Meals & nutrition

The US market in 2026 has largely rejected "closed loops" in favor of Open Architecture. Dentists now prefer systems that allow them to use an intraoral scanner from one manufacturer (like Align's iTero or Medit) with a milling unit from another (such as DGSHAPE or Planmeca).

This flexibility is made possible by standardized 3D file formats like .STL and .PLY. It allows practices to upgrade their technology piecemeal—buying a faster scanner today without needing to replace their entire milling setup. Additionally, cloud-based collaboration platforms have become the standard for dentist-to-lab communication, allowing for "real-time design" where a lab technician can virtually enter a dentist's office and assist with a complex design while the patient is still in the chair.