Resources

Connect Your Scanner with Our Lab

We currently support direct integration with the following intraoral scanners:

3Shape – Search for Living Tree Dental Lab in your 3Shape Communicate portal
iTero – Add Living Tree Dental Lab as a preferred lab from your iTero dashboard
Medit – Use the Medit Link app and select Living Tree Dental Lab from the Lab Connections tab

You should be able to search for us on these platforms using our email connect@livingtreelab.com

For all other scanner systems, you can upload STL files directly using our Universal Case Upload & RX Form on our website. Please ensure scans are in .STL format, correctly oriented, and accompanied by all necessary case records.

If you need help setting up your connection, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to walk you through the process.

Case Upload

Scanning a Centric Relation Bite Record

Why This Matters

At Living Tree Lab, we've found that the quality of the centric relation (CR) bite record is one of the most critical factors in consistently great digital cases. When taken properly, especially with an anterior deprogrammer, the digital CR scan allows us to deliver highly accurate, precisely fitting splints and appliances with minimal adjustments.

Using a deprogrammer not only ensures the mandible is seated in true CR, but it also builds in the occlusal thickness of the appliance directly into the bite. This eliminates reliance on articulator simulations that may introduce arc of closure inaccuracies. Simply put: a clean, stable CR bite sets your case up for success.

Step-by-Step: Capturing a Digital CR Record

1. Guide the Patient into True Centric Relation

Use your preferred method: Anterior stop or Lucia jig (preferred) , leaf gauge, or bimanual manipulation.
Confirm that the patient is fully deprogrammed and relaxed with no muscle tension or slide from centric.
Record the bite with registration material.

2. Scan the Full Maxillary and Mandibular Arches

Scan each arch fully and carefully covering 2mm of tissue around the CEJ and distal surfaces of molars if possible.
Check scans for common scan errors like missing voids and tracking misalignments when scanning the anterior. Taking an extra minute to check scans is always worth it to avoid fit issues and avoid patient returns for rescanning in our experience. Note: when inspecting scans always turn off the color overlay. The color overlay tends to mask certain errors that are easy to see in greyscale.

3. Trim and Insert the CR Bite Record

It's necessary for the scanner to see as much buccal detail as possible. We recommend lightly trimming back the buccal of your bite registration with a blade making sure not to affect the occlusal surface or position.
Seat the bite record into the patient’s mouth exactly as it was captured.
Reconfirm CR before proceeding.

4. Perform the Buccal Bite Scan with the Record in Place

With the bite record in place, scan the buccal segments, ideally on both sides.
Capture first molars and premolars for the most stable registration.