Software · head to head
3Shape TRIOS vs Dovetail Dental

3Shape TRIOS
Software
Digital Impression & CAD/CAM Workflow
- From
- $15000/one-time
- Rated
- -
Dovetail Dental
Software
AI-powered dental analytics and insights
- From
- $299/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 3Shape TRIOS 3Shape publishes no price for TRIOS scanners or software; quotes come from 3Shape or a local reseller; Dovetail Dental slow customer service with issues unresolved for weeks
- They diverge on capability: 3Shape TRIOS covers Intraoral scanning, Dovetail Dental covers AI treatment recommendations.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3Shape TRIOS and Dovetail Dental actually diverge.
| Attribute | 3Shape TRIOS | Dovetail Dental |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15000/one-time | $299/month |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2000 | 2018 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 3Shape TRIOS
- Intraoral scanning
- Digital impressions
- Treatment simulation
- Shade measurement
- Lab connectivity
- Implant planning
- Orthodontic integration
- Patient engagement tools
Only in Dovetail Dental
- AI treatment recommendations
- Patient behavior prediction
- Revenue analytics
- Practice benchmarking
- Performance dashboards
- Dentrix
- Eaglesoft
- Open Dental
Both cover
- HIPAA Compliant
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
3Shape TRIOS
- Taking digital intraoral impressions in place of physical traysnot Dovetail Dental
- Sending digital scans to dental laboratories for restorations and alignersnot Dovetail Dental
- Recording and comparing patient scans over time for treatment planningnot Dovetail Dental
Dovetail Dental
- Practice optimizationnot 3Shape TRIOS
- Revenue growthnot 3Shape TRIOS
- Patient retentionnot 3Shape TRIOS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
3Shape TRIOS
- 3Shape publishes no price for TRIOS scanners or software; quotes come from 3Shape or a local reseller
- The software is tied to buying 3Shape TRIOS scanner hardware
- TRIOS Care, the premium service plan with extended warranty, is included only for the first year of ownership and is a paid subscription after that
Dovetail Dental
- Slow customer service with issues unresolved for weeks
- Performance issues during peak usage times
- Limited integrations with other dental software
- Pricing information not publicly disclosed, requires custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
3Shape TRIOS
$15000/one-time- TRIOS Essential$15000/one-time
- Intraoral scanning
- Digital impressions
- Lab connectivity
- TRIOS Premium$25000/one-time
- Everything in Essential
- Treatment simulation
- Shade measurement
- TRIOS Care$199/month
- Extended warranty
- Software updates
- Priority support
Dovetail Dental
$299/month- Growth$299/month
- Treatment analytics
- Patient insights
- Revenue tracking
- Enterprise$599/month
- Advanced AI
- Predictive analytics
- Multi-location
Which should you pick?
Choose 3Shape TRIOS if
- You need intraoral scanning.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want digital impressions.
Choose Dovetail Dental if
- You need ai treatment recommendations.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want patient behavior prediction.
Questions people ask
- Is 3Shape TRIOS or Dovetail Dental better?
- Neither clearly leads. 3Shape TRIOS starts at $15000/one-time and Dovetail Dental at $299/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 3Shape TRIOS or Dovetail Dental?
- 3Shape TRIOS starts at $15000/one-time and Dovetail Dental at $299/month.
- Does 3Shape TRIOS or Dovetail Dental run on more platforms?
- 3Shape TRIOS runs on Windows. Dovetail Dental runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- What is 3Shape TRIOS best used for?
- 3Shape TRIOS is most often used for taking digital intraoral impressions in place of physical trays, sending digital scans to dental laboratories for restorations and aligners, recording and comparing patient scans over time for treatment planning. Of those, taking digital intraoral impressions in place of physical trays and sending digital scans to dental laboratories for restorations and aligners are not what Dovetail Dental is typically brought in for.
- What can 3Shape TRIOS do that Dovetail Dental cannot?
- 3Shape TRIOS covers Intraoral scanning, Digital impressions, Treatment simulation, Shade measurement. Dovetail Dental covers AI treatment recommendations, Patient behavior prediction, Revenue analytics, Practice benchmarking. Both handle HIPAA Compliant, Cloud deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Dovetail Dental: Is Dovetail Dental cloud-based?
Yes, Dovetail is a cloud-based electronic dental record and practice management solution. Users can access it from any computer, tablet, or phone with an internet connection. No servers or cables need to be installed.
SourceDovetail Dental: What platforms and devices does Dovetail support?
Dovetail is accessible via web browsers on Windows and macOS computers, as well as on mobile tablets and phones. It is designed as a browser-based application with no installation required.
SourceDovetail Dental: Is Dovetail HIPAA compliant and certified?
Yes, Dovetail is ONC-certified and HIPAA-compliant. Version 1.4 received 2014 Meaningful Use certification from the ONC Authorized Certification Body.
Source