Trios 4 vs Competitors
3Shape · Dental Equipment · $22,000 – $42,000
Typical pricing - Trios 4
Trios 4 - Key specifications
- 1.3-megapixel color sensor with 0.07mm accuracy - matters because your restorations fit tighter on first try, fewer adjustments in the chair
- Ultra HD mode captures 1920×1440 resolution per frame - needed if you're doing smile design or veneers where patients see the preview on screen
- 4.5-inch touchscreen with intraoral view - techs work faster when they can see exactly what the scanner's pointing at without swapping screens
- Captures full arch in 45–60 seconds - clinically matters at high volume because you're not asking patients to sit still for 3 minutes with a wand in their mouth
Trios 4 price overview
A unit with under 2,000 scan hours and post-2021 calibration runs $38K–$42K; one that's 5+ years old with gap in service history drops to $22K–$28K. Scan head replacement if you damage the window runs $3,200–$4,100, so age and condition drive the split.
Buyer's checklist for Trios 4
Look at the scan head under a loupe - any hairline cracks in the window or discoloration means you're replacing it immediately. Power on the unit and do a test scan of a shade guide or model; the image shouldn't have color drift or pixelation at the edges. Ask for the last 6 months of service logs - if there's no record, assume calibration lapsed and budget $800–$1,200 for recalibration.
US Market overview
California DSOs are eating these up - Heartland Dental offices in the Central Valley and LA basin have standardized on Trios 4 for their 15+ location chains. Shortage of color-capable used units in the Southwest is keeping prices high through Q1.
Trios 4 vs alternatives
| Model | Brand | Used Price | Key Spec | Value Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trios 4 ✓ | 3Shape | $22,000–$42,000 | Intraoral scanner, color scanning... | ●●●●● |
| ProMax 3D Plus | Planmeca | $40,000–$85,000 | CBCT 3D imaging, cephalometric, 23x26cm FOV... | ●●●●○ |
| OP 3D Pro | KaVo | $35,000–$70,000 | CBCT 3D, 16x13cm FOV, low dose... | ●●●●○ |
| Orthophos SL 3D | Dentsply Sirona | $38,000–$75,000 | CBCT panoramic ceph, 11x10cm FOV... | ●●●●○ |
Trios 4 - FAQ
You can't upgrade the core scanner - it's a hardware swap. But the software is backward-compatible, so your Trios 3 will still run current exocad and itero plugins for another 18–24 months. New unit makes sense if you're hitting 3,000+ scans per year.
iTero 5D runs $48K–$55K used and has built-in CBCT, which you don't need unless you're doing implant planning in-house. Trios 4 color is sharper for cosmetic cases and costs $8K–$12K less. Most DSOs like Sage Dental pick Trios 4 for general use and rent CBCT when they need it.
Power it on, pull up a test image in the preview pane, and look at the color wheel on the shade guide. Real color output shows RGB separation clearly. If it's grayscale or muddy, the color sensor is either disconnected or dead - that's a $2,800 fix or walk away.
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Why buy through TechCosmetic broker?
I can get you sourced, tested, and delivered with recalibration included in 10 business days instead of 6–8 weeks waiting for dealer inventory. That's one less piece of equipment downtime eating into your revenue - roughly $400–$600 per day per operatory depending on your mix.