Primescan Connect. Laptop-Based Scanner by Dentsply Sirona

November 30, 2022

What is Primescan Connect?

Last month at DS World 2022, Dentsply Sirona announced a new Primescan configuration - Primescan Connect. The new laptop-based Primescan.

Since their inception, CEREC scanners have been a cart-based option. The company is finally offering a USB-scanner that can be used with a laptop. A much better option for those who want to use Primescan between different sites.

Take note, this is not the CEREC Connect. CEREC is the name only used for the single-visit workflow solution. This is Primescan Connect. The company is choosing this name to make it clear this does not come with CEREC chairside software. This is just a scanner-only device.

CORP-product-image-EN-Primescan-Connect-1000x650

Here are some quick facts about the Primescan Connect:

It is a Primescan at a more accessible price – the cost of Primescan connect is 41,335 NZD or approx. 24,000 USD.
It comes with a laptop (Lenovo), travel case, and DS Core Light and DS Core Care subscriptions included for three years (cloud, hardware and software maintenance package, more info here).
Primescan connect is not plugged into the laptop directly, there is a pod including a connection kit.
It is mandatory to use the validated laptop unit supplied by Dentsply. In other words, you cannot use any laptop or install the software on other computers.
It is exact same Primescan scanner as CEREC Primescan.
The same software is used as the digital impression unit (Connect SW 5.2).

Some of you may be aware that Dentsply Sirona also sell the DI (digital impression unit) which is basically a standard CEREC Primescan cart with the design software locked out. This sells for 50-60 thousand NZD which is the companies mid tier option. Primescan Connect is the most economical Primescan option.

Both of these options can utilize the DS Create digital ordering system, enabling seamless lab ordering from start to finish.

Primescan Connect is an open scanner, like all other Dentsply Sirona scanners, enabling STL export (not PLY or OBJ however).

So what is the difference between the DI unit and Primescan Connect?

The DI Unit is a cart and the Primescan Connect is a laptop.

But more importantly, the DI unit has a has direct upgrade path to the CEREC ecosystem by adding a milling machine and unlocking the design software.

The Primescan Connect unit does NOT have this upgrade path. Meaning you cannot just add a milling machine to CEREC connect and use it for milling restorations. This is strictly a scanner-only device.

In saying that, the company says that if someone buys a Primescan Connect and wants to upgrade to the entire CEREC system there is a trade in option.

So that’s basically it! For the first time ever a laptop-based Dentsply Sirona scanner.

What are your thoughts? We will be reviewing this scanner soon and let you know if it performs that same as a cart-based Primescan.

Many of you will know that since their inception, CEREC scanners have always been a cart scanner. Single configuration, custom built cart with a PC. Either scan only or with the CEREC chairside CAD software.

The CEREC Primescan is one of my favorite scanners of all time thanks to the amazing same-day crown workflow. You can read my review of that scanner here.

Now we have had the first change to this in decades - Primescan Connect.

What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.

About the author

Dr Ahmad Al-Hassiny

Dr Ahmad Al-Hassiny is a globally recognised leader in digital dentistry, intraoral scanning, 3D printing, and CAD/CAM, and the Director of the Institute of Digital Dentistry (iDD), a world-leading digital dentistry education provider. A full-time private dentist in New Zealand and international Key Opinion Leader for many of the industry’s leading companies, he is one of the few clinicians worldwide to personally own, test, and compare virtually every mainstream intraoral scanner and CAD/CAM system in real-world clinical practice. Beyond education, Dr Ahmad works within his family-owned dental business in Wellington, New Zealand, which operates 43 dental operatories, alongside a full-service digital dental laboratory with six technicians and a clear aligner manufacturing company. This unique combination of clinical dentistry, education, laboratory workflows, manufacturing, and extensive hands-on technology testing gives him a practical, independent perspective on how digital dentistry performs and scales in the real world.

0 shares

Share 0

Post 0

Share 0