (e.g., adding practice logos or changing background colors).
Toolbars, shortcuts, and design templates can be modified for streamlined access and efficiency—the software supports different user profiles and preferences for consistent results across teams.
Settings in expert mode allow deep adjustment of workflows, tool behaviors, and case parameters, from abutment libraries to restoration shapes.
XML configuration files and settings guides enable tailored automation, interface options, and output types for advanced users.
Customization extends to patient-specific anatomy and occlusion, including modifying condylar and Bennett angles, and importing custom jaw motion data via open formats.
Access to an extensive open library of teeth, implant interfaces, materials, and textures.
Users can import, adjust, and save custom materials, tooth shapes, or scan meshes to align output with clinical, esthetic, or brand specifications.
Multiple licensing models (perpetual, subscription, and upgrade options) allow businesses to choose based on operational, budgetary, or scalability needs.
Designed for smooth integration with other exocad products and modules; workflows can be standardized or adapted for complex, multi-step operations.
Automated cloud-based or manual/interactive customization of design steps is supported.
Fine control over export formats for compatibility with production equipment (e.g., for 3D printing, milling, or external CAM systems).
exocad DentalCAD
By exocad GmbH
Online Training Sessions:
exocad offers both live, online, and on-demand training for new users. Sessions are led by exocad experts and can be customized to focus on specific modules, workflows, or user-selected topics.
Online courses are available for individuals and groups, with curricula ranging from beginner fundamentals to advanced techniques. Sessions often include Q&A, live casework walkthroughs, and demonstration of tools such as DentalCAD, Smile Creator, and Virtual Articulator.
In-Person Training:
In-person training is offered at exocad's headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, and may also be available through local partners or resellers. These in-depth sessions are tailored to individual or team needs and cover core software, new releases, and module highlights.
Training at headquarters typically includes a tour and direct interaction with exocad application specialists.
Accredited partners and resellers frequently offer beginner and advanced courses, including workshops, bootcamps, and remote training options. Content is customized based on the experience level of participants.
A comprehensive library of exocad video tutorials, quick guides, and webinars is available via exocad’s official YouTube channel and partnered e-learning platforms. These resources cater to users seeking self-paced learning.
Direct technical support is available via email, phone, or contact forms. exocad’s support team and local resellers assist users with installation, activation, module integration, troubleshooting, and hardware compatibility.
Remote support sessions can be scheduled with exocad instructors who walk users through real-case workflows, module setup, or design troubleshooting. These are especially helpful for users with specific questions or case challenges.
Course Certificates and Follow-up
exocad DentalCAD integrates several security features and practices to ensure data protection for users in dental laboratories and clinics. Here are the primary measures in place:
State-of-the-Art Encryption: exocad DentalCAD uses strong encryption technologies for secure data transmission, especially via its "dentalshare" platform. All file transfers between clinicians, dental technicians, and production centers utilize robust encryption protocols to safeguard data during online exchanges, even through unstable network connections or restrictive firewalls.
SSL/TLS for Communications: Transfers and website interactions use SSL and TLS encryption to protect personal data and confidential content, improving security for both software and web assets.
USB Dongle Protection: Access to licensed versions of exocad DentalCAD requires a hardware dongle plugged into the user’s computer. This dongle stores the necessary license information, acting as a form of copy protection. Unauthorized use is prevented, as the software launches only when a valid dongle is present.
Physical Security Recommendations: Users are advised to store the dongle securely when not in use and avoid leaving it unattended in unsupervised workplaces. In the event of loss, the dongle cannot be replaced for free, underscoring its importance to security.
Local and Cloud Storage Options: exocad allows configuration of local or cloud-based storage locations for case data. Users can set secure, access-controlled paths for their CAD-Data folders, providing flexibility while maintaining privacy and control over sensitive information.
Open Architecture but User-Controlled Sharing: As part of an open, vendor-neutral architecture, exocad ensures users remain in control of what data is shared and with whom. Data sets can be transferred with specific user-defined privacy measures enabled.
GDPR Compliance: exocad GmbH is GDPR compliant, with policies clarifying how personal and case data are processed, stored, and deleted according to statutory regulations. Personal information is typically stored on servers in Germany and is only retained as long as necessary for contract fulfillment or legal requirements.
Appointed Data Protection Officer: The company maintains a Data Protection Officer, available for privacy-related inquiries, ensuring ongoing alignment with privacy laws and standards.
Redundant and Distributed Infrastructure: exocad runs its own redundant, distributed server infrastructure with multiple gigabit internet connections and various server locations globally. This strengthens network security and optimizes fast, reliable data processing and transfer.
Annual Major Releases: exocad DentalCAD typically issues one major update per year. Each major release, such as DentalCAD 3.2 Elefsina, introduces substantial new features, enhancements, and workflow automation.
Interim Patches and Improvements: While major updates are the primary focus, interim fixes and performance improvements may also be delivered occasionally, especially to address critical issues or compatibility concerns via automatic update checks.
Upgrade Contracts:
Annual Upgrade Contract: Users enrolled in an upgrade contract automatically receive access to the latest versions during the contract period. The contract covers both the core software and any additional activated modules, and the annual fee is based on the modules included.
Automatic Renewal: Most contracts are set to auto-renew annually unless canceled with proper notice, ensuring uninterrupted access to updates and support.
Perpetual Licenses and the Refresh Program:
Opting Out: Users with perpetual licenses can choose not to renew their upgrade contract. In this case, their software remains functional but "frozen" at the last updated version, with no access to future updates or technical support.
Reactivation: If their contract has expired, users can rejoin the update stream by paying a one-time “refresh fee” plus the current annual contract fee to regain update access, regardless of how long the contract has lapsed.
Technical Delivery:
Automatic Update Checks: exocad DentalCAD periodically checks for updates via its secured update server, allowing users to download and apply the latest available upgrades.
Module and Library Integration: Updates cover both the core platform and all installed modules, ensuring continuous compatibility and feature expansion across all purchased elements.
User Control: Users retain full ownership and control of the data they generate and store within exocad DentalCAD. This includes design files, patient information, and project folders, which are created and managed locally on the user’s systems or specified storage locations.
Data Privacy: exocad only collects essential personal and licensing information (such as emails and dongle serial numbers) for compliance and contractual obligations. This data is processed and stored according to GDPR standards and is never shared with unauthorized third parties without explicit consent.
No Per-Transfer Fees: When utilizing exocad’s dentalshare platform for case exchange, there are no per-transfer fees, and users maintain discretion over what data is shared and with whom.
Open Architecture: exocad DentalCAD employs an open, vendor-neutral software architecture. Data can be exported and integrated with third-party scanners, printers, milling machines, and other production equipment, supporting a high degree of interoperability and workflow flexibility.
Customizable Storage Paths: Users can set and change default data storage paths and naming conventions, enabling easy organization, backup, and migration of CAD data to other systems or platforms when needed.
Export Formats: exocad supports a broad range of open and industry-standard file types, including STL and XML, ensuring that designs and related data can be accessed, shared, and reused outside the exocad ecosystem if required.
Sharing and Collaboration: Through services like dentalshare, users can securely transmit project files to production centers, labs, or clinicians, maintaining full control over what data is shared, the timing, and the level of detail provided.
User-Directed Deletion: Users may erase their data at any time by removing it from local or cloud storage locations. For accounts and licenses with exocad, deletion requests can be submitted, after which personal and contractual data is erased following statutory retention periods.
Portability After License Termination: If the subscription or license ends, users can still access and export their locally-stored design data. Data submitted to exocad for licensing or support purposes is subject to GDPR-compliant retention and deletion policies.
Encryption & Verification: All shared data, including large design files, is encrypted and transmitted securely, with robust verification to ensure data integrity and protect confidentiality throughout the transfer process.
exocad DentalCAD offers flexible licensing and modular options that allow organizations to easily scale the software up or down as business needs change.
Perpetual License
One-time purchase with an optional upgrade contract.
Activate add-on modules and access features as needed, paying only for what is required.
If business needs reduce, cancel the upgrade contract at any time without penalty, lowering recurring costs while continuing to use the purchased version.
Can add or remove modules at any time (at additional cost for each).
Flex License (Subscription-Based)
Annual or monthly subscription with a lower initial cost compared to perpetual licenses.
Flexible activation and deactivation of modules — pay only for the modules in use, making it easy to add new capabilities or reduce costs when scaling down.
Regular upgrades included.
If organizational needs decrease, modules or the full subscription can be deactivated without an ownership penalty; software access stops when the subscription lapses.
Modular Add-Ons
Purchase or subscribe to only the modules relevant to your current workflow (e.g., implant, bar, model creator, TruSmile).
Add modules as your service offering grows, or deactivate/remove them as needs contract for cost control.
Modules can generally be added without disrupting existing workflows and removed at renewal points without ongoing obligations.
Works with a wide range of open scanners, printers, and milling machines, protecting hardware investments during scaling.
Automatic Renewal: Upgrade contracts for exocad DentalCAD, including perpetual licenses, are automatically renewed for further one-year terms unless canceled by the user within the required notice period.
Minimum Term: The initial contract term is typically 12 months. Afterward, it renews for additional 12-month periods unless terminated.
Notification and Invoicing: Customers will receive advance notice of upcoming contract renewals and associated invoices at the beginning of the new contract period.
Price Adjustments: exocad may adjust upgrade contract prices by providing at least four weeks' advance notice. Users have the right to object to fee changes, in which case the contract ends at the current term's end.
No Mandatory Annual Fee for Perpetual Licenses: For perpetual licenses, the annual upgrade contract is optional. The first year is typically included with initial purchase.
Cancellation Window: The upgrade contract can be canceled by giving at least one month's notice before the end of the current term. If not canceled, it is renewed automatically for another year.
Notice Submission: Cancellations should be made in writing (usually via email to the support/service team), including the serial number of the dongle. It is recommended to send notice 5 working days before the term ends to ensure processing.
Immediate Effect: Cancellation is effective immediately upon receipt and confirmation. Upon cancellation, access to upgrades, activation of new modules, online libraries, and services like dentalshare ends. There is no partial refund for the ongoing contract period.
No Penalty or Opt-Out Fee: There are no penalties or opt-out fees for canceling the upgrade contract at any time.
Post-Cancellation Usage: After cancellation, the perpetual license remains valid. Users retain the right to use the last paid software version indefinitely, but will not receive further upgrades or add-on modules unless the contract is reinstated (possible with a refresh fee).
Final Deadline: Cancellation requests must be submitted up to two days before the contract's end date; otherwise, renewal and payment for the new term are required.
No Refund After Renewal: Once a new term starts (even if cancellation is submitted shortly after), no refund of contract fees is possible for that period.
Upgrade Contract Scope: Contracts cover the core version and all active modules; you cannot upgrade individual modules independently.
Reactivation after Cancellation: If you choose to rejoin after letting the upgrade contract lapse, a one-time refresh fee plus the annual upgrade fee applies, regardless of how long you've been out of contract.
Termination for Cause: Both parties retain the right to terminate for important reasons (e.g., breach of contract).
GDPR Compliance (EU)
exocad DentalCAD strictly adheres to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
User and patient data processed within the software are stored securely on servers located in Germany, managed according to EU privacy laws.
Data is only retained as long as necessary, with clear mechanisms for deletion upon user request, and is never shared with unauthorized parties without explicit consent.
Data Security
All data transfers, including those via dentalshare and other exocad platforms, are encrypted and protected using state-of-the-art protocols.
Ongoing cybersecurity analysis and post-market monitoring are conducted in line with international recommendations, including FDA guidance on cybersecurity in medical devices.
FDA Compliance (U.S.)
For workflows involving custom abutment production in the U.S., exocad DentalCAD is used in conjunction with FDA-compliant Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and applicable 510(k)-cleared workflows. Labs must implement proper processes and partner with certified library and hardware vendors for full regulatory compliance.
Specific software modules, such as AbutmentCAD, have undergone verification and validation by FDA requirements for software contained in medical devices.
Internal Auditing and Standards
exocad’s dedicated Quality Assurance and Compliance team ensures that the software meets the highest standards for quality and adheres to all relevant regulatory requirements. This includes automated and manual testing methods, comprehensive documentation, and strict version control.
