Back in the past, I used to hate dental materials lectures. It all seemed so irrelevant. I just wanted to know the material worked. I couldn’t get excited about the chemistry. Oh, I remember the important stuff. 

Of the total population worldwide, around 20% is edentulous and even more is partially edentulous.¹ The demand for dental implants is increasing and clinicians will be requiring more dental prosthetics faster. If your lab is looking for opportunities to grow, then meeting this need by expanding with the help of digital dentistry could be the answer.

Great expectations

Dentistry continues to develop and labs, small and large, are required to continually meet the high standards expected by practices and patients, as well as by regulatory bodies such as the FDA². It can be challenging to meet regulatory standards, provide esthetic and reliable restorations, and run a profitable a sustainable business. One way of reconciling these demands is by investing in technology and equipment that can provide a competitive advantage and opportunities for growth.

CAD/CAM milling

Transform your lab with dental CAD/CAM

Through the advancement of dental technology, such as computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), the entire process has been transformed, bringing significant benefits to both practices and labs alike. According to recent literature^3,4 these include:

¾    Improving patient acceptance

¾    Reducing distortion of impression materials

¾    Improving data acquisition, management and storage

¾    Helping to standardize procedures

¾    Improving communication between clinicians and labs

¾    Reducing production time and effort

As a result, dental CAD/CAM tools help enhance efficiency, by saving labs time and creating user-friendly workflows. They also enhance quality, as precision-engineered and manufactured components are designed to reduce risks that may lead to implant failure.⁶ Furthermore, the dental CAD/CAM system can be broken down into several distinct phases, with the possibility of moving between digital and analog workflows at several stages⁵, offering flexibility for the user.  

Speed, accuracy, efficiency and consistency can all be enhanced, allowing high-quality dental devices to be routinely fabricated, bringing new solutions to patients. These improvements are not achievable with conventional methods, requiring cutting-edge processing technologies and systems.3

NobelProcera prosthetics range

Getting started with CAD/CAM systems

Investing in dental CAD software can provide labs with a chance to increase production and keep costs competitive. Getting the right software for your business is necessary for a cost-effective, predictable and accurate outcome. By working closely with a reputable software manufacturer you can get the support you need to create esthetic restorations with fast turnaround times.

Nobel Biocare has recently launched in conjunction with Kavo Kerr the new DTX Studio™ software, which will offer powerful CAD tools with an intuitive interface. It will enable the quick and easy design of the desired restoration, whether tooth- or implant based.

Alternatively, you can outsource the design and production of CAD/CAM prosthetics to NobelProcera Scan and Design Services.  Available for implant bars, abutments and implant crowns, you can save time and avoid investment in equipment and staff training, while providing your customers with precision-fit prosthetics.

NobelProcera Scan and Design Services

With the advancement of digital dentistry, more opportunities are becoming available to labs. We are at a point in the evolution of dental restoration provision which could be as fundamental and inevitable as the progression from a typewriter to a computer.⁵

More to explore

¾     Discover CAD/CAM prosthetics for labs

¾     Related article: The dawn of CAD/CAM restorations

¾     Related article: Your lab can become the prosthetic provider of choice

¾     Related article: Taking the dental laboratory into the future

¹ Source: iData Research. Europe Market Report Suite for Dental Implant Fixtures and Final Abutments. 2017, p. 57. More information on www.idataresearch.com .

² For more information: http://nadl.org/sl_files/487CEA77-5056-A04E-37A0DDED9A8D218E.pdf

3 Miyazaki, T., et al. (2009). A review of dental CAD/CAM: current status and future perspectives from 20 years of experience. Dental Materials Journal, 28 (1), 44-56.

4 Hammerle, C. F., et al. (2015). Digital technologies to support planning, treatment, and fabrication processes and outcome assessments in implant dentistry. Summary and consensus statements. The 4^th EAO consensus conference 2015. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 26, 97-101.

5 Slade, C. A. E. (2017). The role of CAD/CAM in modern dentistry. Practical procedures in aesthetic dentistry. Edited by Banerji, S., Mehta, S. B., & Ho, C. C. K. John Wiley & Sons.

⁶ Hurson, Overcoming implant complications – Authentic, integrated dental implant components, Compendium, July/August 2016, Volume 37, Number 7, pages 2–6.

When placing a composite Class II restoration, one of the key challenges is to achieve excellent adaptation. Dentsply Sirona is addressing this issue with three innovative products designed to work together to provide superior adaptation at every stage of the restorative process:

• Palodent® V3 is a Sectional Matrix System that adapts to the natural contour of the tooth, providing predictable and accurate contacts and a tight marginal seal with minimal flash and fast finishing.
• SDR® Smart Dentine Replacement is a bulk fill composite that fully adapts to the cavity floor and matrix band. Its flowability and self-levelling properties reduce the occurrence of voids and bubbles, lessening the possibility of post-operative sensitivity.
• ceram.x® universal is a nano-ceramic composite used to finish the restoration. It fully adapts to the cavity and the SDR layer beneath it, while simplifying shade matching and finishing, creating long-lasting restorations with excellent aesthetics.

Each of these products alone offers the best in convenience, handling and performance. Used together, they complement each another and provide a complete Class II solution with superior adaptability.

To find out more about Restorative solutions contact Dentsply Sirona on 0800 072 3313 or visit dentsply.com/en-uk

Earn DENTSPLY Rewards £s on all your Restorative solution purchases at dentsplyrewards.co.uk and access free CPD webinars and product demonstrations at dentsplyacademy.co.uk

Facebook: DentsplySirona

Twitter: @DentsplySirona

Ivoclar Digital is the name of a strong and focused new brand developed by Ivoclar Vivadent. It provides dentists and dental technicians with state-of-the-art professional expertise throughout the entire digital process chain. The concept behind the brand will be presented at IDS 2017.

Since the successful introduction of IPS e.max more than ten years ago, Ivoclar Vivadent has significantly developed the company’s expertise in producing materials for the digital manufacture of esthetic dental restorations. Over 100 million restorations have been produced with this material to date, making it the most widely used CAD/CAM materials system in the world. The clinical reliability of the system has been proven many times over. The know-how gained by the company over many years will be integrated into digital dentistry workflows and marketed under the brand name of Ivoclar Digital. Particular emphasis will be placed on ensuring easy and comprehensible processes: selecting materials and designing and producing restorations. The product range will be rounded off by a wide selection of services that will be accessible to dentists and dental technicians. 

Ivoclar Digital will be presented to the public for the first time at IDS 2017. The international dental show will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 21 to 25 March 2017. More information about this cutting-edge brand for dental laboratories and practices can be obtained in Hall 11.3. at stand A20 – D39. Preliminary information is available at www.ivoclardigital.com.

IPS e.max^® is a registered trademark of Ivoclar Vivadent AG.

Caption:

(IvoclarDigital.jpg)

Fig.: Ivoclar Digital: Consolidated digital expertise

________________________________________________

For additional information, please contact:

Ivoclar Vivadent Ltd

Compass Building

Feldspar Close, Enderby

Leicester, LE19 4SD

Phone: +44 (0) 116 284 7880

Fax: +44 (0) 116 284 7881

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.ivoclarvivadent.co.uk

Prestige Dental is delighted to announce that ACTIVA BioActive-Restorative from Pulpdent has received a 98% clinical performance rating from The Dental Advisor One-year Clinical Performance Report.

In summary, the ease of placement, finishing, polishing and final aesthetics of ACTIVA BioActive-Restorative was rated as ‘excellent’.

Speaking about the report, Fred Berk, Vice President of the Pulpdent Corporation, commented: ‘ACTIVA  BioACTIVE products are the most exciting development of a lifetime. They combine the bioactive ionic resin, the rubberised-resin molecule and reactive ionomer glass to mimic the physical and chemical properties of natural teeth. 

They are the first bioactive dental products with the best attributes of composites and glass ionomers but without any of the disadvantages of those materials. They are strong, durable and highly aesthetic, and they release and recharge calcium, phosphate and more fluoride than glass ionomers. They are ‘smart’ materials that respond to the pH cycles in the mouth and provide long-term prevention benefits. My team and I couldn’t be prouder to have these attributes recognised by The Dental Adviser.’
 

Pulpdent ACTIVA BioACTIVE products are available in the UK through Prestige Dental. For further information, please call 01274 721 567 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To create natural-looking and strong restorations in order to achieve the beautiful smile patients desire, you need products that you can rely on.

Filtek Supreme XTE universal restorative from 3M ESPE incorporates enhanced ease of use and clinical performance.[i] Utilising unique nanofiller technology, it achieves the polishability and polish retention typical of a microfill and provides excellent handling, strength and wear properties needed for universal indications.[ii]

Filtek Supreme XTE universal restorative is available in 36 shades and opacities meaning you will always be able to provide a suitable aesthetic match for your patients.[iii] Contact the team at 3M ESPE today to find out how Filtek Supreme XTE universal restorative can benefit your practice.

For more information, call 0845 602 5094 or visit www.3Mespe.co.uk

“Currently, I use Impregum Penta for all my indirect restorations and implant work: it is a superior impression material,” says Dr Adyl Asani, principal dentist at TwentyOne Dental in Hove.

“I have used a variety of other impression materials over the course of my career, though none of these have provided me with the stability, accuracy and level of detail that Impregum has.

“Its ideal flow properties also reproduce the most minor details in my preparations and I avoid drags and airblows. This means I can ensure that the first impression is the last.

“I have no hesitation in recommending Impregum Penta impression material to other practitioners who are looking to provide their patients with the best possible indirect restorations.”

For more information, call 0845 602 5094 or visit www.3Mespe.co.uk

For a restorative that is suitable for everyday dentistry, try Filtek Z500 Universal Restorative from 3M ESPE.

Filtek Z500 has a multitude of benefits including good radiopacity[i] and light stability,[ii] high flexural strength,[iii] and low shrinkage.[iv] All of these factors add up to simple handling and durability, which is essential in the dental setting.

Not only that, Filtek Z500 Universal Restorative is available in eight universal and one opaque shade, so you can create beautiful restorations. The combination of this, along with the excellent polish retention,[v] makes Filtek Z500 your go-to product for aesthetic restorations.  

For a truly universal restorative, try Filtek Z500 from 3M ESPE today.

For more information, call 0845 602 5094 or visit www.3Mespe.co.uk

With SonicFill, Kerr provided clinicians with THE fast and easy composite filling system for posterior restorations.

And now there’s SonicFill 2, which enables clinicians to perform posterior restorations with an easy-to-use, one-step procedure that provides everything you need for reliable bulk filling: the adaptation of a flowable during placement, a high depth-of-cure, low polymerisation shrinkage stress, and the strength and aesthetics you would expect from a posterior restorative.

SonicFill 2’s composite incorporates a highly-filled proprietary resin with special modifiers that react to sonic energy. As sonic energy is applied through the handpiece, the modifier causes the viscosity to drop (up to 84%), increasing the flowability of the composite, enabling quick placement and precise adaptation to the cavity walls. When the sonic energy is stopped, the composite returns to a more viscous, non-slumping state that is perfect for carving and contouring.

The result is:

• No voids, gaps or seams

• Excellent marginal integrity

• Outstanding adaptation to cavity surfaces

• High depth of cure

• Excellent strength, polishability and wear resistance

• Low sensitivity to ambient light.

SonicFill’s technology is unlike any other composite material on the market. To experience why for yourself, please call 01733 892292, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.kerrdental.co.uk.

Kerr’s team knows that direct procedures require multiple technological solutions. That’s why we have created a robust family of universal composites with a variety of different handling characteristics and property values.

Take, for example, Herculite™ XRV Ultra Flow, a medium viscosity light cure nanohybrid resin restorative that combines the long-standing expertise of the Herculite brand with an innovative flowable composite.

Formulated with Kerr’s rheological expertise, Herculite XRV Ultra Flow, thanks to its Smart Placement Technology, is able to flow easily when used as a base/liner and maintain its shape when used in small restorations.

Other features include:

• Outstanding flexural strength

• Low shrinkage

• Easy polishability

• Excellent gloss retention.

The Herculite XRV Ultra range offers the best of both worlds – strength and aesthetics – to give you long-lasting, beautiful restorations.

For further information, please call 01733 892292, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.kerrdental.co.uk.

Dr Darshak Amin from Dentistree @ Horley has been referring implant patients to Ten Dental for approximately seven years: “The team at Ten Dental are always prompt, professional and provide correspondence every step of the way.

“Patients continue to be impressed with the service they receive at Ten Dental and feel reassured that their own dentist is involved in the treatment.

“Martin Wanendeya and Nik Sisodia at Ten Dental have a vast amount of experience in their speciality fields, especially implants, which means that I know my patients will be treated professionally, in a caring environment and to a world-class standard. In short, it gives me the piece of mind that my patients will receive the best care possible.”

Contact the knowledgeable team today to find out more about the comprehensive and personable implant referral service Ten Dental can offer your patients.

For more information about Ten Dental and The Implant Restoration Course visit Facebook/Implant Restoration Course-IRC, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit www.implant-restoration.com or call 020 7622 7610

Dr Prash Patel from Beech Lane Dental has been working with Ten Dental and in particular Nik Sisodia for about five years. Commenting on his association with the Ten Dental team, Dr Patel said:

“They are absolutely fantastic. Nik is approachable, extremely professional and great with the patients. His help and advice on placing implants and restoration has been invaluable.

“Nik comes directly to the practice and has an innate ability to know how much to push me so that I continue to improve, and he always has time for my questions. I would feel comfortable and confident referring any of my patients to Ten Dental, as they always put the patient first and their communication is excellent.

“Our patients have all been extremely happy with the results and the service they receive. Nik is highly qualified and very relaxed with the patients, which has a positive effect on their experience.”

For more information about Ten Dental and The Implant Restoration Course visit Facebook/Implant Restoration Course-IRC, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit www.implant-restoration.com or call 020 7622 7610

Carl Zeiss’ expertly-crafted range of loupes, exclusively available in the UK from Nuview, offer high quality optics that allow for clearer visualisation and enhanced clinical results.

Dr Andrew Bolam is an associate dentist at Bancroft Dentistry in Hitchin, he uses the EyeMag Pro F loupes in his practice and says:

“The loupes have been fantastic. Before buying them I tested all the available options and definitely thought that these were the best in the field. For quality of magnification they were far superior to all the other loupes I tried.

 “The benefits are incredible. I didn't initially use them for examinations, primarily for restorative treatment; but now I use them for everything. You can see so much more and the quality of my work is definitely improving.

“I would certainly recommend Nuview and the Carl Zeiss EyeMag Pro F loupes to other practitioners.”

For more information please call Nuview on 01453 872266,

email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.nuview.co

New and improved Maxcem Elite™, a self-etch, self-adhesive resin cement for indirect restorations, is simplicity refined, offering you the best in class adhesion when compared to other leading self-adhesive cements.

It is also easy to clean up, with no hand mixing and no refrigeration required. For convenience, intraoral and root canal tips allow the material to be easily dispensed in hard-to-reach areas.

Maxcem Elite in automixing syringes also offers:

• Easy handling

• Simple procedures

• High bond strength and efficiency

• Universal application.

In addition, the material’s optimised resin matrix and filler systems improve wettability, resulting in greater adhesion and allowing for immediate light curing and better shelf-life stability.

Also worthy of note is that its proprietary redox initiator system eliminates the inherent discolouration of benzoyl peroxide /tertiary amine initiator systems for a more aesthetic restoration.

For further information, please call 01733 892292, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.kerrdental.co.uk.

Rapidly produced products are often poor quality. If we take the example of fast food, this is widely accepted – you will not find ‘Superfood’ in your fried chicken bucket, but a meal delivered within seconds, saving you hours of toil in the kitchen. Convenience versus excellence is often the trade off for speedy delivery. But is this an exchange we’re still happy with in the 21^st Century?

Today, convenience and immediacy are ever more in demand but with less room to compromise on quality. For example, the first digital cameras produced low resolution, poor quality images that couldn’t compete with the detail and pin sharp quality of conventional film/transparencies. However, in recent times the developmental explosion in digital photography embraced the modern age and replaced conventional, film photography. Not only are there cameras available that generate pictures in enormous file sizes (such as 36 megapixels), they can also integrate High Definition video functions (gaining popularity over conventional ‘stills’ photography) and even allow you to adjust the focus after the picture has been taken.

Today, the speed of digital photography is taken for granted. Formerly, with conventional film cameras, an initial camera click led to processing, printing and perhaps retouching – commonly taking up to a week. Nowadays, digital photography is instantly downloaded, manipulated in Photoshop and then emailed or shared via an internet platform. It’s now so commonplace that we forget how time consuming this whole process used to be. Without digital images, we would have a very different world – no Instagram, Snapchat, or pictures on Facebook or Twitter!

Similarly, restorative dentistry has made enormous strides in technology, but these innovations have been married with remarkable improvements in quality. Digital intraoral scanning, CAD/CAM and 3D capabilities have improved the patient experience enormously. A comparative study conducted by Bio Med Central in 2014, tested conventional and digital techniques with the same patients – 100% preferred the digital option, from the perspectives of comfort through to the amount of time spent in the dentist’s chair.[i] Today, using the combination of intra oral scanning, CAD/CAM and 3D printing, technicians can produce a wide range of bespoke models and orthodontic appliances, constituting failsafe precision.

The CS 9300 CBCT and panoramic imaging system from Carestream Dental offers both rapid and faultless restorative dentistry. There are 7 fields of view enabling clinicians to meet patients’ diagnostic needs with impressive detail, and two low radiation dose options that give exposure control by both the adjustable field of vision and rapid scanning functions. Available on its own or as part of the fully integrated digital system, the CS 9300 system offers streamlined workflows, increased productivity, patient security and satisfaction. Let technology save you the precious time needed to fully focus on your patients.

For more information please contact the experts at Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

Mr Matthew Garnett is a specialist Periodontist and Prosthodontist and works as a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at Newcastle Dental Hospital; he uses Carl Zeiss EyeMag Pro F loupes with a Feather Light LED and is delighted with the enhanced visualisation they provide.

“Having routinely utilised loupes for in excess of 10 years, I have been well aware of the visual and postural benefits that can be achieved; however that being said, I have recently invested in the EyeMag Pro F loupes, and the optical clarity of the prismatic lenses and greater magnification is outstanding and has far surpassed my expectations. I have greater vision with a clear and wide field of view and excellent illumination is offered by way of the Feather light LED. All of these features facilitate the way I undertake all of my periodontal plastic surgery in addition to my general operative dentistry.

“There is no reason not to use the loupes, the weight is compatible with comfort and you can use them all day and not feel any added pressure. As well as this, the charge on the battery for the Feather Light is more than sufficient for a full days clinical work.”

Carl Zeiss magnification systems are exclusively available in the UK from Nuview, contact the team today to see how your daily practice could benefit from the enhanced visualisation on offer.

For more information please call Nuview on 01453 872266,

email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.nuview.co

Dr Senthan Perinparajah from Smiles Dental Epsom has been particularly impressed with the in-depth and comprehensive nature of the Implant Restoration Course run by the experts at Ten Dental:

“I attended the first course in 2013 with the aim of improving my skill set and providing an additional service to my patients.

“It was fantastic and the tutoring knowledge of Dr Nik Sisodia and Dr Martin Wanendeya was excellent. They provided me with a comprehensive foundation to implant restoration, and through the hands-on elements of the course I am much more confident in placing implant restorations.

“The intimate, almost one-to-one training provided by Nik and Martin allowed me to clarify any queries that I had, and I now have an increased understanding of how to restore more extensive complex cases.

“Offering implant restorations in the practice has added more value to the patient care we are able to provide, as being their referring dentist I have been involved with their treatment from beginning to end.”

For more information about Ten Dental and The Implant Restoration Course visit Facebook/Implant Restoration Course-IRC, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit www.implant-restoration.com or call 020 7622 7610

Dr Adyl Asani, principal dentist at TwentyOne Dental Clinic in Hove, has been using Impregum Impression Materials from 3M ESPE for over 15 years. “As far as I am concerned, it is the most superior impression material on the market,” he says. “I use it for all my indirect restorations and implant work.

“Currently, I am using Impregum Penta because I feel it reproduces the detail I need in my indirect preparations most accurately. Of course, I have used a variety of other impression materials over the course of my career, though none have provided me with the stability, accuracy and level of detail that Impregum has.

“It has ideal flow properties which means I can ensure the first impression I take is the only one I need. The flowability reproduces even the most minor details and the hydrophilic properties exhibited by Impregum guarantee excellent accuracy every time. In addition, I don’t experience drags or airblows in my impressions.”

Dr Asani uses the Pentamix Automatic Mixing Unit from 3M ESPE to ensure an efficient process. “It allows ease of mixing and handling,” he says. “Messy hand-mixing is now something from a bygone age.

“While the setting time of the Impregum is slightly longer than others, my patients readily accept that if I am to give them extremely accurate and stable restorations, a couple of extra minutes in their mouth is insignificant.

“I would have no hesitation in recommending Impregum to other practitioners if they are looking to provide their patients with the best possible accuracy and marginal fit of their indirect restorations.”

Discover the qualities of Impregum Penta Impression Material and the Pentamix Automatic Mixing Unit from 3M ESPE for yourself today.

For more information, call 0845 602 5094 or visit www.3Mespe.co.uk