Ryan Hamm is the former Editorial Director for Dental Products Report and Digital Esthetics.

Ryan Hamm

	Over the past 12 months, the dental lab world has gone through many changes-some good, others much harder. 2014 was a year of accelerated technological growth, providing labs with opportunities that didn’t exist only a few years ago, while also presenting them with competition and challenges that were similarly unthinkable relatively recently.

, I’m given the unique opportunity each year to take a “bird’s eye” view of the industry as I see it, and give you a snapshot of the trends I’m noticing throughout the lab industry. I think there are some places labs will need to innovate and shift their mindsets. But mostly, I’m excited that there are real opportunities to succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing marketplace. Here’s what I’ve seen in the last year, and how I think it will affect labs heading into 2015:

1. The gap between practice and lab grew even smaller

In 2014, the line between lab and dental practice continued to grow fuzzier and fuzzier. Dentists are increasingly adopting an in-office model for simple crowns, or in some cases, even 

 they’re investing in. Meanwhile, dental technicians are increasingly working directly with clinicians to provide patient-specific and high-quality restorations. That kind of cooperative brain share can seem scary to technicians who worry about being replaced by machines-but in fact, it provides an opportunity to increase  your expertise by coming alongside a dentist to make suggestions (using your esthetic and material knowledge), to bring your talents to more artistic cases and to create amazing results for every patient.

Related: Using digital technology to counter business threats

2. Labs of every size realized they could handle more case types than they thought

From one-person labs to 50-person behemoths, in 2014 it became more and more apparent that the possibilities are nearly endless for any type of lab. No more does one lab have to be content with a specific specialty if they feel it would help to expand their offerings. Affordable CAD/CAM systems have put digital dentistry in the grasp of many smaller labs, and even those who can’t justify an entire system purchase can still 

. Additionally, we see some of the giants of the industry, like 

 (just to name a few), working together like never before, making the expensive hardware these companies sell actually “talk” to each other, so one investment can open a door to multiple capabilities. Finally, we see the material science progressing to such an extent that solutions of many types are within reach.

3. 3D printing continued to march forward

This year, 3D printing continued its march toward revolutionizing the dental lab world. From 

 that can produce wax-ups in minutes, to printing materials that are 

, to 3D printers that can produce entire wax frameworks, 3D printing took a leap forward this year, and seems primed to continue to improve efficiency and abilities for labs of every size.

FREE webinar: Learn the REAL value of 3D Printing.

 started to be more than a marketing slogan

Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen the idea of model-less crowns go from a strange exception to something that seems not very out of the ordinary, and we’ve watched as dental practices have finally started to catch up with dental labs in adoption of digital tools as they’ve increased their intraoral scanner adoption. With trends like these, the idea of “all-digital” has gone from a distant dream talked about at trade shows to something that impacts the benchtop each and every day.

While digital dentistry may be the thing on everyone’s mind, 2014 also proved that computers can’t do the job on their own. They require the skilled mind and creative hands of a dental technician to produce restorations to the highest potential. A milled crown is only as good as the tech who designed it, and the esthetics of a zirconia bridge are dependent on the staining skills of the dental technician. In short, this year proved that creativity and skill are qualities that will never go out of style.

Photo: Hocus Focus Studio / Getty Images

Articles

 Over the past 12 months, the dental lab world has gone through many changes-some good, others much harder. 2014 was a year of accelerated technological growth, providing labs with opportunities that didn’t exist only a few years ago, while also presenting them with competition and challenges that were similarly unthinkable relatively recently.

The Top 5 dental lab trends of 2014

	February is here again, which means it's time to think about all the big lab and dental shows coming up in Chicago! In a span of only three days, the Windy City will play host to the 

To help you prepare and plan your trip to Chicago this year, the DLP editorial team put together our annual guide to the shows happening around town. It initially appeared in our February 2015 issue, but this year, we wanted to make the digital version something special. Toward that end, not only will you find the breakdown of all the different company offerings that will be in Chicago in late February, but you'll also find a daily schedule comprised of events, presentations, seminars and hands-on experiences at each one of the four shows. 

Just click the button to the right to download a free PDF guide to all the Chicago events. You can view the PDF on your browser, or put it on a tablet computer to take it to go. We hope you'll find it useful and it helps make this year's Chicago shows the best ones yet for you and your lab!

Check out the Chicago Midwinter products to see from our sister mag DPR

 February is here again, which means it's time to think about all the big lab and dental shows coming up in Chicago! In a span of only three days, the Windy City will play host to the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, LMT Lab Day Chicago, the Spectrum Dialogue Techno-Clinical Day and Cal-Lab. 

The 2015 DLP guide to Chicago

	Just because your lab has made the transition to digital technology doesn't mean all of your clients have.

 can help save your lab time and money while also providing some benefits to lab-dentist communication and overall patient satisfaction. 

Labs have adopted digital technology at a much faster pace than many clinicians. While it’s not unusual for even a two-person lab to have 

 components, it’s still not a sure thing that a dentist will have an intraoral scanner. Perhaps a good way to help your dental clients take that leap in 2015 is to let them know you’re ready whenever they are. Let them know you’re prepared to 

as soon as they send them to you and help educate them on the advantages of going digital.

Read More: The top 6 benefits of a model-less workflow

Educate yourself and your team so there isn’t a learning curve when your dentist begins to send digital files. Don’t make clinicians jump through a bunch of hoops just to get great work done-do the legwork ahead of time so they’ll be confident in your ability to do great work, right away.

3. Blow them away with what you can offer.

By now, you’re aware of what your lab can produce 

. Use that knowledge to offer competitive prices and quick turnaround times so your clients will know going digital is a great choice for them. Plus, it helps you do more work in less time.

Related: How you can use digital technology to counter business threats

With fewer physical models and faster turnaround, sometimes the (unfair) expectation is that digital processes cannot match traditional methods in quality. Help your dental clients understand that digital workflows can produce correct margins and excellent fit and help them see how your commitment to quality hasn’t changed-only the tools you use to get there.

Let your dental clients know the fully digital workflow will let you both communicate like never before. You’ll be able to take screenshots of cases and send them to each other, post instant feedback that the clinician can access from his or her smartphone and more. It’s a brand new world, and your clients will want to be a part of that.

This article originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of 

. For more great articles like this every month, 

 Just because your lab has made the transition to digital technology doesn't mean all of your clients have.

The List: Top 5 ways to help your clients go digital

Vident has long been a name well-known to dental labs. But recently, Vident changed their name to make their relationship with VITA more apparent: the company is now called VITA North America.

We recently spoke with VITA North America Fred Ketcho about his company's recent changes, what they mean for the lab market and what VITA has planned in the coming year.

1. You’ve recently changed your name to VITA North America. What was the impetus behind that change?

Since 1984, our core business has been focused on the distribution of VITA products to dental laboratories and clinicians across North America. In the past, we have supplemented our VITA offerings with accessories and ancillary products. However, these add-on products served to dilute our efforts. We have been refocusing for several years now and decided it was time to go “all in” and change the company name to VITA North America. The name change is our most visible way of renewing our promise to the dental industry that VITA products and top-notch technical support are now, and always will be, what we do best.

2. What does more closely tying yourself to the VITA name do for the company?

The brand awareness and equity of the VITA name is exceptionally high. Saying “VITA” to virtually any dentist or technician in the world elicits instant recognition. VITA is 90 years old now, and all this time the name has represented quality and esthetics in dentistry. To not recognize that brand and consolidate our future behind it would be a big mistake.

3. How does this name change mirror the business strategy Vident has always had?

We focus on technical proficiency and education combined with excellent customer support. We also add value through exceptional service and programs for large labs, small labs and clinicians. It seems simple, but it can be very hard, particularly in an industry where sometimes the cheapest product gets the most attention. Aligning ourselves with VITA through this name change reinforces our strategy of continuing to provide superior customer and technical support.

4. What kind of changes or innovations will this enable VITA North America to make that might not have been as possible before?

The change removes the confusion we’ve propagated in the marketplace for some time. Dentists know us as “VITA” and labs know us as “Vident.” Can you imagine setting up a trade show or designing a magazine ad and having to determine which logo to use? We’ve had to do this for 30 years. Is that customer-centric? Of course not. When I joined the company, I brought a more customer-centric attitude, and this change will present a unified vision to our internal team that will then translate into more effort and time spent on customer-facing efforts.

5. You’re also moving your headquarters. What is the driving force behind that change?

In November, we’re moving our Orange County, Cali., corporate office from Brea to Yorba Linda, the city immediately to the east. The new office is in a med tech complex which more closely aligns us with our industry and offers a much better business environment. The building features state-of-the-art renovations across the board and a more modern clinical look. We’re designing the inside to foster a collaborative and productive work environment for both our colleagues and our customers; the building will also include a new, high-tech CAD/CAM lab.

6. What does the move do for VITA North America as a company?

It will allow us to present a more modern facility to course participants and have a more clinically professional appearance. The layout and flow of the facility also promotes a more collaborative and productive work environment.

7. With all of this change, what can customers expect from you?

I anticipate shorter hold times as a result of a new phone system, a better classroom environment with upgraded benches and faster technical support from our lab team. We always strive for fast, professional customer service, and although our research shows we rank high in this regard with our customers, I believe there will be an even higher rate of satisfaction after the name change and move to our new office.

8. How do these changes better equip VITA North America to serve labs all over the country?

We are rolling out an initiative to help our lab partners successfully grow in the CAD/CAM arena, centered around VITA Enamic. The program is focused on a business proposition that will help labs differentiate themselves in the marketplace with materials that most mimic natural dentition. Our new dedicated CAD/CAM lab will support the certification program. We will also have a milling room that allows for expansion as new systems come to market, allowing us to remain on the cutting edge.

9. What product is VITA North America most excited about for 2014 and heading into 2015?

Our VITA Enamic hybrid ceramic material has proven exceptionally popular with CEREC dentists, and we intend to launch it to dental labs. We will also be introducing universal mandrel CAD/CAM blocks and disk materials that will allow Enamic and our Mark II feldspathic material to be milled in most systems.

10. What else can we expect from VITA North America in the coming months? 

We are also in the process of putting the finishing touches on a CAD/CAM certification program that will allow us to present a milling material solution to labs that combines our products with excellent training, service and support.

 Vident has long been a name well-known to dental labs. But recently, Vident changed their name to make their relationship with VITA more apparent: the company is now called VITA North America.

How Vident's change to VITA North America benefits labs

 has a solution for labs looking to improve how they fire restorations: Perfect Pegs are ceramic firing pegs said to improve efficiency and stability.

Perfect Pegs are designed to hold crowns and bridges in place in a porcelain furnace. Engineered to provide stability and allow for close placement, Perfect Pegs are reportedly excellent for use with IPS e.max (Ivoclar Vivadent) and zirconia restorations.

"I have used Perfect Pegs for over two years now," says Kevin Morris, CDT  They are the most durable pegs I have ever used. Perfect Pegs also work great with 

Excellent for use with a variety of materials, including e.max and zirconia

Allow close placement for crowns and bridges

Provide stability when firing restorations

Come in three different shapes, for small anteriors/bicuspids, for small molars and for large molars/large bicuspids. The pegs also come in an assortment set of 12.

 Dental Creations has a solution for labs looking to improve how they fire restorations: Perfect Pegs are ceramic firing pegs said to improve efficiency and stability.

Dental Creations' Perfect Pegs said to improve furnace firing efficiency and stability

Vision USA has introduced Vision Universal Glaze Paste. 

 can be used with ALL porcelain system, including IPS e.max and zirconia.

Glazed porcelain is said to provide a smooth and dense surface, and studies have shown that glazed porcelain restorations maintain better color stability.

Related: Vision USA's electronic magnifier said to make detail work much easier

Deluxe Dental Lab in Reading, Penn., says they use Vision Universal Glaze paste and have been pleased with the results: “We are using the Vision USA Universal Glaze Paste for full contour zirconia. It takes fewer coats for a nice shine. Plus it's less expensive!"

Vision Universal Glaze Paste is delivered ready-to-use. Before use, simply mix well with a spatula and then glaze and fire as usual. The glaze can be used for all systems including non-Vision USA systems.

How these LED inspection magnifiers can improve your restorative work

Vision Universal Glaze Paste is available in a five-gram package for $29.95.

 Vision USA has introduced Vision Universal Glaze Paste. Vision Universal Glaze Paste can be used with ALL porcelain system, including IPS e.max and zirconia.

Vision USA's new glaze paste makes all porcelain systems shine

Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology

 (The Foundation or FDLT) has announced several ways for dental labs to gain financial assistance to continuing education programs.

The stated purpose of The Foundation is “to advance the profession of dental laboratory technology by developing educational curriculum and programs that will be relevant and accessible to dental technicians and other members of the dental team.” The FDLT is currently accepting applications to the 

, which provides $2,500 to a dental technician looking to seek continuing education from an approved program. Applications for the Fulcrum Grant are due on November 15, 2014.

Related article: Easy ways to continue your education.

Lab technicians who are active Recognized Graduates or Certified Dental Technicians through the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology can also consider the 2015 Kois Center Education Grant, which will provide access to a Biomechanics course at the Kois Center, a $9,995 value.

The NADL reports on the state of the dental lab industry:

The Foundation has also announced the nine winners of the 2014 Pillar Scholarship. The nine winners are:

Odena Chinchilla Serrano - San Gabriel, CA

Don't miss: How to take your lab from traditional to digital the RIGHT way

According to a press release, the scholarship is awarded based on education, certification, employment and volunteer work. Dental technicians can apply to obtain their Certified Dental Technician (CDT) certification and CDTs can apply to gain additional specialties through the scholarship.

National Association of Dental Laboratories

 (NADL), offers the Pillar Scholarship to support educated or trained dental technicians who are working toward certification through the CDT program by the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC). Over the last three years NADL and the FDLT have awarded over 40 scholarships or approximately $35,000 in scholarship funds.

Read more about the NADL's "What's In Your Mouth" quality campaign

Applications for the Pillar scholarship can be obtained by calling the FDLT office at (866) 627-3990, or online at dentallabfoundation.org and are due by August 15 each year. The scholarship winners are announced in the fall. All past applicants that did not receive a scholarship from previous years are encouraged to apply again.

 More information on the Kois Center Education Grant is forthcoming on 

 The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (The Foundation or FDLT) has announced several ways for dental labs to gain financial assistance to continuing education programs.

New ways for dental lab technicians to save money on continuing education [VIDEO]

 is a dental lab in the Madison, Wisc., area that’s been operating since 1995. Initially a two-man lab, J&B now has four people on staff. The lab began as a traditional PFM, crown-and-bridge operation, but has since expanded to zirconia solutions in addition to traditional restorations, along with some implant work. The lab is owned by Jeff Bald, and his son Aaron is the lead 

 technician who has helped oversee the lab’s transition to a digital workflow.

, a longtime leader in the dental lab world. DT Technologies was formed in order to allow Dental Arts Laboratories, Inc. to serve the larger lab market by providing outsourcing services for a variety of restorations, along with excellent products for all kinds of solutions and the education and support to get the most out of every product they sell. DT Technologies prides itself in providing excellent support to labs of every size, ensuring that even the smallest labs have the resources to compete in a globalized, technologically advanced market.

Recent Article: A dentist revitalized by CEREC and Galileos

 experience with CAD/CAM and digitization is a microcosm of the industry’s experience as a whole. “Before our CAD/CAM system, we were mainly doing PFMs and full cast crowns,” explains Aaron Bald. “But then three of our doctors in the same practice started sending their work somewhere else, because they wanted to save money on the price of crowns. And it was kind of a harsh slap on the face and we realized, ‘If we want to stay in business, we need to jump on board.’”

Trending Article: Top 25 Women in Dentistry 2014

Fortunately, they had a long-time relationship with 

, which had become a part of Dental Arts Laboratories, Inc., just before J&B was ready to move into the digital world. That meant J&B had access to cutting-edge technology as soon as they were ready. “They had packaged deals on milling systems-we were thinking about just purchasing a scanner to start, but the value and cost of the milling packages allowed us to make the leap,” Bald remembers. “So we purchased a 

with exocad software and an imes-icore Coritec 240i four-axis mill.”

On-Demand Webinar: Navigating digital impressions and CAD/CAM in the real world

“I think a lot of doctors thought, ‘Metal is expensive and is there an alternative,’” Bald says. “So once we made the purchase, we were able to produce zirconia restorations in-house which decreased our turnaround time and allowed us to bring in more doctors. At first, we were only producing 20-25 percent zirconia restorations, but now we’re at 65-70 percent. They like the product we’re using, [which is] 

. They think it’s a great, high translucency zirconia. It’s strong and looks incredibly life-like in a PFZ restoration.”

Dental Trends: The latest in universal adhesives

Bald’s experience with making the transition to CAD/CAM with J&B seems to mirror that of the whole industry, as he combined his existing knowledge as a waxer with brand-new digital abilities that enabled him to work even faster. To hear Bald tell it, CAD/CAM didn’t necessarily improve his creativity-but it became a tool to bring his artistry to an advanced technology that could help produce restorations much, much faster. “It takes about three days for a standard case the old way, our CAD/CAM system is so much faster.” Bald says. “Milling is so accurate-it’s so accurate, we do not have to second-guess it. With PFMs, you have to paint the dies-with our CAD/CAM system, we are able to eliminate little things like that: you no longer have to invest, burn out and then cast units. It takes me seven minutes to scan cases, and five to design a full contour crown and send it to the mill. When I was waxing, I was happy if I got 10-15 units out in a day. Now I get 20-25 units done in a day, and still have time to complete additional tasks. While the mill is running, I can continue work on other tasks.”

Click here to keep reading about how this system can help to save money. 

Unsurprisingly, this has led to a dramatic increase in the financials of the lab. “We went from $2,000 a day to $3,000 of work out per day,” Bald notes. “We expected five PFM units per day out of our techs, where as now, dollar wise, I can personally do the amount that is expected of two techs in full contour zirconia. To top it all off, I can get it done within an eight-hour period. Transitioning to this digital setup has not only helped us expand our horizons for our doctors but has also allowed us to do work for some local labs. We’ve been happy with everything.”

Recent Article: How to cement posterior crowns [VIDEOS]

To get those returns from their new equipment, J&B Dental Studios needed training, education and support. Fortunately, DT Technologies provided-and continues to provide-the help to get the most out of their machines and materials. “We spent about two days of training on CAD at DAL,” Bald explains. “I absorb a lot on computers, so it didn’t take me too long. I’ve only gotten better since then, learning little tricks to make things faster. Exocad is such an easy platform to use, and just from my experience overall, it’s been an easy experience to learn.
	“I have everybody’s number and I can call them directly. They’re a real good group of people,” Bald continues. “For instance, in the beginning, I had an issue and FaceTimed Ryan Johnson [CTO of DT Technologies] on a Friday night and he walked me through it and we got it fixed. Their support is better than most I would say. It’s been a fantastic experience.”

Trending Article: Discussing current hot topics in dental infection control

However, DT Technologies’ help doesn’t stop at the technical side. “They go out of their way to help with and make you happy,” Bald says. “It’s like talking with friends when you talk to them. You want to help each other out like friends. I know they deal with doctors and we deal with doctors, but at no point do I ever feel like we’re in competition. They provide us with advertisements with the BioZX2 and they had a flyer customized with our name, so they’re all about helping us. It’s nice to have that for our laboratory.

Webinar: Learn the real value of 3D printing in the dental lab

“Going into the whole thing, I didn’t know the DT Technologies people, so just to get to know them has been a great experience,” Bald adds. “I feel like I’ve built a friendship, and I can’t say that about any other company we deal with. They’re not just a customer service rep; you build a working relationship with them, but also a friendship.”

This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of Dental Lab Products. 

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 The Lab J&B Dental Studios is a dental lab in the Madison, Wisc., area that’s been operating since 1995. Initially a two-man lab, J&B now has four people on staff. The lab began as a traditional PFM, crown-and-bridge operation, but has since expanded to zirconia solutions in addition to traditional restorations, along with some implant work. The lab is owned by Jeff Bald, and his son Aaron is the lead CAD/CAM technician who has helped oversee the lab’s transition to a digital workflow.

One investment to save time, money and stress

 now supports intraoral scanning for ATLANTIS patient-specific abutments using an 

 cases helps to improve the treatment workflow and offers process efficiency for the dental laboratory. The key to using the 

 for producing ATLANTIS Abutments is the ATLANTIS IO FLO. This easy-to-use and reusable impression component is designed to allow for an accurate intraoral scan of the patient’s clinical situation. The ATLANTIS IO FLO is designed for multiple uses and can be placed in an autoclave. The scan data is then sent to DENTSPLY Implants and used to design an ATLANTIS Abutment. The ATLANTIS IO FLO is indicated for use in all indications, and compatible with all of the major implant systems.

Related: Learn about DENTSPLY Implants's exciting Astra Tech syste

The streamlined process of using the iTero scanner for ATLANTIS Abutment orders is engineered to ensure efficient coordination between the clinician and dental laboratory and to create a traceable workflow that maximizes time and profitability.

		Brings ATLANTIS patient-specific abutments into a fully digital environment

		Allows clinicians who own an iTero scanner to easily incorporate ATLANTIS patient-specific abutments

		Ensures laboratory produces a restoration with an ideal fit and esthetics

		Streamlined, efficient workflow that ensures efficient coordination between the clinician and the technician

		The clinician takes a digital “impression” with the iTero intraoral scanner.

		The laboratory reviews the digital file and submits an order in 

		DENTSPLY Implants designs and produces the ATLANTIS Abutment utilizing 

ATLANTIS VAD™ (Virtual Abutment Design) software

		The laboratory receives the milled model and die replica from Align.

		The laboratory finalizes the restoration using a milled model and die replica or utilizing ATLANTIS™ Abutment Core File.

		The clinician places the final restoration received from the laboratory.

10 Questions with DENTSPLY Implants's Craig Rodriguez

For more information, contact DENTSPLY Implants by calling 800-531-3481 or by visiting 

 DENTSPLY Implants now supports intraoral scanning for ATLANTIS patient-specific abutments using an iTero scanner.

A new intraoral scanning option for ATLANTIS abutments

According to a press release, Nobel Biocare will be a cornerstone of 

 dental platform. With the addition of Nobel Biocare, Danaher will be one of the strongest consumable and equipment player in the dental industry, with sales approaching $3 billion. Dental implants is a $3.5 billion market with attractive long term growth drivers, including an aging population, growing income in high growth markets and low penetration rates of dental implants in most geographies today. Nobel Biocare will operate as a stand-alone company within Danaher's dental platform, maintaining its own brand and identity. 

 will remain as a stand-alone joint venture with no change in its go to market strategy.

Related: Henk van Duijnhoven discusses the recent changes in Danaher's brand strategy

"We will continue to invest in a wide range of dental technologies and innovations to better serve our customers. Bringing Nobel Biocare's deep expertise in implant dentistry, digital prosthetics and software solutions together with our extensive knowledge in 3D imaging, intraoral scanning and digital restorative solutions will further enable us to optimize and integrate workflows. This will lead to better clinical outcomes, shorter treatment times and fewer office visits to the benefit of patients and dental practitioners," said Henk van Duijnhoven, Senior Vice President of Danaher's dental platform. "This combination will further support our business strategy and position our dental business for future growth."

Read all about Nobel Biocare's most recent Global Symposium

Danaher's dental platform reportedly reaches 99 percent of all dental practices through an extensive network of dealer partners as well as direct sales. It will continue its strategy of working closely with distribution partners as well as direct sales.

"Nobel Biocare's leadership team has done an outstanding job creating a strong platform for future growth over the last couple of years," van Duijnhoven added. "Our team is excited to work with CEO Richard Laube and the Nobel Biocare team to build on their efforts toward continued innovation, growth and business improvement. We look forward to welcoming all Nobel Biocare's associates, customers and key opinion leaders to the Danaher team."

 In a major development in the world of dental implants. Danaher Corporation has entered into a definitive transaction agreement to acquire Nobel Biocare Holding AG, a world leader in implant dentistry.