How hard is it to actually switch?
"Switching" means three different things depending on where you're starting: moving from thermoformed to direct-print, moving production in-house, or moving from another 3D printer brand to LuxCreo. Here's what changes in each case — and what doesn't.
Your clinical workflow barely changes. Your production workflow does.
Scanning and treatment planning stay the same. What changes is what happens after the scan: instead of a case going out to a lab for a printed model and thermoforming, it goes through LuxDesign and LuxFlow's one-click automation and comes out as a finished aligner. LuxCreo's own materials say most practices start printing on day one, with training covering the rest of the curve over the following weeks — not months.
Three different starting points
Thermoform → Direct-Print
You're currently printing models and thermoforming aligners in-house. The model print and thermoform steps disappear; the aligner design now goes straight to a finished print. Staff already comfortable running a 3D printer adapt quickly.
Outsourced Lab → In-House
You're currently sending cases to an outside lab. The biggest change isn't technical, it's operational: production moves from someone else's schedule to yours, and someone on your team owns the print queue instead of a lab coordinator.
Competitor Printer → LuxCreo
You already run a dental 3D printer, just not this workflow. LuxCreo has offered trade-up programs toward an iLux Pro system, with LuxCreo assisting in assessing and disposing of the old equipment.
Day one, week one, month one
Clear a small footprint — that's it
The iLux Pro system needs roughly 35 by 20 inches of desktop space. No dedicated lab buildout or major facility change is required to get started.
Plug-and-play setup, first print same day
LuxCreo describes the system as plug-and-play, with on-site training and cloud-based design support available. Most users start printing on day one rather than spending weeks in a setup phase.
Start simple, build confidence
LuxCreo recommends beginning with straightforward cases — mild crowding or spacing — before moving to more complex movements like molar distalization or root torque as the team gets comfortable with the workflow.
Support that doesn't stop at installation
Beyond initial training, LuxCreo offers LuxAcademy education, webinars, and in-person workshops, plus a global support team LuxCreo states responds to the large majority of tickets within about an hour.
You're not rebuilding your whole stack
Your scanner stays
LuxFlow works with STL files from common platforms including Exocad and 3Shape, among others. Switching to LuxCreo generally doesn't mean replacing your intraoral scanner.
Your clinical process stays
Scanning, diagnosis, and treatment planning are unchanged. The switch happens downstream, in how the aligner physically gets produced, not in how you treat the patient.
Switching questions, answered directly
How hard is it to switch from thermoformed aligners to direct-print?
The clinical scan-and-treatment-planning step doesn't change. What changes is everything after the scan: instead of sending a case to an outside lab for model printing and thermoforming, the design goes through LuxDesign and LuxFlow with one-click automation, then prints directly as a finished aligner. Most practices start printing on day one, with on-site training covering the rest of the learning curve over the following weeks.
Do I need to replace my intraoral scanner to switch to LuxCreo?
No. LuxFlow works with STL files from common scanner platforms including Exocad and 3Shape, among others, so an existing scanner workflow can typically be integrated without replacing hardware.
What changes on day one after installing an iLux Pro system?
Installation requires a small footprint, approximately 35 by 20 inches of desktop space. The system is plug-and-play with on-site training, and most users begin printing on their first day. LuxCreo recommends starting with simpler cases before moving to complex movements as the team builds confidence.
Can I switch to LuxCreo from another dental 3D printer brand?
Yes. LuxCreo has run trade-up programs allowing practices to trade in an existing dental 3D printer toward an iLux Pro Dental system, with LuxCreo assisting in assessing and disposing of the old equipment. Current trade-up offers and terms should be confirmed directly with LuxCreo, since promotions change.
See your specific switch mapped out
Tell a LuxCreo specialist where you're switching from — thermoform, outsourced lab, or another printer brand — and get a setup and training timeline built for your practice.
Still deciding?
Timelines, support response figures, trade-up program terms, and case-selection guidance reflect information published by LuxCreo at the time of writing and are subject to change. Confirm current program terms and training scope directly with LuxCreo.