More labs across Europe are offloading their CAD workload to remote studios — not because they can’t design in-house, but because the economics stop making sense at a certain volume. This guide walks through exactly what outsourcing your exocad design means in practice, what to look for in a remote partner, and how to hand off your first case without friction.

What “outsourcing exocad design” actually means

A remote studio builds your cases natively in exocad — your software — and delivers finished .dentalProject or STL files back to you. You keep the mill, the patient relationship, and the clinical outcome. You stop doing the CAD.

That means no exocad licence transfer, no sending a dongle, no remote desktop session. The studio has its own licensed seats. You send case information; they return design files.

What to look for in a remote exocad partner

  • Works natively in exocad — not converting from 3Shape, Dental Wings or another platform. Converted designs carry artefacts; native exocad files are cleaner and remain editable in your software.
  • Knows your implant libraries — implant and abutment work is library-dependent. Confirm they have access to the systems you send most (Straumann, Nobel, Osstem, Dentsply, etc.).
  • Clear case-submission process — a good partner has a defined handoff: how you send the case, what they need, when you hear back. Vague processes create delays.
  • Free, included revisions — this is non-negotiable. Any provider charging per revision round penalises you for communicating. Quality studios include revisions until you approve.
  • Transparent per-unit pricing, no minimums — avoid studios with monthly case minimums or subscription structures. Per-unit pricing with no floor is the most flexible model for labs whose volume fluctuates.

The four-step handoff, in practice

  1. Submit case details. Indication, tooth numbers, material, library preference, any notes on the prep. You don’t need to attach the scan file immediately — most studios (including ours) will send a secure upload link once they have the case details.
  2. Scan upload and case approval. You receive the upload link, transfer your scan files, and the studio confirms receipt and clarifies anything unclear. The design clock starts here.
  3. Design and delivery. A designer builds the case in exocad — scan base, margin definition, anatomical build-up, contact and occlusal verification. You receive the finished design within the agreed turnaround (typically 24 hours for crown and bridge; 48 hours for full-arch).
  4. Review and revise. Designs are delivered with a screenshot gallery from key views. You review and request changes by replying with notes. Most cases need zero to one revision round.

Practical tip: Keep a short brief template — indication, material, library, any preferences — and paste it with every case. Consistent briefs produce consistent designs and fewer revision rounds.

What information to include with each case

The more context you provide upfront, the fewer the revision rounds. At minimum, include:

  • Indication and tooth number(s)
  • Restoration material (zirconia, emax, PMMA, wax, resin)
  • Tooth form library preference, if you use one consistently
  • Implant system and scan body identifier (for implant cases)
  • Opposing arch scan or articulation data, if available
  • Any design preferences: contact tightness, emergence profile, occlusal morphology style

What file formats to expect back

For most workflows, you’ll want the native exocad .dentalProject file — it remains editable in your own exocad seat if adjustments are needed at the mill. If you’re outsourcing the milling too, nested STL files are usually sufficient and simpler to hand to a milling centre.

Clarify this with your studio upfront, and confirm exocad version compatibility — ideally they’re running a recent DentalCAD version or will confirm which version the project file was built in.

Is the quality different from in-house?

It depends entirely on the studio. Red flags: designers not working natively in exocad, high case volumes per designer with no capacity control, no revision policy, or vague turnaround commitments. Green flags: designs that respect your margin prep geometry, achieve your preferred contact dimensions, and require no adjustment at the mill beyond what you’d expect from any competent designer.

The most reliable test is a free demo case on a real case you’d normally run. Judge the actual output before committing volume.

Try one case free — no commitment

Send us a real case and we'll design it in exocad at no charge. No setup fee, no obligation — just a finished design file you can evaluate on your own mill.

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