General Requirements for Most Appliances

Most appliance cases require:

• Full arch maxillary scan 

• Full arch mandibular scan

• Bite record (Centric relation preferred)

 

Scans should include at least 4mm of tissue around all CEJs and be captured with the arches oriented in occlusion.​

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Palatal supported anterior deprogrammers (D-PAS, Brux-PAS, and Kois) require the palate to be scanned at least to a depth of 12mm from the lingual CEJs. If in doubt, please scan the entire palate. 

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Bite records are not required for Essix retainers, daytime clenching appliances, or Brux Checker appliances.

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CR Bite Records (Strongly Recommended)

For appliances involving anterior guidance, we strongly recommend submitting a scanned CR bite record.

While not required, a properly captured CR bite can:

• Improve mounting accuracy

• Reduce arc-of-closure estimation

• Improve anterior guidance refinement

• Reduce the likelihood of remakes due to occlusal discrepancies

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CR bites are recommended for the following: Therapeutic Splints (Pankey, Dawson, Kois, Nueromuscular, Tanner, Michigan), Dawson B-Splints, Mugford Appliance, D-PAS, Brux-PAS.

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Optional Records That Can Improve Accuracy

Additional records can allow us to refine articulation and improve appliance design.

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Protrusive Bite Record

If your scanner supports multiple bite captures, a protrusive bite scan can be submitted.

Using our internal workflow, we can calculate condylar inclination values, improving accuracy of excursive movements.

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DFA (Dento-Facial Analyzer) Scans

We can digitally mount cases using scanned DFA (Dento-Facial Analyzer) records, allowing us to accurately transfer the patient’s maxillary relationship into our virtual articulator environment.

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Using our proprietary in-house workflow, DFA scans enable precise alignment of the maxillary arch to the articulator platform. From this position, we design custom transfer attachments that generate highly accurate, articulator-ready 3D printed models compatible with Panadent and Advanced Dental Designs (A2D) digital transfer adapter systems.

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This advanced capability allows us to bridge digital records and physical articulation with exceptional precision.

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Detailed DFA scanning instructions will be available on a dedicated resource page soon.

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CBCT-Based Skeletal Mounting

For the highest level of articulation accuracy, we can mount cases using a CBCT that includes both arches and the TMJs.

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This allows articulation based on the patient’s actual skeletal anatomy rather than estimated hinge-axis positioning, creating a highly precise foundation for appliance design. We also determine condylar inclinations from direct cross-sectional measurements of the mandibular fossae.

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Our 3D printed mounting workflow is fully compatible with CBCT-based articulation, allowing us to produce accurately mounted physical models when needed.

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This method is typically used for complex cases or when appropriate CBCT records are already available.

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Clinical Photos

Photos can be helpful for:

• Validating bite records

• Confirming occlusal relationships

• Approximating mounting position using profile views

• Understanding patient-specific considerations

Recommended photos include:

• Retracted frontal

• Right lateral

• Left lateral

• Profile

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Case Notes

Notes about the patient’s symptoms, treatment goals, or special considerations are always helpful.

In some cases, additional information may reveal a contraindication to a requested appliance, and we may suggest alternative options or discuss treatment planning with you. If you ever want to discuss a case before submission, feel free to call us!

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Common Record Issues That Could Affect Case Quality or Delivery Date

The most common issues we see when cases are delayed include:

• Missing case details. Without this information we must contact the office to confirm, often delaying the start of the case. Please be sure to include the following in your case notes when submitting:​​

  • Type of appliance​

  • Upper or Lower

  • Hard or Soft Material 

• Incomplete scan data. Critical areas may be missing due to scanning gaps.

• Intersecting arch scans. In some cases the upper and lower arches appear to intersect when aligned digitally. This is not physically possible and indicates an inaccurate bite record.

• Moisture artifacts. Teeth should be thoroughly dried before scanning. Saliva pooling can cause scan artifacts and surface distortion.

• Anterior scan stitching errors. Some scanners automatically stitch scan data together, which can hide alignment errors. These issues may not be obvious during scanning but become visible during design.

 

We will publish a detailed guide on identifying and preventing these issues soon!​