3Shape Communicate is the free online portal that 3Shape clinics and labs use to pass cases back and forth: a clinic sends a TRIOS scan with its order form, the lab accepts it, designs the restoration and sends the design back for approval. There is nothing to install on a PC. You sign in at portal.3shapecommunicate.com with a free 3Shape Account, or use the free 3Shape Communicate app on a phone or tablet.
The short answer for most readers: if your clinic runs TRIOS on Unite 23.1 or older, or your lab designs in 3Shape Dental System, Communicate is your case-sharing channel. If the clinic is on Unite 24.1 or newer, 3Shape has moved it to Unite Cloud, although Communicate stays available for now. This guide walks through setup, the case cycle between clinic and lab, file access and the common problems behind “login” and “download” searches. For the product facts in one place, see our 3Shape Communicate program page.
Communicate, Unite Cloud and the rest at a glance
| Tool | Role in case sharing | Licence | Platforms | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3Shape Communicate | Portal for sending, reviewing and approving cases | Free account | Web browser, iOS/iPadOS, Android | TRIOS clinics up to Unite 23.1, Dental System labs |
| 3Shape Unite Cloud | Cloud app and web portal that syncs with Unite desktop | Comes with 3Shape Unite (shareware, conditionally free) | Web, iOS, Android | TRIOS clinics on Unite 24.1 and newer |
| exocad webview | Viewer for STL, OBJ, PLY and DentalCAD exports; no case management | Free | Web browser, Windows, iOS, Android | Anyone who only needs to open a file |
| Medit Link | Medit’s own platform for cases and lab orders | Shareware (conditionally free) | Windows, macOS, Web | Clinics and labs with Medit scanners |
Who should use Communicate today
3Shape states that Communicate is the collaboration platform for TRIOS customers up to Unite 23.1 and for labs using Dental System. Unite Cloud comes with Unite 24.1 or newer and works with Unite 24.1+ only. 3Shape’s own Unite Cloud FAQ says it recommends moving to Unite Cloud, but that Communicate will remain accessible for all users for the time being.
In practice, a lab with many partner clinics will often see both: older TRIOS installations still send through Communicate, while updated clinics work in Unite Cloud.
Set up an account (clinic or lab)
A 3Shape Account is required for every 3Shape product and service, and the company profile is a mandatory part of setup. The steps from 3Shape’s help center:
- Open portal.3shapecommunicate.com and choose “Create 3Shape Account”.
- Fill in your details and click “Create my account”.
- Enter the verification code, or use the link, sent to your email.
- Create the company profile: fill in the Profile tab, then country, address and phone number, and press “Register Company”.
- Invite staff by email and assign each a role. Invitations must be accepted within 48 hours, so resend if a colleague misses the window.
Every person should sign in with their own 3Shape Account rather than a shared login. That keeps the case history clear about who approved what.
Connect clinic and lab
Cases only flow between partners that are connected. Either side can send a connection request; once the other side accepts it, the clinic can pick the lab when sending a TRIOS order. Labs can also enrich their Communicate account into a lab profile in the 3Shape Unite Store, where clinics in the region the lab chose can find it. 3Shape says a Store profile is free of charge for anyone in the lab with a Communicate account, and building one is optional.
One important catch from 3Shape’s own FAQ: a lab does not need 3Shape software to create a Store profile, but it will not be able to receive orders from clinics using 3Shape Unite, because those orders are saved in a 3Shape-specific format that needs 3Shape software to work with. A lab without Dental System should agree an open-format export with the clinic instead.
The case cycle, step by step
3Shape describes Communicate as an exchange of status updates through its server. A typical order moves through these states:
| State | What happened | Who acts next |
|---|---|---|
| Scanned Sent | The dentist sent the TRIOS scan and order to the lab | Lab |
| Scanned Received | The technician received the order after refreshing the inbox | Lab |
| Scanned Approved | The technician accepted the order | Lab |
| Designed Approved | The technician finished the design and sent the update to the customer | Clinic (review) |
| Designed Rejected | Only with “Request approval”: the dentist rejected the design | Lab (redesign and resend) |
When “Request approval” is switched on, the design comes back to the dentist before production. The dentist opens the case in the portal or the app, rotates the model in the 3D viewer, reads the lab’s comments and the order form, then approves or rejects it with a comment. The lab redesigns, sends an update, and the cycle repeats until the dentist approves. The clinic can also log in to the portal at any time to confirm that a case was sent successfully and completed.
Finding and opening cases
The portal dashboard shows the relevant case details up front. To find an older case, filter by patient, collaborator, case state or date range. The built-in 3D viewer is fast enough for chairside review on a desktop browser; on older phones and tablets, large models may not display because of memory limits, so switch to a computer for full-arch or multi-unit cases.
Labs running Dental System should set up its Communicate integration, so incoming orders land directly in the order list instead of being handled through the browser. That is also what people usually mean by the “Communicate inbox”: the lab-side list of incoming orders that the technician refreshes.
Downloading STL files
This is the most common frustration. Whether a Communicate case offers downloadable scan files depends on the sending software and its settings. Some cases show only the 3D preview and the order form. If you see no download option:
- Ask the clinic to export the scan in an open format (STL or PLY) and share it that way.
- If you are a 3Shape lab, receive the order through Dental System rather than the web portal.
- To look at an exported STL, OBJ or PLY without any 3Shape account, use exocad webview. Our free dental CAD viewers guide compares more options.
The mobile app
3Shape Communicate is free on the App Store and Google Play. It shows scans and designs, lets you share images and comments, and approve or reject scans and designs away from the office. The iOS app is designed for iPad and also works on iPhone. For Unite 24.1+ clinics, the Unite Cloud app takes over this role and adds patient photos taken on the phone and uploaded straight to the case, plus push and email notifications.
Privacy and data
3Shape states that Communicate is HIPAA and GDPR compliant and that data, including ePHI, is stored on servers in the same geographical region as the data owner. It is still a cloud service, so check that it fits your practice’s data-protection policy and that staff accounts are removed when people leave.
Limitations
- Communicate is a sharing and approval portal, not design software. You cannot edit scans or design restorations in it.
- It is useful only when at least one partner uses 3Shape products (TRIOS, Unite or Dental System).
- Scan file downloads are not guaranteed; they depend on how the case was sent.
- Newer TRIOS installations use Unite Cloud, so labs may have to work in both systems for a while.
- If you design in exocad DentalCAD, your sharing tools come from exocad, not 3Shape; see what exocad offers for free.
FAQ
Is 3Shape Communicate free?
Yes. Clinics and labs create a Communicate account with a free 3Shape Account, and a lab’s Store profile is free as well. The TRIOS scanners and 3Shape design software that create the cases are paid products.
How do I log in to the 3Shape Communicate portal?
Go to portal.3shapecommunicate.com and sign in with your 3Shape Account. New users choose “Create 3Shape Account”, verify their email and register a company profile.
Is there a 3Shape Communicate download for PC?
No installer is needed. The portal runs in a web browser. Phones and tablets use the free app, and labs with Dental System use its built-in Communicate integration.
How do I download STL files from 3Shape Communicate?
Only if the sending side made them available. If the case shows just the preview and order form, ask the clinic for an STL or PLY export, or receive the order through Dental System.
Can I still use Communicate after upgrading to Unite 24.1?
Yes, for now. 3Shape recommends Unite Cloud for Unite 24.1 and newer but says Communicate remains accessible for all users for the time being.
How do I contact 3Shape Communicate support?
Use the 3Shape Help Center at support.3shape.com or your 3Shape reseller. If the portal will not load, try another current browser and clear its cache before reporting an outage.
Last updated: 30 September 2026 · Dents-Soft editorial team. Licence, version and platform details are checked against each developer's official documentation; none of the tools listed here should be treated as a certified medical device unless its vendor says so.
