Exocad Training

Lesson 1 • Installing and Configuring Exocad

Guides students through system requirements, installation, and initial configuration. Proper setup prevents workflow errors encountered in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Case Management and File Structure

Explains how Exocad organizes cases, files, and project folders. Students create, save, and retrieve cases without data loss.

Lesson 3 • Exocad Software Overview

Introduces the Exocad product family, licensing model, and core modules. Students identify which modules apply to their lab's scope of work.

Lesson 4 • Navigating the Exocad Interface

Teaches the main UI layout, viewport controls, and toolbar functions. Fluent navigation is prerequisite to all design tasks covered later.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Scan File Formats

Covers STL, PLY, and OBJ formats and their suitability for dental CAD. Students select the correct format for each scanner and workflow.

Lesson 2 • Margin Line Detection and Preparation

Introduces automatic and manual margin detection on prepared teeth. Precise margin placement is the foundation of well-fitting restorations.

Lesson 3 • Bite Registration and Articulation

Teaches importing bite scans and aligning arches in occlusion. Accurate articulation is essential for correct occlusal contacts in restorations.

Lesson 4 • Scan Trimming and Mesh Cleanup

Covers removing scan artifacts, trimming excess mesh, and filling holes. Clean meshes reduce design errors and improve milling accuracy.

Lesson 1 • Occlusal Anatomy Refinement

Teaches sculpting cusp tips, fissures, and ridges to achieve natural occlusal morphology. Proper anatomy reduces chairside adjustments after delivery.

Lesson 2 • Inlay, Onlay, and Veneer Design

Covers cavity preparation recognition and design of partial-coverage restorations. Students apply different design logic for each restoration type.

Lesson 3 • Cement Gap and Fit Surface Settings

Teaches configuring internal fit surface offsets and cement gap values. Correct settings ensure passive seating and predictable cementation outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Crown Design Fundamentals

Covers tooth library selection, initial crown proposal generation, and basic morphology editing. Students understand how the software proposes anatomy and how to refine it.

Lesson 1 • Pontic Design and Tissue Adaptation

Explains pontic morphology options and tissue contact settings for hygienic and aesthetic outcomes. Students choose the correct pontic form for each clinical situation.

Lesson 2 • Multi-Unit Occlusion and Contacts

Covers verifying occlusal contacts and proximal contacts across all units simultaneously. Multi-unit cases require global contact review beyond single-unit checks.

Lesson 3 • Bridge Validation and Export

Teaches final structural validation, wall thickness checks, and export for milling. Students confirm all parameters before committing to milling material.

Lesson 4 • Bridge Case Setup and Span Planning

Covers defining abutments, pontic positions, and span configuration in the case wizard. Proper planning prevents structural failures in longer spans.

Lesson 1 • Implant Bridge and Bar Design

Extends implant skills to multi-unit implant bridges and milled bars. Students apply connector and structural rules from Chapter 4 to implant-supported spans.

Lesson 2 • Screw-Retained Crown Design

Explains designing monolithic screw-retained crowns with correct screw channel exit angles. Screw access position affects both aesthetics and retrievability.

Lesson 3 • Implant Module Setup and Libraries

Covers loading implant system libraries and configuring scan body recognition. Correct library setup is mandatory before any implant design can proceed.

Lesson 4 • Custom Abutment Design

Teaches designing titanium and zirconia custom abutments with correct emergence profiles. Proper emergence profile supports peri-implant tissue health.

Lesson 1 • Denture Teeth Arrangement

Teaches placing and adjusting denture teeth for aesthetics and occlusion. Students balance anterior aesthetics with posterior occlusal stability.

Lesson 2 • Partial Denture Framework Design

Covers designing metal or milled resin partial frameworks with clasps and rests. Framework design requires understanding of surveying and path of insertion.

Lesson 3 • Denture Base Design

Covers designing the denture base with correct border extensions and tissue adaptation. Accurate base design determines retention and patient comfort.

Lesson 4 • Removable Module Introduction

Introduces the removable prosthodontics workflow and how it differs from fixed design. Students configure the module and understand its unique case setup requirements.

Lesson 1 • Freeform Sculpting and Morphing

Covers advanced freeform brush tools for detailed surface sculpting and morphing. Students achieve custom anatomy beyond what automated proposals provide.

Lesson 2 • Smile Design Integration

Teaches importing patient photos and aligning 2D smile design to 3D scan data. Digital smile design guides anterior aesthetics before any milling begins.

Lesson 3 • Batch Processing and Automation

Teaches processing multiple cases simultaneously and using automation scripts. Batch workflows increase lab throughput without sacrificing design quality.

Lesson 4 • Copy Milling and Analog Reference

Covers scanning and digitally replicating existing restorations or wax patterns. Copy milling preserves clinician-approved anatomy in the digital workflow.

Lesson 1 • Nesting Restorations in Blanks

Teaches positioning restorations within milling blanks to maximize material use. Efficient nesting reduces blank consumption and per-unit material cost.

Lesson 2 • Post-Milling Quality Checks

Teaches comparing milled restorations to digital designs and documenting deviations. Systematic quality checks close the loop between design intent and physical output.

Lesson 3 • CAM Software Handoff

Covers transferring Exocad files to common CAM platforms and verifying toolpath integrity. Seamless handoff prevents rework between design and milling stages.

Lesson 4 • Export Formats and Settings

Covers STL, DCM, and proprietary export formats and their CAM system requirements. Correct export settings prevent geometry loss during file transfer.