INTRODUCTION: An orthodontic or diagnostic setup consists in cutting and realigning the teeth in plaster models, making it an important resource in orthodontic treatment planning. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide a detailed description of a technique to build an orthodontic setup model and a method to evaluate it. CONCLUSIONS: Although laborious, orthodontic setup procedure and analysis can provide important information such as the need for dental extractions, interproximal stripping, anchorage system, among others.