CreSplint – as simple as you want, as complex as you need

SHINING 3D has made significant investments in advancing software solutions to better serve our users. With the launch of the second generation of CreSplint, we have enhanced its design capabilities based on valuable feedback from our users. Widely adopted by both clinics and technicians, the following article explores Stuart Anderton’s experience with the upgraded CreSplint from SHINING 3D.

With years of experience in dental technology, Stuart oversees the day-to-day operations, marketing, and digital strategies at Osseo Group, a company dedicated to empowering dentists and technicians with digital, efficient treatment solutions.

CreSplint – as simple as you want, as complex as you need.

In this article, we’ll dive into the key features and benefits of CreSplint and how it’s revolutionizing digital splint design and manufacturing workflows, offering an accessible yet sophisticated tool for all dental professionals. Whether you’re managing routine cases or highly complex ones, CreSplint delivers the accuracy, speed, and convenience needed to meet the demands of modern dental care.

Digital splints have transformed the dental industry, offering unparalleled accuracy, speed, and convenience compared to traditional methods. One of the most innovative developments in this field is CreSplint, a cutting-edge software integrated into SHINING 3D’s Aoralscan and AccuFab systems. This advanced solution simplifies the entire process of creating occlusal splints and retainers, delivering a seamless experience from scanning to manufacturing.

Figure 1: CreSplint offers a fast, seamless process for creating accurate splints, ensuring customers receive high-quality results quickly and with satisfaction.

What sets CreSplint apart is its ability to be as simple as you want and as complex as you need, making it an ideal solution for dentists with varying levels of digital experience. Whether you’re working on a straightforward case or handling a highly intricate one, SHINING 3D’s interface adapts effortlessly to suit your requirements. Its user interface is designed to cater to both novice and seasoned dental professionals, allowing users to scale the complexity of their designs while maintaining control over every detail. This means the software can handle anything from simple, routine cases to more sophisticated designs – without overwhelming the user.

A Shift from Traditional Methods

Prior to the advent of digital solutions like CreSplint, the process of creating dental splints was labour-intensive, often involving multiple manual steps. Traditional methods, such as taking physical impressions, were uncomfortable for patients and prone to error. For example, thermoforming splints required significant post-processing, with overall workflows lasting up to 100 minutes.

By contrast, SHINING 3D’s digital approach with CreSplint dramatically cuts down on production time, eliminating much of the discomfort and mess associated with manual fabrication. Digital scans are more precise, allowing for greater consistency, and the automated workflow reduces the risk of human error. This shift from traditional methods is a game-changer, providing patients with more comfortable experiences and giving clinics the ability to produce more consistent and accurate splints in a fraction of the time.

AI-Driven Efficiency and One-Click Printing

CreSplint stands out for its AI-powered efficiency, automating key stages of the splint design process. Dental professionals can now create high-quality splints – whether occlusal splints or retainers – with minimal manual effort, leading to faster turnaround times and enhanced clinic productivity. The advanced AI algorithm recognises critical surfaces and takes care of tasks such as auto-layout planning, support generation, and slicing, ensuring that designs are prepared for 3D printing quickly and accurately.

The One-Click Printing feature further streamlines the workflow, allowing users to move directly from scan to design to production with minimal intervention. This level of automation enables clinics to focus on what truly matters – patient care – while maintaining high standards of precision and quality in the splints they produce.

SHINING 3D’s Accessible and Doctor-Friendly Ecosystem

SHINING 3D’s ecosystem, combining CreSplint with the power of their scanners and 3D printers, ensures the entire process remains efficient, affordable, and doctor-friendly. With cost-effective hardware and intuitive software, even small practices can access advanced digital solutions without breaking the bank. By providing affordable tools that scale according to the user’s needs, SHINING 3D allows clinics of all sizes to benefit from cutting-edge technology, leveling the playing field for both large and small practices.

This blend of simplicity and complexity strikes a perfect balance, making digital splint creation a realistic option for everyday use while still capable of tackling the most challenging scenarios. Small dental practices are no longer excluded from the benefits of    advanced digital workflows due to cost or complexity; instead, they can easily adopt these solutions and experience immediate gains in productivity and patient satisfaction.

Workflow Steps for CreSplint 

Open predesign and select CreSplint from the app menu. Once CreSplint launches, choose Splint to begin the design process. Next, select the working arch, finish line, occlusal thickness, wall thickness, undercut, and spacer.

Open predesign and select CreSplint from the app menu. Once CreSplint launches, choose Splint to begin the design process. Next, select the working arch, finish line, occlusal thickness, wall thickness, undercut, and spacer. You can hover over the info icon next to each parameter for helpful visuals explaining each setting.

At this point, you have two options: choose either Next Step or Auto Generation.

Here’s where CreSplint shines in offering flexibility – Next Step lets you fine-tune each stage of the design, while Auto Generation creates a fully-formed basic splint that’s ready for printing, though you can still make adjustments later if needed. For this article, we’ll opt for Next Step.

Figure 2: When creating a CreSplint design order, users can freely pre-set parameters and use Auto Generation for quick splint creation.

Now, you can refine the model by blocking out excessive undercuts, filling deep fissures and pits, and removing brackets if the splint is intended for immediate use as a retainer or splint.

Figure 3: Refine the model with multiple brush tools, including the new bracket removal feature.

In the Case Parameters step, you’ll have the opportunity to draw or modify the finish lines, adjust the path of insertion, and review model undercuts to ensure optimal retention.

Figure 4: Enhanced margin line adjustment tools for improved usability.

Moving to the Shape adjustment stage, you’ll configure the virtual articulator by setting parameters such as the left and right CGA, LGA, and side shift. Here, you’ll also determine the occlusal opening, fine-tuning the splint’s fit.

Figure 5: Virtual articulator configuration for easy occlusal opening adjustment and dynamic bite detection.

To check the bite, select either lateral or protrusive movements and press Play to visualize any potential bite collisions.

Figure 6: Virtual articulator simulates dynamic motion (protrusive, left and right lateral movements) to identify premature contacts.

The “Occlusal adjustment” feature enables you to create either a static, locked centric bite or dynamically cut the bite plane for lateral and protrusive movements. For best results, activate Static Detection to verify occlusal contact when the jaw is at rest before  applying the Static Bite Adjustment function.

Figure 7: The occlusal adjustment feature enables one-click removal of premature contacts for a perfect splint fit.

Once the bite cutout is complete, use the Carve tools to smooth the occlusal surface or add material for ramps or other adjustments. If you add any material, you may need to repeat the cutout process to ensure a perfect fit.

The final step is adding any custom text, followed by clicking Go to Print. AccuWare will then open, and the AI-powered One-Click Printing feature will take over, automatically selecting the material and optimally positioning the splint and supports on the platform for the best speed and efficiency.

Figure 8: CreSplint integrates with SHINING 3D Accuware for seamless scan-design-print workflow.

Figure 9: Accuware offers one-click printing with automatic support generation and slicing for fast and efficient printing.

A Game-Changer for Digital Splints

The process of making splints has evolved from a time-consuming, manual endeavour to an efficient, digital workflow, thanks to CreSplint. By combining AI-driven design automation with seamless 3D printing integration, SHINING 3D’s CreSplint offers dental professionals an accurate, fast, and patient-friendly solution. This software is revolutionizing the way night guards and retainers are designed and manufactured, allowing clinics to adopt a more effective and streamlined approach to splint production.