A look at 4 of the top lab products featured in this year's Buyers Guide issue.


	Vintage Art® universal paste porcelain stains with an ultra-fine particle structure, ideal for all internal and external stain techniques to replicate variations found in vital teeth.

Vintage Art is a ready-to-use, logically structured color concept. With superb coverage characteristics, Vintage Art makes it easy to adjust any porcelain toward the correct shade.

Vintage Art has excellent handling and application properties and reproduces natural dentin fluorescence. With an unlimited C.T.E. range, Vintage Art can be applied directly to any substructure to obtain three-dimensional effects.

Ideal for use with all porcelain systems and allowing versatile application, Vintage Art simple shade adaptation can be used with metal porcelain, alumina porcelain, zirconia porcelain and CAD/CAM ceramic blocks.

Vintage Art, which can be individually mixed and maintains stable color even after repeated firing cycles, is ideal for the specific application of prominent and fine color accents in the laboratory and in the dental practice.  

Inclusive® Abutments and Bars, BruxZir® CAD/CAM Services

Glidewell Laboratories provides a comprehensive line-up of implant CAD/CAM outsourcing services, including design and manufacture of Inclusive® Custom Implant Abutments and Bars, and BruxZir® Solid Zirconia restorations. Custom-milled Inclusive Abutments, available in titanium or zirconia, are designed using 3-D digital technology and then fabricated using precision 5-axis milling. To create precision-milled Inclusive CAD/CAM Bars, Glidewell provides labs with outsourcing services such as scan and design of the bar, milling and delivery. For labs that market BruxZir zirconia products to their dentists, Glidewell can mill CAD/CAM restorations from a 3Shape design file or model.
	
	

tcs® Unbreakable is an extremely resilient high performance material used for the fabrication of removable partial dentures. It offers the ideal degree of flexibility, uncompromising esthetics and is guaranteed unbreakable. tcs® Unbreakable is available in a variety of shades, sizes and diameters for use with a variety of thermoplastic injection equipment. Every cartridge includes a delivery bag and Patient Care Pamphlet. Starting in 2013 every cartridge will also include a tcs® Coool Mint Wipe and a 1 week supply sample of tcs® Concentrated Dental Appliance Cleaner.

The D5 5-axis milling machine is unrivalled in the dental world. With a fully automated 8 blank changer and 13 tool holding positions, it can mill titanium, chrome cobalt, zirconia, and other materials for over 100 consecutive hours unattended. German engineered for extreme rigidity and precision, the D5 was designed for the sole purpose of milling complex dental parts and implant geometries. It integrates industry-leading CAM software packages to give your lab the flexibility it needs to mill anything from bars and custom abutments to full contour crowns, copings, and bridges – ­­all while being controlled by the simplicity of an Apple iPad!  

See it in action machining titanium bars at Lab Day Chicago, Feb. 22-23, 2013.

Articles

2012 Buyers Guide: Product Showcase

A conversation with Renfert USA's CEO and Owner Soren Rieger.

01. The trend in the dental industry is going digital. Your portfolio doesn’t cover any digital technology; how do you explain your continued success?

Digital work only can be as good as the non-digital basic work. Errors cannot be compensated for within the digital processes. When scanning a model, every technician knows the highest level of accuracy is required in the poured model. Our Model Production portfolio ensures the foundation is correct from step one.

02. You deliberately choose to focus on non-digital products. How will you survive in the digital world in the future? 

There is no need to “survive” because we constantly adjust (our products) to adapt to the changes in the industry. As a family-owned enterprise since 1925 we are working on long-term, not only short-term, success. Whether it is full ceramic digital processes or high-end composites, our polishers, extraction units and sandblasters have been developed to meet these requirements. We want to continue along this path, while also developing products especially for the CAD/CAM market. But I don’t want to drop any details yet. Stay tuned.

03. In today’s price sensitive economy, what are you doing to ensure you stay competitive within the market?

Let’s be honest, there are seemingly cheaper alternatives available in the market, but these are still not less expensive. Once customers experience the quality of a Renfert product they realize the true cost savings is within the product’s longevity. We build tools technicians can rely on. Nothing is more frustrating to a technician than downtime because of inconsistent and inadequate products.

04. What should a technician expect when purchasing equipment from Renfert?

Our equipment is manufactured with the highest quality, but we also are mindful of manufacturing the most efficient tools as well. Take for example our sandblaster family “Basic.” We developed a technology that reduces sandblasting material costs by up to 80%. After a short time you save enough that you could even buy a new product with these savings.

05. Renfert is regarded as very service-minded. Which services help convince your customers? 

Again, we’re not looking for the quick sale; we are focused on building lasting relationships. We have dedicated teams of highly trained Customer Service Reps and After Sales Support technicians ready to assist dental technicians world-wide. In the U.S. our customers can rely on a 48-hour repair policy, and we provide loaner equipment when necessary.

06. Which product is the best example of Renfert’s new focus on reducing production costs? 

Our MT3 Model Trimmers. We were able to significantly reduce the production cost on our MT3 trimmer, while still maintaining the high quality and offer our 3-year guarantee. If you are looking for added features we offer a top of the line version in our 2hp strong MT3 Pro model. The MT3 and MT3 Pro are perfect examples of our offer strategy…for every need, the perfect product.

07. Tell us something that our DLP readers might not know about Renfert.

Renfert is a global company with distribution channels in more than 80 countries world-wide. The corporate headquarters is located in Southern Germany and a subsidiary in the United States. We have about 450 world-wide distributors - sub distributors not even included - and print our product catalog in 15 languages.

08. Is your wish to be close to your customers the reason for establishing Renfert USA in Chicago?

Indeed, our customers appreciate the direct communication and the short delivery times that we can offer through our distribution center in the U.S. The success we experience confirms us in our philosophy of being as close to the customer as possible. We now are opening another company subsidiary in Brazil.

09. What have you learned from your customers over the years?

I love hearing from our customers. They provide the most relevant market research possible. For me personally, I still am enjoying working the trade show floor when possible. It is great seeing old friends and discussing their needs. I love when a customer approaches me and talks about a piece of equipment he bought 10+ years ago…one that is still working and producing today. This is where my passion comes from.

10. What are you looking forward to as we wrap up 2012 and look ahead to 2013?

We look forward to watching the global dental industry continue to show signs of economic improvement. We are encouraged with what we’ve seen this year, but there’s work to do. Renfert is trying to do its part by continuing to decrease overall costs through more efficient production, logistics, and distribution channels. As we do every year, we’ve just released our Fall Promo. This year we are pleased to offer some great discounts to coincide with the end of the year equipment purchases. 

10 Questions with Soren Rieger, CEO and Owner of Renfert USA

IPS e.max Press is a high-strength, lithium disilicate ceramic used for anterior and posterior restorations as well as anterior three-unit bridges.

IPS e.max Press can be overlaid with IPS e.max Ceram to optimize esthetics. This product received a 97% clinical rating from THE DENTAL ADVISOR. The evaluators also published a 5-year clinical performance report.

» 97% of the IPS e.max Press restorations received a 5 or an excellent rating. The restorations were not only clinically acceptable but also of superior esthetic quality.

» Of the 381 restorations evaluated, 7 fractured and were replaced over the 5-year period. Only 1.5% of the restorations exhibited some chipping, and these were smoothed and polished. Less than 2% fractured and were replaced. This fracture rate is less than half the average fracture rate of ceramics documented by THE DENTAL ADVISOR over the past 27 years.

» The lack of marginal discoloration of the restoration was excellent in 96% of the cases.

» Only seven cases (1.5%) of post-operative sensitivity were reported by patients.

SR Phonares II sets a new standard in removable prosthetics with optimized shape, shade and strength. The latest scientific knowledge has been implemented in the development and production of Phonares II to create a truly innovative tooth line.

The existing range of 22 anterior tooth moulds has been extended to include two new mandibular anterior moulds, L54 and L55.  These new moulds provide greater setup options and deliver a more patient specific prosthesis.  

The shades of the Phonares teeth have been precision matched to the A-D shade guide and include all 16 A-D and 4 innovative bleach shades, thus extending the range of applications and ensuring a maximum level of accuracy for shade communication between the dental team.  

Additionally, the Nano Hybrid Composite material has been optimized to provide enhanced durability and esthetics. This newly pioneered composite technology incorporates inorganic micro fillers and silica based Nano fillers that deliver a new level of durability.  The hybrid makeup of these fillers promotes natural light transmission, ensuring optimal translucency, opalescence and fluorescence for outstanding esthetics.

Designed to maximize efficiency and esthetics, IPS InLine One is the one-layer metal-ceramic providing all-ceramic quality esthetics with one simple, easy-handling layer.


The IvoBase System consists of a fully automated continuous press injector and specially formulated pre-dosed acrylic. With a push-button operator interface, the IvoBase Injector delivers precision processed conventional and implant-retained dentures with nominal effort on the part of the technician.

During the processing cycle, polymerization shrinkage of the acrylic resin is compensated by IvoBase’s patented smart thermo-management technology. The result is a denture base with outstanding accuracy, density and strength.

The IvoBase denture base materials consist of PMMA-based auto-cured polymers, which combine the advantages of heat- and auto-cured resins. IvoBase is available in two pre-dosed versions: IvoBase Hybrid and IvoBase High Impact. IvoBase Hybrid is suitable for universal application in removable prosthetics. IvoBase High Impact is especially designed for high load-bearing dentures, for instance in implant-supported prosthetics.

An inside look at lab products from Ivoclar Vivadent, including the IPS e.max Press, the SR Phonares II, the IvoBase System and the IPS InLine One.

Featured Brand: Ivoclar Vivadent

A Q&A with Steve Sheehan, Straumann's Vice President, Lab Business North America.

Q: The global dental landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift from analog to digital dentistry methods. How is Straumann positioned to support the laboratory with this change?

A: Straumann offers customers a choice of product and service solutions that are designed to accommodate the laboratory’s adapting needs during the transition to digital dentistry. Workflow connectivity is available with intraoral scanning, guided surgery, and CAD/CAM technology, so the lab owner can choose the level of involvement in digital dentistry that is best suited to his current laboratory set-up. If the lab starts out with just a single component, the additional pieces of the digital product portfolio are already in place to expand their capabilities in the future.

The validated workflow of the CARES CAD/CAM System 7.0 offers access to Straumann quality products and centralized milling, while the non-validated, external workflow lets customers use the material or milling center of their choice. For those labs still evaluating digital technology, we now offer laboratories access to a scan and design service for authentic Straumann customized abutments.

Q: Why is having both a validated and external workflow important?

A: It’s about delivering added value to the customer. Our research and customer feedback determined that users want choices when it comes to accessing digital processes. So, we set out to design a system that meets customers’ requirements. Also, cost is an important factor. Many laboratories cannot afford multiple investments in CAD/CAM systems and need a single system that can handle the majority of their casework. Because of the multiple workflow options, customers enjoy the full flexibility of turning on the Straumann system at the beginning of the day and using that same system regardless of what case appears on the doctor’s prescription form.

Straumann is recognized for its outstanding quality and precision. The validated workflow follows a controlled process that is designed to deliver reliable, customized implant-abutment and tooth-borne restorations for our customers. So while we also offer the customer a third party milling option through the external workflow, we believe our own validated workflow offers the customer the best choice for high-quality restorations.

Q: Multiple companies are pushing dental digital technology solutions. How does Straumann differentiate itself for its laboratory customers?

A: More than products, our goal is to be a leading service provider for dental labs through technical support, education, business development, and marketing.

Our technical support team delivers an unparalleled level of customer service. We have trained CDTs on-staff to answer questions on Straumann CARES. With permission, our team can remotely access the user’s PC and see exactly what is being designed in the software. Our CS2 Scanner has an internal camera, so we are also able to view die alignment inside the scanner if necessary.

Education is very much a driver of our digital solutions portfolio. An experienced representative sets up the scanner in the lab, and delivers a preliminary training session that day. As a next step, Straumann offers a complimentary 2-day education session to review in greater detail the applications and design tools within the software so the technician can start using the system to its full extent soon after purchase. Once that initial training has been completed, we offer education courses that are designed to offer a greater understanding of our products to simplify procedures for the entire treatment team.

Laboratories enjoy the brand association of working with a leading global dental implant company. Our specialized laboratory staff is committed to help drive business growth and marketing communications activities that can accelerate the lab’s success. In that regard Straumann is unique.

PRODUCT PROFILES              


	Technicians can use a full digital implant workflow for customized abutments through iTero® and Straumann. The technician has the option to import the digital impression scan and virtually design the customized abutment prior to receiving the milled model from iTero, expediting the workflow and digitizing the process.

Straumann delivers abutment solutions that are designed to be precise and indistinguishable from surrounding natural teeth. Our bone level abutments with the proprietary CrossFit® Connection and Consistent Emergence Profiles® are designed to provide a precise implant-abutment connection and facilitate soft tissue management for treatment predictability. Customized abutments for Straumann bone level and tissue level implant platforms are available in Zr02 and Ti materials. The Straumann Guarantee® is a limited warranty* covering ceramic abutments for 5 years and titanium abutments for 10 years, providing added confidence for long-term quality.

Straumann’s precisely milled, high-quality prosthetics cover a leading range of materials and applications. The choice is yours: from polymer temporary bridges to 14-unit titanium frameworks to monolithic ceramic crowns, a diverse materials portfolio can meet your daily needs in the dental laboratory. New materials, such as 

 by Straumann® CARES®, place your laboratory at the cutting edge of material science and help position you as a leading advocate of new technologies within your referral network.

Centralized milling alleviates the burden of another capital investment and additional machine maintenance for your laboratory. At Straumann, we have the expertise of decades of Swiss-precision manufacturing to accurately mill your restorations.

offers users full flexibility to choose a workflow through a single system.  The validated workflow provides direct access to precise, high-quality Straumann materials and restorations through Straumann’s centralized milling facilities and pre-set design parameters. The external (open) workflow offers users full flexibility through open STL files to send data to the milling center of their choice for the material type of their choice.  

More than just CADCAM, the new Straumann CARES System 7.0 is an integrated prosthetic digital design software, incorporating intraoral scan data, guided surgery planning and CADCAM design within a single interface. Straumann’s software also includes a unique service feature that allows technicians to connect via the PC with our trained CDTs for technical support on cases. 

Onboarding marketing support and training programs will bring your laboratory up to speed with Straumann quickly and you’ll be confident you chose the right system to keep your lab competitive for years to come.

Now Playing: An interview with Straumann Executive Vice President Sandro Matter from Lab Day 2012. 

Straumann offers labs choices in digital processes

2012 included the release of a range of new and notable products. More than 200 new product innovations were featured in DLP in 2012. Of the new products we highlighted, these 10 received the most views in the product section of our website, dlpmagazine.com, and the most requests from readers for more information via online or electronic product information response.

 READERS' CHOICE                                                             


	The Straumann® CARES® System 7.0 open standard software platform provides technicians with a validated internal workflow with output to the company’s centralized production facility as well as an external workflow and full flexibility to import multiple data sources and export open .STL files to multiple production channels. The my.Straumann® CARES® desktop features a series of user-friendly apps to guide the technician through the digital solution of choice.
	


	Labs using 3Shape’s DentalDesigner software will have access to Atlantis™ Abutment core files. These high-precision digital files of an Atlantis™ Abutment represent the outer surface of the manufactured Atlantis™ Abutment and include all corresponding scanned data. The Atlantis™ Abutment core file can be used for designing a coping in DentalDesigner software before receipt of the final abutment, thus replacing the need to scan the abutment. The service is said to contribute to a shorter turnaround time for the production of the final restoration.
	


	TruExpression™ denture teeth offer an esthetic, high wear, competitively-priced Trubyte® premium denture tooth option. The streamlined tooth system is well suited for laboratories looking to carry a more efficient inventory of denture teeth for standard cases without sacrificing lifelike characteristics, high wear resistance or quality.
	


	A noble, fine-grain, type III crown and bridge gold alloy containing 20% gold, 20% palladium and 41% silver, LH reportedly pr

ovides excellent castings with a soft yellow color at a lower cost than higher gold content alloys. Suitable for single units and bridges in both high- and low-production lab settings, it is described as easy to cast and work with, and resistant to tarnishing.


	A compact hybrid dental CNC machine featuring 5-axis milling and grinding technology, in both wet and dry applications, the Ceramill Motion 2 provides the flexibility for labs to do in-house dry milling of zirconia and wax, and the wet milling of PMMA, Temp, and composites, as well as wet grinding of glass ceramics for inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns and more. Said to virtually eliminate the need for labs to outsource, the milling system is priced economically.
	


	Dynex Brillant abrasive discs are made for cutting, separating, grinding and contouring ceramic and zirconia materials. Saturated with diamond particles, the discs have continuous and consistent high speed cutting and grinding qualities. Double fiberglass reinforced for high stability and durability, they are flexible when finishing and contouring restorations. Said to cut with low vibration and generating virtually no heat, they are well suited for separating pressed ceramics.
	


	A simple, economical and robust CAD software solution, exocad allows design of full crown and bridge, custom abutments, and custom bars with dynamic virtual articulation, TruSmile® and DICOM viewer capabilities. The software supports more than 20 different scanners along with major CAM systems and fabrication devices. It can be private labeled to medium to large labs or milling centers, and smaller labs can find the software behind CAD/CAM systems from Zirkonzahn, Amann Girrbach, Origin and other companies.
	


	Featuring German engineering, the OpenMill500 milling machine is designed to mill Vita YZ, zirconia, wax and PMMA. With 5-axis milling capabilities, it has automatic toolpath creation for a high degree of accuracy and precision. It has dual material holders, an automated tool changer and automatic calibration. An open system, it is ready to use with a number of other open applications and systems. It is capable of producing copings, reduced anatomical crowns, full crowns, up to 16-unit bridges, implant superstructures and more.
	


	CAP’s CAP FZ | Full Zirconia is described as both strong and beautiful. This highly translucent zirconia, designed with CAP’s proprietary library, unique 0.3 mm tool milling strategy and CAP’s multi-shading technique has resulted in wide-spread product acceptance throughout North America. In addition to being highly esthetic, CAP FZ comes with a lifetime guarantee against breakage.
	


	Designed to hold the position of the mandible in relation to the maxilla in 3 dimensions, the Andra GaugeTM is a disposable bite registration device said to allow the practitioner to easily control a patient’s mandibular position in a relationship to the maxilla to accurately obtain the best bite registration.
	

2012 included the release of a range of new and notable products. More than 200 new product innovations were featured in DLP in 2012. Of the new products we highlighted, these 10 received the most views in the product section of our website, dlpmagazine.com, and the most requests from readers for more information via online or electronic product information response.          

Top 10 most-wanted lab products of 2012

The Monotrac articulation model and die systems have evolved into a far more versatile, sophisticated full range system.

James Garland, CDT, founded Garland Dental Lab, Salt Lake City, Utah in 1978. Subsequently he invented and patented the original pinless Horizontal Die articulator in 1990 called Monotrac. It was the first single pour “cast-in-place” set-up to a fully articulated model using the double bite impression. The Monotrac was a breakthrough in efficient model making, accurate bite replication and precise, solid die relocation for dental technology. Since 1991, several companies have developed single–pour systems and entered the market place, but none measure up to the efficiency, accuracy and simplicity of the Monotrac.  
	
	Since its original version, the Monotrac articulation model and die systems have evolved into a far more versatile, sophisticated full range system. James continues to enhance the system with new products and functionality, adding an increasing number of patented improvements. Some of these include the VSP (Vertical Single Pour) internal retention cone matrix, Plug-In Vertical Stops and Tear Away Base Walls. Monotrac’s goal is to continue to provide the dental laboratory industry with high-quality products that are easy to use with superior accuracy, time efficiency and money saving benefits.


	Dental labs today face constant changes in technology and increasing overseas competition. CAD/CAM technology aims to reduce direct labor cost yet foreign labor remains cheaper. Finding and implementing practical tools of efficiency, accuracy and simplicity into our laboratories to stay competitive and cost effective can be especially tricky when investing in new technology or change.

When it comes to model, die and articulation “cost effective, efficient and accurate” are the essence of Monotrac - offering more capability, options, accuracy and efficiency than any other model system out there. The integrated articulator with pinless cone matrix model base allows a single pour “cast-in-place” set-up that is simple and fast while eliminating labor intensive pinning and basing procedures. Monotrac dies are easily removed and reseat with solid stable precision. Even lower anteriors, the thinnest of dies, resist lateral sway. Other key features of the Monotrac are the Flex Arm Hinge allowing natural excursive equilibration. The Plug-in adjustable vertical stops are easy to place and eliminate the need for a metal articulator set up. The Monotrac V2 is full range capable for all model and die needs in the lab. One system covers it all from refractory to section implant models to full round house, it can do it. Because Monotrac does not require stone basing, cross arch and linear secondary base expansion issues are non existent.


	This tray provides the most accurate double bite impression attainable. The Occlu-Tray is a reusable stainless steel rigid tray that will not torque or flex thereby eliminating distorted impressions. Mesh is now eliminated with the Occlu-Tray rim design allowing maximum intercuspation or natural centric occlusion to be precisely replicated into the impression.

A Monotrac “cast-in-place” set up ensures this accuracy is also replicated to the articulated model. Minimize remake headaches and reduce chair time with precision fitting restorations.

Monotrac Diamond Die Cutter and Processing Station


	Designed for ultimate efficiency and to complete all model processing procedures in one location. The Monotrac Diamond Die Cutter and Processing Station features an adjustable height motorized diamond blade for quick, accurate die sectioning. The blue tabletop flips up instantly so it then can be used lathe-style for side cutting of models.

The convenient vacuum port located at the front of the station incorporates a built-in inverted air blaster that instantly removes dust and debris from the model die matrix cone holes.
	A removable magnetic dust shield with magnifier enhances efficiency and vision during model flash clean up and for bulk trimming dies. The station comes with fittings and adapters for hook up to laboratory vacuum and air pressure.

Dental Lab Products-2012-11-01

2012 Buyers Guide: Product Showcase

10 Questions with Soren Rieger, CEO and Owner of Renfert USA

Featured Brand: Ivoclar Vivadent

Straumann offers labs choices in digital processes

Top 10 most-wanted lab products of 2012

Featured Brand: Monotrac offers fast, accurate lab products