3Shape Communicate

3Shape Communicate is 3Shape’s online collaboration portal. Dental clinics and labs use it to send and review scans, designs and order information. It is used by clinics with 3Shape TRIOS scanners and by labs that run 3Shape Dental System. People who search for “3Shape Communicate” usually need one of three things: the portal login, a way to open a case they have received, or the mobile app.

A Communicate account is free for both dentists and labs. It is not a separate program you install on a PC. It is a web portal at portal.3shapecommunicate.com, plus free apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. The scanners and the CAD software that create the cases are paid 3Shape products.

3Shape Communicate at a glance

What it does

• Receives cases that clinics send from 3Shape TRIOS, and sends designs and comments back to the clinic.
• Shows scans and designs in a built-in 3D model viewer, together with the order form and comments.
• Lets labs and clinics search cases by patient, collaborator, case state or date range.
• Manages connections: either the lab or the clinic sends a connection request, and cases flow once it is accepted.
• Mobile app: view 3D scans and designs, share images and comments, and approve or reject scans and designs on the go.
• Integrates with 3Shape Dental System, so a lab receives Communicate orders directly in its CAD software.
• 3Shape states that Communicate is HIPAA and GDPR compliant and stores data in the same geographical region as the data owner.

How dental teams use it

Lab: start receiving TRIOS cases

1. Go to portal.3shapecommunicate.com and choose “Create 3Shape Account”.
2. Confirm the code sent by email, then create the company profile for your lab. This step is mandatory.
3. Send a connection request to your clinics, or accept theirs.
4. New cases appear in the portal. If you use Dental System, set up the Communicate integration so orders arrive in your order list.

Clinic: review a design from the lab

1. When the lab uploads a design, open the case in the portal or in the Communicate app.
2. Rotate the model in the 3D viewer, read the lab’s comments and check the order form.
3. Approve it, or reject it with a comment explaining what should change.

Clinic staff: add colleagues

1. In the company profile, add clinic staff so that more than one person can see the cases.
2. Each person signs in with their own 3Shape Account.

Install and first run

• Web: nothing to install. Open portal.3shapecommunicate.com in a current browser and sign in with your 3Shape Account.
• iPhone / iPad: install “3Shape Communicate” from the App Store (free). The app is designed for iPad. It can also be installed on Apple silicon Macs, but it is not verified for macOS.
• Android: install “3Shape Communicate” from Google Play. 3Shape notes that app login supports Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Samsung Internet.

Common problems: older phones and tablets may not display large 3D models because of memory limits, so use a desktop browser for big cases. If you only see the 3D preview and the order form, but no downloadable scan files, check your lab’s Dental System integration or ask the sender how the case was shared. The files available in the portal depend on the sending software and its settings.

Which platform to use depends on the software version. 3Shape states that Communicate is the collaboration platform for TRIOS customers up to Unite 23.1 and for labs using Dental System. TRIOS customers on Unite 24.1 and newer use 3Shape Unite Cloud instead.

Limitations

• It is a communication portal, not design software. You cannot edit scans or design restorations in it.
• It only makes sense if one side of the workflow uses 3Shape products (TRIOS, Unite or Dental System).
• It needs an internet connection and cloud storage of patient data. Check that this fits your practice’s data-protection policy.
• Newer TRIOS/Unite installations use Unite Cloud, so clinics and labs may need to support both systems during the transition.

3Shape Communicate vs alternatives

For STL and PLY files from any system, exocad webview is a free viewer that needs no account. It opens files but does not manage cases or approvals. 3Shape Unite Cloud replaces Communicate for TRIOS users on Unite 24.1 and newer. Labs that design in exocad DentalCAD usually share previews through exocad’s dentalshare. Choose the portal that matches the scanner and CAD software your partners use.

FAQ

Is 3Shape Communicate free?

Yes. Dentists and labs can create a Communicate account at no cost with a free 3Shape Account. The TRIOS scanners and 3Shape design software used to create 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. If you do not have one, choose “Create 3Shape Account”, verify your email and set up a company profile.

Is there a 3Shape Communicate download for PC?

No desktop installer is needed. Communicate runs in the browser. On phones and tablets you can install the free 3Shape Communicate app. Labs with Dental System use its built-in Communicate integration.

How do I download STL files from 3Shape Communicate?

That depends on how the case was sent. Some cases show only the 3D preview and the order form. If there is no download option, ask the sender to share the scan in an open format, or receive the case through Dental System.

Is there a 3Shape Communicate app?

Yes. It is free on the App Store and on Google Play. It shows scans and designs, comments and images, and lets you approve or reject cases.

How do I contact 3Shape Communicate support?

Use the 3Shape Help Center at support.3shape.com, or the support contact listed in the app. Your 3Shape reseller can also help.

Is 3Shape Communicate down?

If the portal does not load, try another supported browser and clear its cache. If it still fails, contact 3Shape support or your reseller.

Last checked against official sources: 26 September 2026 (developer website: 3shape.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.