With a record-breaking 115,000 attendees and almost 2,000 exhibitors, the IDS show in Cologne in March was upbeat and chock full of new products, materials, manufacturing solutions and systems. LMT's Kelly Carr and Jessica Fila attended the five-day show to give you a sneak peek at what's coming down the pike for the U.S. market.
Digital Manufacturing Equipment
The proliferation of digital technologies continued to flourish at the show, with more and more digital manufacturing solutions being introduced, including printing and laser sintering. Another trend: milling units that can dry mill soft chrome cobalt; these units tend to be smaller, have a lower price point and require less maintenance.
Touted as "CAD/CAM On the Go," Wieland's new ZENOTEC mini is a 4-axis, dry milling system that measures approximately 16" by 16.5" by 15", weighs 99 pounds and fits on a benchtop. Ideal for copings, full contour and abutments made in PMMA, wax and zirconia, the unit features six tool positions and an automatic tool length and breakage detection system. It costs between $40,000-45,000, including Wieland 3.2 Advanced CAM software that optimizes nesting and blank management, and will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Noritake Dental Supply launched two affordable, compact Noritake Katana CAD/CAM systems featuring Roland DG Corp. milling units. The DWX-30N is a 4-axis system that mills copings and crowns with undercuts in zirconia and wax; a manual tool change is required. The 5-axis DWX-50N is equipped with an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) and integrated air blower system; mills zirconia, wax and PMMA; and produces copings and crowns without undercuts. Both systems include the Katana SC-3 laser scanner, CAD software, a CAM milling device for zirconia blocks and discs, and Noritake milling materials.
Another compact unit is Schütz Dental's Tizian™ Cut Eco plus milling machine designed especially for small, high-end laboratories. It offers 4-axis milling and can be used to fabricate hybrid abutments, 16-unit bridges, Maryland bridges, veneers and more in zirconia, translucent zirconia, PMMA, wax, acrylic and soft chrome cobalt.
Zirkonzahn introduced its new M3 milling unit, a 3-axis unit that's upgradeable to 4 and 5 axis. Capable of milling 100 units per day, material options include resin, wax, pre-sintered ICE Zirkon Translucent, Prettau Zirconia and sintermetal. The system includes the M3 milling unit; archiving, modeling, nesting and milling software; a personal computer; and a scanner.
The company also introduced new zirconia ovens and two microwave furnaces. Large zirconia cases can be quickly sintered in the Microwave Furnace that keeps the crystal structure of the zirconia compact, giving it higher stability. The second Microwave Furnace with vacuum and protection gas can be flooded with argon for oxygen-free baking, rendering the highly translucent Prettau Zirconia even more translucent.
Branding its comprehensive digital product portfolio as Ceramill Mall, AmannGirrbach officially introduced its Ceramill Map100 and 300 scanners, Ceramill Mind CAD software, Ceramill Motion CAM milling unit, Ceramill Match software and centralized manufacturing services via Ceramill M-Center. The complete system costs approximately $70,000, and the introduction to the U.S. market will occur in stages, starting on the East Coast.
Also generating interest among attendees at the AmannGirrbach booth: Ceramill Neox, a millable chrome cobalt disc in a green state that can be dry milled with the Ceramill Motion in about eight minutes and then sintered with argon gas; and Ceramill Zolid, a monolithic zirconia available in one translucent shade with stains and glazes for characterization.
Two new players in the rapid prototyping market were:
Mlab cusing is a metal laser melting system that can fabricate chrome cobalt copings, bridges and partials. Concept Laser GmbH manufactures the machine; Dentaurum developed the chrome cobalt powder that is layered and welded in 20 micron increments. This open system is capable of working with .stl files from 3Shape or Dental Wings scanners and will be available in the U.S. later this year.
The DLP®-Scanning Manufacturing Units D30 and M120 from Innovation MediTech, a Dreve Co., are 3D printers that feature an LED-based UV-light source rather than a laser (DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments). The clear UV light offers homogeneous power distribution and excellent density in the final product. The units print copings, partials and models from a variety of materials. The company also previewed a printed denture base, although the material is still in development.
Software and Scanner Upgrades
To expand indications and features, several manufacturers introduced updated versions of their impression and model scanners and upgraded software packages. Also launched at the show: a new intraoral impression-taking system.
The new Dental Wings 7 Series scanner, available exclusively in the U.S. from Zahn Dental, scans both models and impressions and features two high-speed cameras; one video-assisted camera for scan preview; five axes; an embedded computer with Dental Wings Open Software (DWOS); Crown & Bridge, Implant Custom Abutment, Virtual Model Builder software modules; and Rapid Prototyping and CAM manufacturing modules. It automatically scans and designs 30 copings in under 15 minutes.
DWOS has also been incorporated into 3M ESPE's upgraded software, Lava Design 7, which offers more advanced full-contour design and access to new modules in the future such as partial framework design. The company also upgraded the Lava Scan ST Scanner so new customers will get the second-generation scanner with Lava Design 7 software; the combined package offers a larger optical scan window for full-arch scanning and faster scanning with nesting of up to 10 units via a multi-die holder.
AmannGirrbach introduced two upgrade modules for its Ceramill Mind CAD software: the Ceramill M-Plant for designing customized abutments that includes the data of hybrid abutments for 13 implant systems and the Ceramill Artex virtual articulator that provides the same range of functions as the actual Artex CR. It also incorporated the Ceramill teeth library, designed by well-known European technician Knut Miller, into the Ceramill Mind CAD software.
Well entrenched in the model and impression scanner market, 3Shape introduced its new digital impression-taking solution, TRIOS®, at the show. Attendees were able to test-drive the open system that offers spray-free scanning, Ultrafast Optical Sectioning technology and a camera developed by 3Shape that takes up to 3,000 photos per second. The unit features an intuitive touchscreen interface and gives the dentist the ability to validate his scans and calculate and apply accurate occlusal alignment of the upper and lower scans. There's no need to hold the scanner at a specific distance or angle for focus; the dentist can rest the scanner on the teeth for support as he scans.
3Shape is distributing TRIOS through a partnership network. Its first partner is Heraeus Kulzer which has worldwide distribution rights and is marketing the system under the name cara Trios. The system will be available at the end of the year.
3Shape also previewed its Dental System™ 2012 due for release later in the year. In keeping with the company's mission, Helping Labs to Help their Dentists, the new-generation system offers opportunities to enhance the dentist-laboratory relationship. For example, 3Shape Communicate™ software is an internet-based tool that allows labs and dentists to exchange and discuss 3D designs. The Model Builder™ allows technicians to design fully functional models and implant models directly from intraoral, physical impression and gypsum scans so labs can produce all models locally, either in-house or through a manufacturing center.
Innovative Materials
Material options for full-contour and monolithic restorations continue to expand, with an emphasis on greater esthetics via more translucent materials and shade options.
Because it's the first polychromatic, lithium disilicate-based ingot for press technology, IPS e.max Press Multi generated a lot of buzz at Ivoclar Vivadent's booth. With a flexural strength of 400 MPa, the ingot is used to fabricate monolithic anterior and posterior crowns and veneers that exhibit a lifelike shade transition from the dentin to the incisal in just one press cycle. Slated to debut later this year, the ingot will come in one size, nine popular A-D shades and one Bleach shade.
Ivoclar Vivadent announced four other new products: IPS e.max Press MO ingot for fabricating custom hybrid abutments, especially in the anterior region; the IPS e.max Press LT ingot for fabricating one-piece, screw-retained hybrid abutment posterior crowns; Colado NC, a nickel-chromium ceramic alloy with a particularly light oxide; and Callisto Implant 33, a palladium-containing ceramic alloy designed for implant superstructures.
To offer a more translucent yttria-stabilized zirconia, DENTSPLY launched Cercon® ht (high translucency). The material has the same flexural strength and long-term stability as DENTSPLY's Cercon base zirconia, which has a 13-year clinical history, but has been modified with a small amount of alumina and a production process that renders the material with a higher degree of translucency. It will launch in the U.S. later this year.
Wieland announced that its Zenostar ZR discs now come in four new presintered translucent shades—intense, light, medium and dark—in addition to the existing pure shade; they enable you to reproduce all 16 VITA classical shades with minimal staining. The discs are ideal for implants because they offer a lower sintering temperature and for fabricating translucent frameworks and monolithic restorations finished with a stain and glaze technique.
During the show, Wieland got the news that its Zenoflex dimension porcelain had received FDA approval. This zirconium dioxide veneering ceramic system offers a variety of materials and technique options—from a simple one-powder, one-layer, one-bake technique to a professional, multilayer buildup—to meet the needs of any ceramist.
VITA released its Vitablocs Mark II 55-mm block, a monochromatic ceramic block for use with its Rapid Layer Technology (a cold-fusing technique) over In-Ceram YZ Zirconia substructures; the new block is an alternative to the company's multi-shaded 55-mm TriLuxe Forte. Another new block: VITA CAD-Temp multiColor disks in 1M2T, 2M2T and 3M2T shades.
The company also expanded the shade and size options of several blocks. The Vitablocs RealLife ceramic block is now available in 3D-Master shades 0M1C, 1M1C and 2M1C for CEREC inLab. Vitablocs TriLuxe and Triluxe forte will soon be available in the 12- and 14-mm sizes in the popular Classical shades A1C, A2C and A3C.
Other VITA announcements included:
The Coloring Liquids for VITA In-Ceram YZ substructures are now available in four different shades (light, medium, intensive and neutral) that enable you to reproduce shades in the VITA 3D-Master system as well as the Vitapan Classical shade systems.
VITA VM 9 porcelain is now matched with the new VITA In-Ceram YZ Coloring Liquids.
The VITA VM 7, VM 9 and VM 13 systems now include five new iridescent Effect Opal porcelains designed to achieve natural light-reflecting properties.
VM13 and VM9 systems now feature new shaded chromatic VITA Sun Dentine modifiers that offer natural shading characteristics with matching opaques.
Available later this year, the new Zycromat 6000MS high-temperature sintering furnace features 50 programs accessible from the vPad Comfort, a large color touchscreen.
Removables and Implants
To meet the growing demand for stable, functional, esthetic removable restorations, several manufacturers introduced new denture teeth, base materials, implant systems and related products.
Heraeus Kulzer launched a new posterior tooth line—Pala Mondial I 5 degree—that's suitable for implants and geriatric prostheses as well as TMJ therapy. With implant applications, the extensive multipoint contacts minimize initial abrasion and the increased basal width and tooth length optimize the coverage of support structures. The line will be available later this year.
For the anterior region, Heraeus introduced four new teeth molds as part of its new Mondial I premium tooth line which offers an increased basal width and volume that enables easy coverage of telescope crowns, tertiary structures and precision elements. Wider and less pointed cuspids form a symmetrical counterpart to composite-veneered crowns resulting in a harmonious overall appearance in combination cases.
The company also previewed two new denture bases: the heat-curing Paladon® Ultra and the cold-curing PalaXpress Ultra. Both materials exceed the required normal values for fracture resistance, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity and can be used to fabricate implant overdentures, combination cases as well as full or partial dentures; they will be available in July.
VITA announced a new anterior tooth assortment based on its classic Vitapan and Vitapan Plus. Suitable for every indication, the teeth feature authentic surface morphology and mamelon structure; balanced opalescence, luminescence and translucency; and natural light reflection properties.
To help dentists sell dentures to their patients, technicians can fabricate a wax try-in with Candulor's new Aesthetic Color Wax Set. The set includes one soft wax, two sculpturing waxes and three ready-mixed color waxes, enabling you to fabricate a natural-looking wax try-in to show the patient the true appearance of the final prosthesis.
Candulor also announced that its new iPad ToothScout HD is now available from the iTunes store (the original ToothScout app is still available for the iPhone and iPod). It's a tool to help select the denture teeth that are appropriate for a specific patient. The dentist uses a caliper to measure the patient's alinasal width and then scrolls through the ToothScout until he finds the tooth shapes with the corresponding measurement. The dentist can order the teeth directly or forward the data to the lab.
Nobel Biocare launched the new generation NobelReplace implant system, which is now available in two versions:
NobelReplace CC combines the tapered NobelReplace implant body with an advanced internal conical connection and built-in platform shifting. The conical connection is designed to preserve the marginal bone by minimizing micro-movements and potential micro-leakage.
NobelReplace PS offers the ease-of-use of the internal tri-channel connection with the benefits of platform shifting. The tri-channel connection provides tactile feedback and delivers optimal stability, and a choice of three positions makes it easy to reposition abutments.
