Straumann (Straumann Group)
Straumann BLX / BL (Bone Level): exocad & 3Shape library sources
Where the libraries for this system actually live, which third parties cover it, and what is known to go wrong. Sources linked; last reviewed 2026-07-18.
TorcFit (BLX — RB/WB platforms, one connection geometry across implant diameters)CrossFit (Bone Level BL/BLT — NC/RC platforms)
Official library sources
exocad
Official source: exocad.com/integration/dentalcad-library-integration
Access: Serial-number gated on exocad.com: library packages are requested with an exocad serial number and email, and require a permanent DentalCAD license with active upgrade contract or a DentalCAD/ChairsideCAD/exoplan Flex license. Alternatively installed in-software via exocad Library Manager. Straumann additionally hosts exocad library ZIPs (e.g. Straumann_Variobase_local-milling.zip) behind a straumann.com login in its site Download Center; Straumann's exocad registration document (Exocad_General_Information.pdf) is linked from its Connectivity page.
exocad's portal groups Straumann Group libraries as packages (Straumann Variobase, Variobase FDA, CARES centralized milling FDA, Lab Analog FDA, Cementable stock, PURE Ceramic, Premilled Abutment Medentika Holder, Neodent, MEDENTiKA) rather than per implant line; BLX/BL ti-base work runs through the Variobase packages. Restorations designed with 'centralized' libraries can only be milled by Straumann's centralized milling center; packages marked FDA are US-cleared. Separate exoplan (planning) libraries exist for Straumann BLX/TLX/VeloDrill at exocad.com/integration/exoplan-library-integration.
3Shape
Official source: www.straumann.com/us/en/dental-professionals/digital-performance/connectivity.html
Access: Straumann distributes its 3Shape DME library with a required registration step (3Shape_Connectivity_general_information_V7.pdf, linked from the Connectivity page). Libraries are then imported in Dental System Control Panel > Tools > Download Center > Download libraries; libraries that appear greyed out must first be enabled on the lab's dongle via the Site Connection Administration tool or support@3shape.com (per 3Shape support).
Original Straumann screw-retained bar/bridge (SRBB) design in 3Shape requires reading Straumann's SRBB Design Guide; original Straumann implant bars and bridges have been available to 3Shape Dental System users since 2017. Component availability is market-dependent for regulatory reasons; Straumann publishes a product-availability PDF for 3Shape SRBB.
Third-party providers
| Provider | Notes |
|---|---|
| DESS (Terrats Medical) | Straumann BLX-compatible scan bodies (titanium, no through-hole), ti-bases, multi-unit abutments and digital analogs; free library files for exocad, 3Shape and DentalWings at dess-usa.com/library-files-original/. |
| Elos Medtech (Elos Accurate) | Elos Accurate Scan Body and ScanBody22 for Straumann BLX RB/WB; hand-torque max 5 Ncm with the Elos driver; works with Elos Accurate libraries in 3Shape, exocad and Dental Wings. |
| Dynamic Abutment Solutions | Dynamic scanbody (intraoral/extraoral) and TiBase compatible with Straumann BLX RB and WB; company publishes full-system library codes for its CAD libraries. |
| Medentika (Straumann Group brand) | L-Series components and L-Series Scanbody compatible with Straumann Bone Level NC/RC; CADCAM libraries for 3Shape and exocad downloadable from the Medentika section of straumann.com. Sources reviewed list Bone Level (BL) coverage only, not a BLX-compatible line. |
| Preat Corporation | US supplier listing Straumann BLX RB/WB-compatible scan bodies and prosthetic components. |
Scan bodies
- OEM BLX options (TorcFit RB/WB, sold on the Straumann eShop): CARES RB/WB Mono Scanbody in PEEK/TAN (Ø3.8 mm, H 10 mm, art. 065.0035) and a titanium Scanbody RB/WB with retention screw (art. 065.0103); a single RB/WB scanbody covers both platforms.
- Straumann's newer Metal Scanbody line is titanium with laser-etched system/size identification and an asymmetric design that aligns only one way in CAD; Straumann states scans work in CARES Visual, 3Shape and exocad.
- Community-reported: the older PEEK BLX scanbody offers few alignment features (flat top, short cylinder), and with deeply placed implants labs report CAD alignment failing or flipping 180 degrees (Dental Lab Network, Apr 2025).
- For BL (Bone Level NC/RC), Medentika's L-Series Scanbody is a Straumann Group option alongside the CARES scanbodies; third-party BLX RB/WB scanbodies are available from DESS, Elos Accurate (IO 4E-A / ScanBody22) and Dynamic Abutment Solutions.
Documented pitfalls
Community-reported and support-documented issues — the kind that stall real cases.
- Community-reported (Dec 2024): an outdated Straumann exocad library contained a defective RB (BLX) digital-analog file that printed analog seats rotated (~60 degrees) in 3D-printed models while everything looked correct in CAD; updating to the current library fixed it, and users note Straumann did not announce the bug or notify customers of library updates.
- Community-reported: BLX RB and WB components can both physically seat on the same implant and look fine on the model yet misfit in the patient, since RB/WB share one scanbody and connection; labs verify the platform from the implant reference number or healing-cap type, not the scan alone.
- Community-reported: BLX RB/WB scanbodies are similar to TLX NT/RT/WT scanbodies but seat at different positions, so misidentifying the system introduces positional error.
- Straumann's own exocad library ZIPs sit behind a straumann.com login in the site Download Center; forum users describe them as hard to locate (log in, scroll to Download Center, search 'exocad'). In 3Shape, Straumann libraries stay greyed out in the Download Center until enabled on the dongle by 3Shape/Straumann support.
Sources
- https://exocad.com/integration/dentalcad-library-integration
- https://www.straumann.com/us/en/dental-professionals/digital-performance/connectivity.html
- https://support.3shape.com/products-dental-system-how-to/how-to-get-an-implant-library-from-download-center-dental-system-control-panel
- https://www.3shape.com/en-us/press/2017/straumann-original-implant-bars-and-bridges-available-to-3shape-users
- https://www.straumann.com/en/dental-professionals/digital/consumables/scanbodies-analogs-sleeves/metal-scanbody.html
- https://shop.straumann.com/di/en_di/Prosthetic-Components/BLX-/for-Regular-Base-(RB)-Implants/Digital-Accessories-RB-WB/CARES%C2%AE-RB-WB-Mono-Scanbody/p/065.0035/
- https://shop.straumann.com/us/en_us/Prosthetic-Components/BLX-&-BLC-Prosthetics/for-Regular-Base-(RB)-Implants/Digital-Accessories-RB-WB/Scanbody-RB-WB/p/065.0103/
- https://www.straumann.com/content/dam/media-center/straumann/en/documents/brochure/technical-information/702115-en_low.pdf
- https://www.straumann.com/us/en/dental-professionals/products-and-solutions/implant-borne-prosthetics/abutment-connections.html
- https://www.dess-usa.com/compatibilities/straumann-blx/
- https://www.dess-usa.com/library-files-original/
- https://shop.elosmedtech.com/product?item_no=IO+4E-A
- https://www.dynamicabutment.com/new-dynamic-scanbody-and-tibase-for-straumann-blx/
- https://www.dynamicabutment.com/new-compatibility-tibase-straumann-blx-rb/
- https://shop.straumann.com/medentika/us/en_us/MPS/Straumann--compatible/L-Series---compatible-with-Straumann-Bone-Level/L-Series-Scanbody/p/base_med_lseriescanbody/
- https://www.straumann.com/medentika/en/dental-professionals/downloads/cadcam-libraries.html
- https://www.preat.com/compatible-with-straumann-blx
- https://exocad.com/integration/exoplan-library-integration
- https://dentallabnetwork.com/forums/threads/straumann-library-exocad.36285/
- https://dentallabnetwork.com/forums/threads/problems-with-rb-straumann-repositioning-analogs-in-printed-models.36631/
- https://dentallabnetwork.com/forums/threads/digital-straumann-scans.36996/
This page is a neutral directory compiled from the linked sources. Occlaris is not affiliated with Straumann (Straumann Group), exocad or 3Shape. Portals and library versions move — always verify the full chain (scan body revision, library version, analog) against a test case before a clinical case depends on it.