Dental System upgrade FAQ and best practices

Upgrading to the newest Dental System version is a crucial step towards ensuring enhanced performance, stability and user experience. This document is designed to provide best practices and clear answers to ensure a good upgrade experience.

How can I learn about the new features in Dental System before upgrading?

We are continuously releasing updated training videos demonstrating the new features. The training videos can be found here: https://community.3shape.com/en/training/dental-system

Is it difficult to upgrade to the latest version?

Updating to the latest versions of Dental System is very straightforward and doesn’t take a lot of time.  With the extra attention on the software quality in the latest Dental System updates, the likelihood of getting into a problem is small. At the same time 3Shape Support team is always ready to help in case of issues and can restore the automatic backup.

Our lab PC is not new, will the latest Dental System run slower on it?

Please check that your PC meets Dental System requirements before updating.

Can I directly upgrade from an old Dental System Version to the latest?

Yes, you can directly upgrade from an old Dental System to the latest one. However, there are a few important considerations to ensure a smooth transition:

• Order Completion: Ensure that all designs and orders created in older Dental System version are completed before upgrading. You can always work with the latest 3 Dental Designer modules and therefore finalize unfinished orders unless they were created in Dental System that is more than two versions older than the latest one (e.g. after upgrading to DS 24, designs can still be made in Dental Designer (DD) versions 24, 23, and 22. However, compatibility with DD 21 and lower will no longer be available).
• Database Requirements: MS SQL 2005 is no longer supported by Dental System starting from the version 2024. Customers must upgrade their database to at least MS SQL 2017 before proceeding with the Dental System upgrade.

Situations where an incremental rollout makes more sense: 

• Incomplete Orders: If your Dental System has many active, unfinished orders, consider upgrading incrementally. After updating, you will only be able to work with the three latest Dental Designer modules. Any orders created in a version more than two releases older than the current one cannot be completed, so upgrading gradually helps ensure a smoother transition and avoids compatibility issues.
• Infrastructure Compatibility: With old DS versions old PCs can be used, please prepare your PC accordingly to the latest Dental System Requirements.

I am curious about the new features included in the latest Dental System. Where can I learn more?

You can always find the full list of improvements in the What’s new document.

My manufacturing center/Implant library manufacturer has not yet validated the update, do I risk making my system incompatible if I upgrade?

If your manufacturer is Nobel Biocare, it is important that they complete the validation before your orders can be processed. You can check the validation status in this knowledge base article. For other manufacturers Dental System allows sending orders in older formats so you can still send them while manufacturer is catching up with the latest updates. We make the latest Dental System update available for manufacturers during the Early Access period prior to its common availability so they ensure the readiness and compatibility.

Would I be able to finish my orders created in the previous version of the software after upgrading to the latest Dental System?

Every Dental System supports two previous versions of Dental Designer and therefore allows finishing older orders created in those versions. If you are coming from an even older version of Dental System, consider incremental update (not higher than over two versions at a time).

Is the latest Dental System release as reliable as previous version? Should I wait for a patch to ensure that any critical bugs have been addressed before upgrading?

We always recommend upgrading to the latest Dental System release, as it not only includes great new features but also fixes for previously identified issues. We are improving quality control with every new Dental System update. We further extended our quality assurance by introducing the Early Access phase where all our resellers and manufacturers get access to the software one month prior to the end user release to ensure readiness and compatibility as well as request improvements if necessary.

Can I go back to older versions after having tried the latest Dental System?

There is automatic backup done as part of the update process which makes it easy to get back to the previous version of Dental System in minutes. Here you can read how to perform and restore the automatic backup.

If I am running the TRIOS Inbox version just to export the scans. Would I get any benefit from updating my Dental System to the latest version?

New versions of Dental System always bring bug fixes and stability improvements. Also having the latest version ensures compatibility with ever evolving 3Shape ecosystem.

My lab has an older 3Shape lab scanner. Can we still use it when we update to the latest Dental System?

Scanners of older models than D1000 are not supported by Dental System 24 and newer. Please find more details in this article. If you have an older scanner, you have two options:

1.  You can benefit from the great trade up discounts and get upgraded to the latest technology that offers faster workflows and better scan quality. Please contact your reseller to learn more about this option.
2.  You can receive a “Scan only” license with the latest available scanner software version. The scan only dongle should not be updated and needs to run on a separate PC than the latest Dental System PC. Your reseller can help you set this up.

I don’t have a LabCare subscription. How can I upgrade to the latest Dental System?

We recommend you opt-in to the LabCare subscription to start benefiting from unlimited upgrades, support, hands-on training and events, and special product discounts.You can read more about LabCare here: https://www.3shape.com/en/services/labcare

Alternatively, you may pay for a one-off upgrade capability.

Please contact your reseller to opt-in to LabCare or purchase a one-off upgrade.