This guide is for orthodontists, dental technicians and clinic IT staff who are replacing plaster study models with digital ones and want to know which software actually fits. The short answer: a digital study model is a 3D surface scan of the teeth, and what you do with it depends on the job. Archiving and measuring it, analysing it, and using it to plan aligners are three different tasks, and no single free program covers all of them. Not tested yet: the facts below come from the developers’ own pages, the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) website, a published systematic review and our verified program pages, checked on 4 November 2026.
What a digital study model is
A digital study model is a 3D model of the upper and lower arches in a file, usually STL, PLY or OBJ, together with the bite relationship. It comes from one of three places: an intraoral scanner, a desktop scan of an impression or plaster cast, or a digitising service that scans casts sent in by post. Once the model exists, the software side is about three tasks: storing it with the patient record, measuring it, and designing treatment on it.
The research side is settled enough for routine work. A 2016 systematic review in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Rossini and colleagues) assessed 35 studies. It found no significant differences for most measured parameters between digital and plaster models, with the exception of the ABO Objective Grading System, and concluded that landmark identification, rather than the scanner or the software, is the main limitation. The review searched studies up to November 2014, so it says nothing about the newest scanners.
One rule that still needs plaster
If you or a colleague plans to sit the ABO clinical examination, read the rules first. The ABO’s physical models page states that plaster or stone casts, or 3D printed stereolithic casts that meet its 3D printing requirements, are accepted, and that digital models are no longer accepted. Older guides still describe STL submissions, so this is a point where outdated advice is common. Digital models remain fine for day-to-day diagnosis, records and patient communication; for the exam you print them.
The short list
| Program | Job it does | Licence | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| OrthoModel | Archive and measure study models with photos and X-rays | Free (closed source), tied to the developer’s digitising service | Desktop PC; systems not published |
| 3Shape Ortho Analyzer | Guided analyses: Bolton, overjet, overbite, space | Commercial; no public Lite edition | Windows 10/11, 64-bit |
| Maestro 3D Ortho Studio | Setups, attachments, IPR, aligner and appliance models | Shareware (conditionally free): free Viewer and one demo case | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Ortho2 Edge Cloud | Orthodontic practice management, not model analysis | Shareware (conditionally free): demo on request | Cloud; Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise client |
Storing and measuring: OrthoModel
OrthoModel from Orthomodel Inc. (Istanbul) is the only fully free option on this list. It keeps a card per patient with photos, X-rays and notes, shows each model in six views, and measures tooth widths and arch lengths on the 3D model. The catch is how it is distributed: it is built around the developer’s model-digitising service, so you get models by sending casts rather than by importing your own scans. The official site shows no version number, release date or system requirements and looks unmaintained, so plan for that before you commit a records archive to it. Do not confuse it with Delcam’s similarly named foot-orthotics product.
Analysing: 3Shape Ortho Analyzer and its free viewer
3Shape Ortho Analyzer is the analysis module of Ortho System. The latest release on 3Shape’s update page is 2023.1, with automatic tooth segmentation feeding the analyses. It is commercial software with no public trial, and 3Shape’s pages show that Ortho System products are no longer sold in some regions, so check availability with a reseller. If you only receive model sets from a lab, 3Shape support describes a free Ortho Viewer, distributed through its partner portal. We compare the options in more detail in our Ortho Analyzer alternatives guide.
Planning treatment: Maestro 3D Ortho Studio
Maestro 3D Ortho Studio by AGE Solutions (Italy) goes beyond measurement: it segments scans with AI, builds virtual setups with attachments and IPR, and exports printable models. Shareware (conditionally free): the vendor describes a free Dental Studio Expert Viewer for reviewing cases and simulating treatments, and a free Pay-Per-Use licence with one pre-loaded case; production work needs a paid licence. The version listed in the vendor’s manual is 7.00.00.30000, for Windows 11 64-bit. Its study model bases follow ABO, Ricketts, Parallel and Tweed standards for printing.
What is not a study model tool
Ortho2 Edge Cloud appears in orthodontic searches but handles scheduling, contracts, insurance and reporting. Edge Cloud 8.0 was released on 4 February 2026 according to the vendor’s release notes. It does not replace a model viewer, though it belongs in the same clinic. Generic STL viewers can open scans but have no orthodontic measurements; see our free dental CAD viewers hub.
Comparison by task
| You need to | Choose | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Just open a case from a lab | A free viewer: 3Shape Ortho Viewer or the Maestro 3D Viewer | No analysis or editing in most viewer modes |
| Replace shelves of plaster | OrthoModel with the developer’s digitising service | Unmaintained site, no published requirements |
| Run Bolton and space analysis | 3Shape Ortho Analyzer | Commercial, regional availability |
| Plan aligners or appliances | Maestro 3D Ortho Studio | Free parts do not cover production work |
| Submit ABO cases | Printed or plaster casts | Digital files are not accepted |
Limitations
- Analysis software supports clinical decisions; it does not replace them, and we have not verified any of these programs for diagnostic use.
- Measurement quality depends on the scan and on landmark placement, as the review above notes, not on which program displays the model.
- Keep a backup of every archive and export raw STL files, so you are never locked into one program.
- Availability, licences and regional sales can change; confirm with the developer before committing data.
Which one should you use
- Decide the job first: archive, analysis, or treatment planning.
- If you only receive cases, start with the free viewers and add nothing else.
- If you digitise casts through a service, OrthoModel is the free archive, but test it on a few real cases before moving a whole archive.
- If you design aligners in-house, test the Maestro 3D demo case with your own scanner files.
- Export STL regularly so any program can be replaced later.
FAQ
What are digital study models in orthodontics?
3D scans of the dental arches and bite, stored as files such as STL, PLY or OBJ, used for records, measurement and treatment planning instead of plaster casts.
Are digital study models as accurate as plaster models?
A 2016 systematic review of 35 studies found no significant differences for most measurements, with the ABO Objective Grading System as the exception. The main limitation was landmark identification.
Does the ABO accept digital models?
No. The ABO’s physical models page says digital models are no longer accepted; plaster, stone or compliant 3D printed casts are required.
What are electronic study models?
The same thing under another name: study models held as digital files rather than plaster, often supplied by a digitising service.
Is there free software for digital study models?
In parts: OrthoModel is free for archiving and measuring, and free viewers from 3Shape and Maestro 3D open cases. Full analysis and planning tools are commercial.
Where can I find a presentation about digital study models?
Search suggestions include slide decks, but we have not reviewed any. Use the systematic review and the vendors’ own documentation as sources.
Last updated: 4 November 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.
