The most common misunderstanding in digital dentistry is treating intraoral scanning and facial scanning as substitutes. They capture different objects and solve different problems, and in most cases they are used together.
1. Three kinds of data, each covering a different part
Intraoral scanning (IOS): captures crowns, dentition and occlusal surfaces over a small area at high detail, and is a common data source for restorative work, implants and clear aligner treatment. CASZM does not manufacture intraoral scanners; “IOS” in this article refers to the intraoral scanning devices commonly used in dental practice.
Facial 3D scanning: captures facial soft-tissue contours, smile form and maxillofacial proportions, answering “how do the teeth and the face correspond”.
CBCT: captures bone tissue and 3D cephalometric information, answering “where is the bone”.
| Data type | What it captures | Typical use | Common source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intraoral scanning | Dentition, crowns, occlusal surfaces | Restorative work, implants, clear aligners | Intraoral scanner |
| Facial 3D scanning | Soft-tissue contours, smile, maxillofacial proportions | Digital smile design, orthognathic communication, postoperative records | MVS-P6HD, MVS-C6HD, MVS-M6HD, MVS-C4D |
| CBCT | Bone tissue, 3D cephalometry | Implant planning, orthognathic surgery, airway assessment | Dental CBCT |
2. Why registration is needed
Only when the three kinds of data are placed in the same coordinate system can a “virtual patient” be formed: the dentition in the IOS data, the soft tissue in the facial scan data and the bone in the CBCT. The 3D digital facial scanning system supports dental model and DICOM import so that these three data sets can be aligned; for the specific import steps, slice thickness checks and registration order, see how to import CBCT/DICOM.
Registration is not accurate just because it is one click. The registration landmarks, the registration method (manual or automatic), the error range, and whether data from different devices has been measured in practice all need to be confirmed. During procurement, it is best to run an on-site validation with the hospital's existing CBCT and IOS data.
3. How to pair the models
MVS-P6HD: floor-standing with three modules, 3D measurement accuracy ±0.05mm, blue-light imaging and DICOM input, for craniomaxillofacial design and high-accuracy oral and maxillofacial capture.
MVS-C6HD: floor-standing with three modules, 3D measurement accuracy ±0.1mm, focused on digital smile design, cephalometric analysis and CT fusion, suited to shared use in practices with multiple chairs.
MVS-M6HD: desktop with a single module, 3D measurement accuracy ±0.1mm, blue-light imaging, mainly for oral and maxillofacial scanning and also usable for nasal design; suited to clinics with limited space.
MVS-C4D: floor-standing with three modules, infrared imaging and 16fps dynamic capture, for dynamic expression and soft-tissue observation in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery.
| Institution type | Common combination | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dental hospital / orthodontic and orthognathic center | MVS-P6HD or MVS-C6HD + CBCT + IOS | Accuracy and data fusion come first |
| Chain clinic / multiple chairs | MVS-C6HD + IOS | Balances digital smile design and shared efficiency |
| Clinic with limited space | MVS-M6HD + IOS | Desktop form, low installation requirements |
| Research / dynamic expression studies | MVS-C4D + CBCT | Requires data with a time dimension |
4. Five questions to ask before buying
1. Is DICOM input supported? Is registration done by manual point selection or automatically?
2. Which formats can be imported for IOS data? Is additional conversion software needed?
3. Can the distance between soft tissue and bone surface be quantified and exported?
4. What are the frame rate, sequence length and export format of 4D capture?
5. Has compatibility with the hospital's existing CBCT and IOS brands been tested in practice?
Related pages: MVS-P6HD, MVS-C6HD, MVS-M6HD, MVS-C4D, 3D digital facial scanning system.
This article describes digital dental workflows and does not constitute clinical advice; specific functions and compatibility are subject to the software version and project-level testing.