What the common mesh formats carry
STL describes a triangulated surface and does not carry color or texture. PLY can include vertex properties such as color when the exporter and reader support them. Neither extension by itself tells the designer the prescription, approved bite or clinical purpose of the record.
What a native case may add
A native case can retain software-specific project context that a manufacturing mesh does not. The contents and portability depend on the application, version and export. Confirm the precise deliverable instead of promising that every case is editable across systems.
Check scale and alignment
STL does not explicitly encode a unit of measurement. Confirm scale in the receiving software rather than relying on the extension. Preserve the intended relationship of separate arches and reference records; arbitrary repositioning can make a useful record set difficult to interpret.
Use names to distinguish purpose
Label prepared, opposing, bite, tissue, scan-body and reference records with the case identifier. Mark superseded versions. A file named final is ambiguous when multiple revisions exist. Record the approved version in the handoff note.
Request the file you actually need
Manufacturing, editing and review may require different outputs. Tell Pristine which receiving software and production process will use the design. Check the first returned file in that environment before treating the route as established.
Prepared by Pristine Dental Design · October 6, 2026. Workflow guidance for dental professionals. Case-specific instructions and receiving-team approval govern actual design and production.