Sante DICOM Viewer Lite

Sante DICOM Viewer Lite is a free 2D/3D DICOM viewer from Santesoft for Windows and macOS. Dentists, radiology staff, students and patients use it to open CT and CBCT scans, X-ray studies and patient CDs without installing the vendor software that produced them. It reads DICOM files of all modalities, so a CBCT export from any scanner can be scrolled, measured and compared in one place.

Santesoft sells a paid Sante DICOM Viewer Pro (and Sante DICOM Viewer Mac) with extra tools such as anonymising, DICOM editing and patient CD/DVD burning. Pro is shareware (conditionally free): a free demo version is available. The Lite edition is completely free, and its licence explicitly allows installation on any number of computers by anyone. This page covers the free Sante DICOM Viewer download first and explains when Pro is worth it.

Sante DICOM Viewer at a glance

What it does

• Opens DICOM files of all modalities and manufacturers from folders, CDs and DVDs, with a built-in local database (SQLite).
• Orthogonal multi-planar reconstruction (MPR): axial, coronal and sagittal views of a CT or CBCT volume.
• 3D models on Windows by isosurface, volume rendering (transfer function) and maximum intensity projection (MIP).
• Measurements: distance, angle, Cobb angle, polyline, area and volume, plus ROI statistics (mean, min, max, standard deviation, area, volume).
• Side-by-side comparison of studies and series, and dual monitor support.
• PACS client with the standard DICOM network services (C-FIND, C-MOVE, C-STORE, C-GET, C-ECHO).
• Batch conversion of DICOM images to JPEG, TIFF, BMP or PNG, and export of DICOM headers to text.
• Pro only: anonymising, DICOM file editing, DICOM printing, attaching PDF reports, and burning patient CD/DVDs that include a free viewer for Windows and macOS.

How dental teams use it

Opening a CBCT scan from another practice

1. Copy the DICOM folder or insert the disc, then use File > Open DICOM CD/DVD (or open the folder).
2. Switch to MPR to scroll axial, coronal and sagittal slices of the jaws.
3. Adjust window and level to separate bone from soft tissue, and zoom into the region of interest.

Quick linear checks

Use the distance tool on a cross-section to check the height and width of bone at a planned site, or the angle tool on a cephalometric image. Measurements use the pixel spacing stored in the DICOM file. For implant planning with an implant library and surgical guides, use dedicated dental planning software; Sante has no panoramic curve or implant library.

Showing the patient a 3D view

On Windows, build a volume-rendered or isosurface 3D model from the CBCT to show jaw anatomy or an impacted tooth chairside. Large volumes need more RAM, so use the half-scale 3D option on older PCs.

Sharing cases for teaching (Pro)

Anonymise the study in Pro before using it in a lecture or sending it to a colleague, or burn a patient disc that carries its own free viewer.

Install and first run

• Windows: run the 64-bit installer. Santesoft lists Windows 11/10 (64-bit) or Windows Server 2016–2025, an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor or better, 8 GB RAM (16 GB for large ultrasound files) and 100 MB of disk space.
• macOS: Sante DICOM Viewer Lite for macOS is a separate product with its own version numbers. It is a universal binary, so it runs natively on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs without Rosetta 2.
• Patient CDs: after installing, choose File > Open DICOM CD/DVD rather than browsing individual files, so the program reads the disc index.
• Pro demo: the demo of Pro runs without feature restrictions for a limited period, and then needs a licence.
• Gotcha: old 32-bit Windows is only served by an archived older Pro build; current versions are 64-bit only.

Limitations

• It is a general DICOM viewer, not dental planning software: there is no panoramic reconstruction along the arch, no nerve tracing, no implant library and no surgical guide design.
• 3D rendering is listed for the Windows editions. The macOS Lite feature list focuses on 2D review, MPR and measurements.
• Lite cannot anonymise, edit DICOM tags or burn patient discs; those need Pro or Sante DICOM Viewer Mac.
• Santesoft’s pages do not state FDA or CE clearance for the viewers, so check local rules before relying on it for primary diagnosis.
• No Linux version.

Sante DICOM Viewer vs alternatives

FAQ

Is Sante DICOM Viewer free?

Sante DICOM Viewer Lite is free for everyone, on any number of computers. Sante DICOM Viewer Pro and Sante DICOM Viewer Mac are paid programs with a free demo, so they are shareware (conditionally free).

What is the difference between Sante DICOM Viewer Lite and Pro?

Pro adds CD/DVD creation, disc robot support, anonymising, DICOM editing, DICOM printing, command-line switches, PDF report attachment and priority support. Viewing, MPR, 3D and measurements are in both.

Is there Sante DICOM Viewer for Mac?

Yes. There is a free Sante DICOM Viewer Lite for macOS and a paid Sante DICOM Viewer Mac. Both run natively on Apple Silicon.

Where do I get the Sante DICOM Viewer Lite download?

The free Windows installer is 64-bit. Documentation, version history and updates are published on santesoft.com.

What happened to Sante DICOM Viewer 3D Pro?

Santesoft’s current product list does not include a separate “3D Pro”. 3D rendering is part of the current Windows Lite and Pro viewers.

Can it open dental CBCT scans?

Yes, if the scanner exports standard DICOM. You get MPR slices, measurements and 3D rendering, but not dental-specific panoramic or implant tools.

Last checked against official sources: 28 September 2026 (developer website: santesoft.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.