RealGUIDE on iPad and in the Cloud: How It Differs from exoplan
RealGUIDE on iPad and cloud planning use the same guided implant engine as the desktop version, but with a different logic for accessing data. While exoplan lives locally on the workstation, RealGUIDE is built around a "tablet + cloud" pairing: the project opens on an iPad, syncs through the service, and is available to any team member. Below we break down how RealGUIDE cloud planning really differs from the familiar desktop workflow and what that changes in day-to-day work.
RealGUIDE on iPad: What the Mobile Version Can Do
The RealGUIDE mobile app runs on iPad and lets you open a project, view CBCT slices, the panorama, and the 3D reconstruction, plus make a basic assessment of implant position. That's handy for a chairside consultation with the patient or for a quick look at a plan sent by a colleague, without firing up a full workstation.
It's important to understand the limits: the iPad version is strong as a tool for viewing and communication, while complex segmentation, precise implant placement, and the final surgical guide design are more often finished on the desktop or web version. The tablet covers mobility and presentation well, but it doesn't replace a full design workstation.
- viewing DICOM, slices, and the 3D model on the go
- showing the plan to the patient right at the chair
- quickly checking a project you were sent without a PC
- annotations and team discussion in one file
RealGUIDE cloud planning: Cloud Storage and Shared Access
The cloud side is the heart of the system. The project is uploaded to the service, and from there it's worked on from different places: the surgeon plans the position, the dental technician prepares the prosthetic part, and the dental lab pulls the data to print the guide. There's no need to send heavy archives by hand — everyone sees the current version.
This cloud-workflow removes the tie to a single computer and simplifies team cases, especially All-on-4/All-on-6, where several specialists work on the plan at once. The flip side is dependence on the internet and on how medical data storage is organized: that's worth talking through from a patient privacy standpoint.
How the RealGUIDE Workflow Differs from Desktop exoplan
At the level of planning steps, both products do the same thing: import the CBCT and scan, alignment (matching), implant placement, sleeve selection, and guide generation. The difference is in the architecture and in how you get there.
exoplan is part of the exocad ecosystem, tightly linked to DentalCAD: the implant plan flows straight into the design of a crown or bridge on a single workstation. RealGUIDE is an open platform with an emphasis on the cloud and multi-device use, where the entry points (iPad, web, desktop) are equivalent. If you already have an exocad pipeline built, exoplan gives a seamless transition to prosthetics; if your team is distributed, RealGUIDE wins on shared access.
We've already covered a detailed comparison of guided surgery engines separately; here the focus is specifically on how the iPad and cloud change not the tools, but the scenario for working with them.
- exoplan: local project, tight link with DentalCAD
- RealGUIDE: cloud project, access from iPad and the browser
- exoplan: one operator at the workstation
- RealGUIDE: several participants on one file
Which Implant Libraries Are Available in RealGUIDE
RealGUIDE is an open system, so it has separate sets of manufacturer libraries that don't directly overlap with the exoplan versions of the same brands. The DentalLibs catalog for RealGUIDE has around 187 libraries: these are components for planning implant position, selecting sleeves, and preparing the surgical guide.
Among the popular sets are Straumann for RealGUIDE, Nobel Biocare, and Dentsply Sirona — the same brands as on the desktop, but in a format RealGUIDE understands natively. There are also Korean systems, such as Osstem, plus individual prosthetic components like Dentium MU for multi-unit solutions.
When to Choose iPad and the Cloud, and When to Choose Desktop
If the main value is mobility, presenting the plan to the patient, and collaborative work by a distributed team, the iPad + RealGUIDE cloud pairing covers this better than local exoplan. The tablet keeps the project on hand, and the cloud removes the archive shuffle.
But if you have a single workstation, a stable offline pipeline, and you already design prosthetics in exocad, desktop exoplan remains the more cohesive solution: the implant plan and the crown design live in one ecosystem without exports between services. Many labs end up keeping both tools and choosing per case — with an eye on which libraries are needed and where they're already installed.
Sets for both RealGUIDE and exoplan can be found in the DentalLibs catalog, filtered by implant brand and task type — planning or surgical guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About RealGUIDE on iPad and in the Cloud
Can you fully plan an implant case on iPad in RealGUIDE?
The iPad version is strong for viewing, communication, and basic position assessment. Complex segmentation and the final guide design are usually finished on the desktop or web version.
Do you need internet to work in RealGUIDE cloud?
Yes, the cloud workflow is built on syncing the project through the service, so a stable connection is essential for uploading, access, and collaboration.
Do exoplan libraries work for RealGUIDE?
No. These are different formats. RealGUIDE needs sets built specifically for this system; in the catalog they're placed in a separate section.
What to choose for team cases — RealGUIDE or exoplan?
For a distributed team and shared access, cloud RealGUIDE is more convenient. For a single workstation with prosthetics in exocad, desktop exoplan makes more sense.