STL file
Also called: .stl, stereolithography file, Standard Tessellation Language
An STL file is a three-dimensional file format that describes the surface of an object as a mesh of triangles. It is a common format for sending intraoral scans to a dental lab. An STL carries shape alone, without colour, so it cannot show the shade of a tooth.
How it shows up between practice and lab
STL is widely supported, which makes it a safe choice when a practice does not know what a lab’s software accepts.
A full case is more than one file. The lab needs the prepared arch, the opposing arch and the bite, named so that it is clear which is which.
Files sent by email or transfer link arrive apart from the Rx. Keeping the files and the Rx on one record saves the lab from matching them by hand.
Read more in STL vs PLY files and how to send intraoral scans to a dental lab without losing files.
Related terms
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