Dental Lab Products-2011-01-01

CAD/CAM has been a topic of discussion in the dental lab business for a number of years now, and there are numerous opinions about it-examples of many appear in this issue of DLP. Now that we have you thinking about CAD/CAM, I figure this is a good opportunity to get my 2 cents worth out there too.

Root retained overdentures are a clinical and technical treatment option, which should be considered as part of removable prosthodontic treatment. All prosthodontic treatment is dictated by biology with a goal to maintain, not destroy, these biologic considerations. One major biologic consideration is the periodontal ligament that surrounds the roots of each tooth.

Many labs are involved in a digital workflow in one way or another. Those involved most likely agree that digital is undoubtedly the future of our industry. From hardware such as scanners and mills in our labs, to the digital acquisition of impressions from chairside scanners in dental practices, we are transitioning away from the old school and experiencing the advantages these technologies offer.

The Lab Drake Dental Laboratory, based in Charlotte, N.C. staffs 64 dental technicians and works with more than 600 dental practices nationwide. The Product

01 Earlier you introduced the “Straumann CARES® Digital Solutions” concept. What falls under this umbrella? Straumann CARES® Digital Solutions are integrated technologies that connect dental professionals across disciplines-general dentists, specialists and dental laboratories. They include state-of-the-art computer-guided surgery, the integration of Straumann CADCAM with Cadent’s iTero® Digital Impression System, and CAD/CAM prosthetics. 02 Why was a project of this magnitude a priority?

February 2011 | dentalproductsreport.com Cover products on the COVER   Non-drip gel desensitizer with optimal handling February 2011 | dentalproductsreport.com Cover products on the COVER  

This month our feature story presented a “chorus” of voices offering a range of views and perspectives on CAD/CAM technology, digital dentistry and the way computerized and robotic processes are changing the dental lab industry. The voices in that article may have differed in their opinions about the technology, but the one thing everyone seemed to agree on was that CAD/CAM technology is here and has already begun to change the dental laboratory industry in numerous ways.

Gold or porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns traditionally have been considered the “go to” choice when strength and long-term function are needed from a restoration that can be fabricated predictably and easily.