A workflow engine for intraoral scanners that generates 3D oral images and shares them seamlessly with dental labs

Overview

Arcgrid is a workflow engine for intraoral scanners. It captures digital impressions and supports the patient treatment process. Its core function is to generate 3D oral images and share them with dental labs for prosthetic design. The goal of the project was to improve collaboration between clinics and labs, and to streamline the overall workflow. As lead product designer, I worked across user research, competitive analysis, and interface design. I helped shape the product's end-to-end experience, from early wireframes through a full MVP.

Approach

We started by studying the software of leading intraoral scanner companies. We also ran roundtable interviews with dentists, hygienists, and dental technicians to find real pain points, such as occlusion scan errors and unclear order forms. These insights shaped our early ideation sessions and wireframes, combining content and interaction from the start. The prosthetic order screen went through several rounds of testing. We refined tooth selection into a simple flow, tailored to different prosthetic types. We also moved away from a rigid workflow that required clinics to set the prosthetic type and material before scanning. Instead, clinics could capture scans right after patient registration. We redesigned the lab collaboration platform with a mobile-first approach. We also simplified case management, so clinic staff could search, open, and create patient cases with less effort. For the ordering process, we built a step-by-step layout with a running order summary, so staff could always see what was left and confirm their choices as they went.

Challenge

Intraoral scanning software has a reputation for being complex, and Arcgrid's early users ran into the same problems. Scan quality was inconsistent when staff didn't have enough training. Order forms often let missing or unclear information reach the lab. As case data built up over time, the software slowed down. Dental clinics needed a faster, more reliable way to capture and send accurate scans. Lab partners needed easy, dependable access to that data to produce prosthetics on time. The business needed a product strong enough to compete with established players in digital dentistry. The challenge was to design something simple enough for non-technical clinic staff, without losing the precision the workflow required.

Seamless patient case management

I wanted to make it simple for users to manage a patient’s treatment cases. So, I designed a system that lets them easily find and open each patient’s cases. At the same time, users can also create and add a new patient profile and its case without much hassle.

Effortless patient data input

When making a new patient case, I wanted to let users search or add patient info quickly, so the data entry process stays easy and simple.

Simplifying the Order Process

I solved the challenge of a complicated order process by creating a page layout that helps clinic staff see all their tasks clearly. I designed step-by-step guidance for each task and added an order summary on the side to confirm their choices as they go.

Outcome

The MVP was shown at the New York Dental Meeting. It received positive feedback from medical device dealers and dental clinic staff. There were some suggestions for improvement, but the main goal came through clearly: move away from the usual complexity of medical software, and make it easier for clinic staff to learn.