	As more and more dentists begin to implement digital scanning technology in the office, laboratories stand to reap the benefits of this conversion as well.

The right digital scanning system not only reduces remakes, it can also save numerous steps at the laboratory. Furthermore, digital scans are now moving beyond just crown and bridge workflows to encompass many more technologies and products.

, we work with a number of dentists who use the -simplifying the workflow in the lab dramatically. There is no need to pour a stone model, and the greater accuracy of crowns produced with the system means that less time is spent on adjustments and remakes. Our experience has demonstrated that the marginal fit and overall fit of crowns made with this technology are far superior to those made with traditional impression techniques.

As 3M’s system has evolved, so have the potential workflows that its digital scans can be used for. 

 is an open system that produces industry-standard STL files that can be used by the lab with almost unlimited options for design, materials and production based on what’s clinically appropriate for each case. There are also “Trusted Connections,” which mean the trusted workflow to various products has been technically and clinically validated to perform well with the 3M True Definition Scanner, opening the door to CAD/CAM, digital implant and orthodontic appliance workflows.

Check out the following video to view the step-by-step case:


	Beyond the advancements in digital scanning that have improved lab efficiency, new materials from 3M ESPE are saving time as well. Our lab has now transitioned from classic 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Zirconia to 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Plus High Translucency Zirconia. This new generation of zirconia still has the strength the original was known for, and it allows for thin-walled restorations that preserve tooth structure.

The improved esthetics of this material enable labs to create very lifelike monolithic restorations or to stack or press porcelain for a traditional layered restoration. The greater level of translucency is made possible by high-quality processing of the zirconia to minimize impurities and structural defects. Our lab has found this high-quality processing contributes to fewer problems with fracturing during the milling process. The alumina content is also lower than in classic Lava zirconia with the distribution improved in order to maintain aging stability.   

Esthetically speaking, another standout aspect of this material is the fact that it has a direct match to the most common 

. The material also offers its own bleached shades. 3M ESPE has engineered dyeing liquids for this system that are specifically tailored to the microstructure of the zirconia, contributing to an excellent and predictable color match. The combination of coloration possibilities and the high translucency of the material mean that labs can achieve outstanding esthetics, regardless of whether they are creating veneered or monolithic restorations.

The case shown here demonstrates the use of the 3M True Definition Scanner and Lava Plus zirconia in a very representative monolithic crown case.

 The patient had a large MOD amalgam restoration with recurrent caries. Due to the size of the restoration, its location in the mouth, and the patient’s bruxism, it was determined that treatment with a monolithic Lava Plus zirconia crown would be most appropriate. The amalgam and caries were removed and the tooth was prepared for the crown. The 3M True Definition Scanner was then used to capture a digital scan of the mouth. After reviewing the scan for completion, the prescription was submitted to the laboratory via the 3M™ Connection Center.

 Once the lab received the scan, software was used to mark the margins. The scan was then imported into Lava Design software and the full contour design was created.
	

 The CAM file was calculated by the software and assigned to a Lava Plus zirconia block. The crown was then milled.
	

 Once milling was complete, the block was removed from the mill and a highspeed fine diamond bur was used to cut the crown from the block. The sprues were smoothed and the green state Lava Plus crown was cleaned to remove any excess dust.
	

 To stain the crown, a mixture of W3 and A1 Lava Plus shading liquids were applied with a brush to the incisal half of the crown. Color markers were used to track where the incisal shade was placed. The entire crown was then immersed for two minutes in the body shade of Lava Plus shading liquid. The crown was then carefully removed and excess liquid was blotted from the surface.
	

 The crown was placed on a sintering tray and fired. Our laboratory has found that Lava Plus zirconia is able to produce consistent results with a fast firing cycle of just four hours, which includes drying and cooling time.  
	

 After firing was complete, final contouring and characterization were performed, including final finishing of the margins and minor adjustments to interproximal and occlusal contacts. The final shade is confirmed and the crown is prepared to be returned to the dentist for final seating.


	The efficient workflow described here is very typical for a case utilizing the 3M True Definition Scanner and Lava Plus zirconia. With a highly accurate digital impression and an esthetic and strong monolithic crown, workflows are simplified for both the dentist and the laboratory. In the end, the patient benefits from a natural-looking restoration that will stand up to wear in the mouth and continue looking great for the long term.

Jed Miller, CDT, is the CAD/CAM manager and ceramist at D&S Dental Laboratory in Waunakee, Wis. He earned a degree from Luther College with a major in ceramics. He has been a dental technician for 10 years and currently focuses on implementing technology and production processes to maximize workflow at D&S. Jed has been involved with 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Plus High Translucency Zirconia since its initial beta testing and has consulted for 3M ESPE internationally.

Video: 3M ESPE's udated 3M True Definition Scanner software improves digital impression abilities

Articles

 As more and more dentists begin to implement digital scanning technology in the office, laboratories stand to reap the benefits of this conversion as well.

Bench mastery: Esthetic and efficient monolithic zirconia crowns

	Through experience and knowledge, it is a dental technician’s duty to foresee the final outcome from an esthetic standpoint when a less than ideal situation is presented.

It is also our responsibility to provide a solution based on minimal alterations within the patient’s mouth. Through anticipation and careful planning, challenges can be met straight on, prior to any material being laid. This article will address what appears to be a straightforward request for a no-prep veneer along with a single-unit zirconia implant abutment and crown. Upon further inspection, it was revealed the case would require some special attention to achieve a successful final restoration.

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The patient, a professional in her mid 30s, had been sent to our laboratory to have a custom shade match performed. Initially, we noticed the temporaries she was wearing were very wide. The patient expressed that she did not care for the overall size and shape of the temporary restorations but, due to an open contact area, had already accepted that her final restorations would be similarly fabricated. 

An idea was formed and, after discussion, a solution was formulated that gave the patient much hope for a highly esthetic outcome she thought would not be possible to attain. Again with minimal adjustments and no additional preparation, we created a “filler” on No. 7 from the gingiva to the mesial. 

Check out the following video to see the step-by-step case: 

More from Luke Kahng: Great esthetics in an eight-unit veneer case

Continue to page two to read about the procedure outcome...

During the custom shade match, it was determined that the symmetry of the temporary when compared to No. 9 was not conducive to an esthetic final outcome and that higher esthetics could be obtained via modifications. A custom shade match was done at this time. No. 9 showed a high opacity in an A3 range along with B0 mixture with enamel. Incisal 1/3 has some staining with subtle gray, white-ish, orange and tan modifications. 

Post temporary removal showed a large gap between Nos. 8 and 9 as well as Nos. 7 and 8. Careful attention must be paid to the interproximal contacts to avoid black triangles.

More from Luke Kahng: Treating the dental-phobic patient [VIDEO]

GC Initial porcelain was utilized followed by an 810? Celsius body bake and the zirconia abutment produced using the Motion Mill 2.

Using platinum foils 0.001 thickness, No. 7 is simply wrapped. No preparation will be necessary as this will be produced along the mesial gingival areas to act as a filler and achieve proper symmetry.

Build up with CL-F. Added to the mesial of No. 7 dentin A3 and E58 to match natural dentition of tooth No. 7. Apply CL-F and dentin A3.

 The abutment was tried in before removal of foil to establish final fit. 

 Tooth No. 8 was inserted in bisque bake stage to make sure that the modifications were successful.

The crown was delivered for try-in, but still was in need of a touch up adjustment to the shade.

New from DLP: How NevinLabs' facilities solutions can make dental labs better

Evaluation and diagnosis within the laboratory is essential to achieve the most esthetic outcome. An experienced technician can formulate a blueprint or map of the desired result through proper communication between the patient, doctor and laboratory. Through a thorough understanding of natural tooth color components and how to replicate, along with information obtained in relation to understructures and adjacent teeth, successful results can be formulated and achieved.

Luke S. Kahng is an accomplished lab technician specializing in high-end ceramic restorations. Frustrations with the shade matching systems available to him inspired his creation of the Chairside Shade Guide. Originally comprised of Volumes 1 and 2, it was later expanded into a unique ceramic shade guide system, the Seasons of Life Selection. As an active contributor to the dental community, he has also held positions on several major dental journal boards, and is frequently a keynote speaker at numerous conventions, labs or his own lab-hosted seminars. Luke is also the owner and president of LSK121 Oral Prosthetics, high-profile entity. Located in Naperville, Ill., LSK121 provides oral restorative services and assistance transnationally. 

 Through experience and knowledge, it is a dental technician’s duty to foresee the final outcome from an esthetic standpoint when a less than ideal situation is presented.

Bench Mastery: How to foresee the final outcome of a dental restoration case

 has long been an industry leader in innovation when it comes to their 

. This system presents a variety of solutions that allow dental laboratories to scan and design in the lab and then send a file to Straumann for milling.

Some of the latest entries into the CARES family are Screw-Retained Bars & Bridges. We recently spoke with Valerie Rhodes, Product Manager for CARES Prosthetics at Straumann, about what led to the development of CARES Screw-Retained Bars & Bridges, why labs are going to benefit from this new workflow option and how labs that invest in the workflow can continue to receive education and support.

Read: Straumann announceds screw-retained bars and bridges earlier this year

DLP: What is your role at Straumann? What role did you play during the rollout of Screw-Retained Bars & Bridges (SRBB)?

: I am the Product Manager for CARES Prosthetics so I work with the Straumann team to launch and market customized milled abutments, elements and our line of Screw-Retained Bars & Bridges. When new products come out such as our CARES Milled Bar and Basic Fixed Bar, the product management team ensures sales has the tools to educate the customer on features and benefits as well as access to these restorative solutions. 

What was Straumann hearing from around the industry that led to the development of SRBB?

There is a need for flexible and efficient treatment solutions for fully edentulous patients. Dental laboratories have to provide customized restorations for clinicians in order to retain their business. Imagine the impact it would have on a dental lab if they were to lose a handful of their top referrals to a competitive lab that was marketing innovative restorations? They need economical and efficient solutions and an original Straumann restoration. CARES® Milled Bar, CARES® Basic Fixed Bar and Straumann’s SRBB portfolio on abutment level provide required treatment efficiency and flexibility. 

In your opinion, what sets these Straumann products apart from other bars and bridge options?

First, reliable quality through the original Straumann connection, offering Straumann quality, fit and mechanical performance. The Straumann CARES® SRBB implant connections are designed to provide a precise and lasting fit to Straumann implants. The lab’s customers will benefit from this precision. The validated workflow is another differentiation factor. Straumann CARES ensures quality every step of the way, from raw materials selection and the scan and design interface through precise, consistent milling. We also stand by our products with a 10-year Straumann Guarantee for metal and resin nano ceramic restorations and a five-year Straumann Guarantee for ceramic restorations.

Next page: How SRBB impacts labs, and what patients have been saying ...

How do these fit in with the CARES workflow?

, CARES and DWOS, labs now have two popular bar options that were not previously available through our Arlington milling facility. Now with the ability to design the Straumann Milled Bar and Basic Fixed Bar on their design software, these labs can offer the original Straumann connection at fixture level or abutment level. Prior to this, these two popular bar types were not available to anyone with the original Straumann implant to abutment interface. 

Related reading: Straumann CARES Variobase Abutments will soon be a standalone product

Do these solutions fit in with other workflow options, or is it a closed system? 

For now, these solutions are exclusive to laboratories using CARES or Dental Wings software. For other labs wanting to offer these new bar designs for surgeons that demand original components, they can take advantage of our Scan & Shape service. They simply send us a model and we design the bar for them. 

How have the CARES SRBB pushed the lab industry forward?

Labs have more options. CARES SRBB offer design flexibility with direct placement on implants, or on the new Straumann Screw-Retained Abutment (Bone Level) providing individualized solutions for edentulous patients. The Screw-Retained Abutments, available in various angulations and gingival heights, allow restorations in cases with diverging implants. 

How does Straumann provide education and support to labs who invest in this system?

Our Lab Territory Managers have expertise in all Straumann solutions and are there to support the laboratory. We get our lab partners involved with study groups. We also have technical trainers who provide a variety of education courses and additional training on design through regular webinars. Our technical support and customer service departments provide answers for the lab’s technical questions and advice on restorative options. 

What kind of response have you heard from doctors or patients who use the end product?

Customers are happy with the fit and performance. They support Straumann’s efforts to provide original Straumann final restorations on our implants. If you’d like to learn more, please contact your local Straumann Lab Territory Manager or visit 

Read now: What you NEED to know about digital dentistry

 Straumann has long been an industry leader in innovation when it comes to their CARES® system. This system presents a variety of solutions that allow dental laboratories to scan and design in the lab and then send a file to Straumann for milling.

Straumann CARES brings new options to bars and bridges [VIDEO]

 is a full service lab located in New Albany, Ind., just across the river from Louisville, Ky. The lab is family owned, and was started in 1972. The lab has 11 full-time dental technicians, and 13 total full-time employees.

The lab primarily works with private practice dentists, but also has a close relationship with the University of Louisville. Roy Dental Lab also works with many prosthodontists. The lab does everything from crown and bridge work to implants, and incorporates both traditional and digital tools in lab work. The laboratory works with around 70 dentists, both local and non-local. 

 is among the most cost-effective and versatile option for metal ceramic crowns and long span bridges available today. The 

 material has an ultra-dense and stable microstructure that reportedly creates predictable results time and time again for technicians. BEGO, which has extensive experience in dental SLM technology since 2001, offers both BegoPal+ as an SLM option and also offers the Base metal 

In February of 2013, Roy Dental Lab was looking for a new solution. They had decided they wanted to go with CAD/CAM for their PFM substructures, and they were looking for a partner who would help them get there. Naturally, they decided to look at all the available options at Lab Day Chicago. While at the show, they learned about the options offered by selective laser melting (SLM), which was being used by several companies to produce substructures. In such a workflow, a lab designs a file, submits it to an SLM partner who “prints” the substructure on an SLM system, and then the substructure is sent back to the lab for porcelain build-up. 

Roy Dental decided SLM was the right choice for them. In May 2013, they started talking to BEGO USA, which was beginning to ready the release of its SLM substructures to the larger market. “As BEGO came online, we began to send a couple of test cases, and we got great results,” remembers Travis Roy, CFO/COO of Roy Dental Lab. “Their ability to offer both precious alloys [like BegoPal+] and non-precious options was a big selling point, since most other companies only offered casting of precious materials. [Casting] wasn’t something that appealed with us, because with SLM we could do the design in house and then send it out.”

“The nice thing about SLM is you can do metal occlusal, you can do full cast,” Roy explains. “Warping from bridges is no longer an issue. You don’t have to worry about that anymore. You can have confidence that what you design, you will receive. Just like the computer, what you put in, you get out. That’s what BegoPal+ does: gives the confidence that what you send, you will receive, time after time after time.”

Initially, Roy was drawn to BEGO for their time commitments. “One of the main reasons we chose them was the turnaround time, but as we’ve worked with them more, they’re just a great group of people to work with,” Roy continues. “We’ve been working exclusively with them for over nine months, and they’ve been doing all our substructures that we outsource. If we don’t have to cast it, we don’t.”

Stephanie Tinsley, CDT and chief CAD/CAM designer at Roy Dental Lab, says much the same about BEGO’s SLM process. “Our turnaround time is down from two weeks to a week,” she explains. “After two days [at BEGO], it’s back in the lab where porcelain can be applied. It’s just a faster process than waiting for the casting process.”

Go deeper: Examining precious-free alloys

Roy Dental Lab uses BegoPal+ for most of their substructures. They like having a noble alloy as an option they can offer to their customers-and they like the results. “Most porcelain systems are compatible with this alloy,” Roy explains. “It’s a chrome cobalt alloy with palladium in it, which gives it a noble rating. Having a CTE that is consistent with most porcelain systems makes it a no-brainer.”

“The fit is awesome,” Tinsley adds. “I’ve had no issues with the fit on the dies. It eliminates a lot of variables from casting. It’s a very consistent product. As far as bridges go, we also use [BEGO] for multispan bridges, from a roundhouse down to a two-unit with printed wings attached. As long as you can design it, you can get it printed.

“We’ve had no issue with the metal, as long as you treat it properly. It’s a great material. I have heard no complaints. You really have to know by looking inside the crown to see if it’s cast or printed. We’ve had no fit issues at all.”

Also check out: 5 things you NEED to know about choosing an outsourcing partner

In addition to the excellent results, Tinsley and Roy are also pleased by the savings they’ve been able to see thanks to BEGO and BegoPal+. “There’s no variable in the cost,” Roy says. “It allows us to offer flat-rate pricing for our crowns, instead of a fee plus metal cost. That’s a very attractive thing because it allows us to consistently deliver a product to a doctor without them feeling like they’re subject to market forces.”

“Your waxing/casting/metal finishing labor dollars are freed to be used elsewhere in your lab,” Roy continues. “One area where bottlenecks in production can happen is in waxing. Now, we’re able to go from model room to porcelain room. The ROI is a higher quality product with a lesser labor intense product.”

This also enables Roy Dental Laboratory to unleash their employees’ knowledge, providing a value-add for current and potential dental clients. “The nice thing about what Stephanie does, she has an intimate knowledge of how copings need to be designed on a substructure basis, and that’s one of the things we offer our doctors-we’re not just having any person doing that,” Roy notes. “It allows me to utilize her labor dollars to the fullest extent, because she’s able to give her expertise and do exponentially more than if she was to sit and wax. It’s a tangible shift for the labor dollars in your lab. It’s also more productive with the same amount of people. We’ve been able to increase our production load as a lab 25-30 percent. We’re able to do more in the same amount of time and reallocate those time resources.”

Additionally, using BEGO as an outsourcing partner for SLM substructures means that BEGO really is a partner. And for Roy and Tinsley, that’s become what sets BegoPal+ apart the most. “BEGO’s commitment to being a leader in this industry and environment is a differentiator,” Roy says. “They’ve put [in] a lot of time, effort and resources and it shows.”

Tinsley echoes those sentiments. “Their tech support is outstanding,” she notes. “If you have any issues, call them up. They’ll help you on the computer and check your settings. It’s amazing.”

Don't miss: 5 reasons you don't need to be afraid of chairside CAD/CAM

In the end, all of these qualities make both BEGO and BegoPal+ for SLM substructures a no-brainer for Roy Dental Lab. “I know there’s a little learning curve, but you’re getting accustomed to the material,” Roy says. “BEGO has great resources and they’ll put you in touch with labs who have used the material and make sure that transition is as painless as possible. Once you do it, there’s no going back. It’s a lifesaver to us, and I love the fact I don’t have to do it in my lab. They have PhD’s in metal printing-how can I duplicate that in my 13-person lab? But for the cost of a coping, I get to take advantage of that. I get to leverage my technology dollars. Right now, SLM is the best that is out there.”   

 Roy Dental Lab is a full service lab located in New Albany, Ind., just across the river from Louisville, Ky. The lab is family owned, and was started in 1972. The lab has 11 full-time dental technicians, and 13 total full-time employees.

A way to leave metal casting behind? [VIDEO]

 is designed to set a new benchmark in pressing technology.

The enhanced QTK2 muffle together with the SiC bottom reflector reportedly ensures optimum temperature distribution. The investment ring warms up evenly and efficiently, which leads to quality press and firing results.

Related: Check out the Programat P310 for a user-friendly for more basic cases.

The Programat EP 5010 also features an Automatic Infrared Monitoring (AIM™) system, which measures the exact temperature at the surface of the fired object and the investment ring. In case the investment ring is preheated insufficiently, a warning is automatically displayed. If the infrared technology feature is activated, the thermal imaging camera regulates the predrying and closing process. This technology is said to increase the convenience and process reliability of press and firing procedures.

		Designed to simply press difficult-to-press objects with thin marginal areas 

		Pre-installed with the material parameters for 

		New, improved technology including the QTK2 muffle, SiC bottom reflector and Automatic Infrared Monitoring (AIM™) system 

 from Ivoclar Vivadent can be optimally fired and pressed

Step by Step article: IPS e.max for implants

The Programat EP 5010 from Ivoclar Vivadent.

 The Programat® EP 5010 is designed to set a new benchmark in pressing technology.

A better press: The Programat EP 5010 from Ivoclar Vivadent

	Are you ready for a 3D printer?  Here are DLP's top three reasons a 3D printer might be beneficial to you.

Let’s face it ... there’s no cooler piece of technology out there right now than a 3D printer. It’s hard to go very far without seeing an article about the latest thing that was successfully printed using a 3D printer. When they start discussing the possibility of producing human organs with a 3D printer, how can you not think to yourself, “Wow, that is amazing!” Now imagine being in that same “wow” thought process with your customers. If you want your lab to appear very 21st century to your current (and potential) customers, a 3D printer is a must-have for your lab.

	02. It prints wax so you don't have to waxup

How nice would it be to be able to skip this manual step and be able to tell your customers that you are passing along that savings of cost and time to them? You’re still providing the same valuable preview to your customers, but you’re adding in that “wow” factor from above as well. Nice!

	03. It eliminates messy impressions and model-making

Whether it’s the patient, the dentist, the assistant or the lab, no one likes having to deal with the goop and gunk of impressions and stone models (read our cover story this month on page 24 to learn more about the digital impression age). With a 3D printer in your lab’s arsenal, the mess is a thing of the past, and you can still get a physical model. Goodbye yuckiness and hello future! 

Photo shows printed 3D wax framework created in the FrameWorx 3D Wax Printer from Stratasys.

This article originally appeared in the June 2014 issue of Dental Lab Products. For more great articles about products in action, click here to subscribe to 

 Are you ready for a 3D printer?  Here are DLP's top three reasons a 3D printer might be beneficial to you.  

The List: Top 3 reasons you might be ready for a 3D printer

In the ever-changing world of dental laboratories and technology, 

, believes it has found the pathway to continued success by incorporating an all-digital strategy. 

Gone are the days of waxing in this established lab, which recently celebrated its 42nd anniversary.

I sat down with Travis Zick, president of D&S, and Steve Daggett, C&B and CAD/CAM Manager of D&S, to talk about the lab’s all-digital workflow, some of the lab’s biggest triumphs and challenges, and the importance of their partnership with 

Kevin Henry: Tell me about your business.

Travis Zick: We’ve been around since 1972. We started as a single-man lab on the east side of Madison, Wis. Now we have five labs in Wisconsin and Illinois with just under 100 employees, including 75 technicians. D&S is a full-service lab that has the capability to produce everything in-house, and we are a Certified Dental Lab in all five specialties.

KH: Talk about your first steps into the digital workflow.

TZ: It’s been about 10 years since we got our first Lava mill. Almost six years ago, we went completely digital and eliminated waxing. That move allowed us to be more efficient. Today, we employ six different milling systems, nine design stations utilizing four types of design software for crowns, implants and partial frameworks, and two rapid prototype printers.

We’ve found digital provides more consistency and accuracy than handcrafted work. Going digital has allowed us to produce a consistent product and keep labor percentages reasonable in order to remain competitive. Doctors are also looking for partners who have the latest technology. As materials evolve, they want to know their laboratory can provide the latest products. We work hard to make sure we are known as that lab.

KH: What has “going digital” been like for your lab? What do you push out as advantages to your customers?

Steve Daggett: Going digital for us has really been an evolution. We started out years ago with Procera, and that was our introduction into CAD/CAM. We show doctors the advantages of going digital in the laboratory, but they want to know the advantages to them and their patients.

We point out accuracy, consistency, turnaround and competitive pricing as the main advantages to them. Digital technology literally makes everything in the lab quantifiable during the production of our products. If we need to adjust the contacts for a specific doctor, or add another coat of die spacer, we can quantify the exact amount to add or remove digitally.

KH: What’s your biggest challenge as a lab owner?

TZ: One of our most difficult challenges has been finding and training quality employees. I think that’s a day-to-day challenge and a common theme across our industry due to the disappearance of formal schooling for technicians.

We feel very fortunate to have an outstanding group of technicians and employees in our laboratory, but it is a challenge when we’re looking to bring someone in. In addition, the proliferation of lower priced products and materials over the past two to three years has changed the way laboratories must operate. These products produce less in revenue, but we are able to produce more of them with the help of technology. Beyond that, it really comes down to how you differentiate yourself as a lab.

Travis Zick (left) and Steve Dagget (right)

TZ: We position ourselves as a lab that is big enough to offer everything and do it in-house, but small enough to provide our clients with individualized customer service. When our clients call our laboratory, they are not greeted by an automated phone system, and they are able to speak directly to the technician who is working on their case. In addition, we are a resource and partner for our doctors, not just an order-taker.

In today’s rapidly changing world, doctors are depending on labs to provide them with information and advice. We feel it is our responsibility to be experts on materials and technology, so we can provide that support as a service.

SD: We always have to remember that the customer is the key. We tell our lab techs that ultimately everything they touch is geared toward making the patient and the dentist happy. We emphasize this isn’t just a thing you’re working on-you’re making that restoration for a person. That is somebody you are working on, not just a number.

 and what that has meant for your customers and your lab.

SD: When using the 3M True Definition Scanner, we know we are going to get accurate digital data. There are no bad batches of impression materials, no bite-throughs or questions of whether enough material was used, and no dies to trim. We know that 85 percent of all remakes happen in the beginning of the process, between the impression and the model.

This machine significantly reduces the opportunity for human error. Plus, a half-hour after the scan has been taken, we have the file and can start designing. Most laboratories now are digital even if the doctors are not. So, if we can eliminate the impression, shipping, model work and scanning of the models by receiving a scan from the doctor, we can save significant time in the production process.

It also makes communicating with the doctor much easier. We can send a screen capture in an email and the doctor can look at the same thing we are seeing. In addition, the truly open architecture of the 3M True Definition Scanner provides for an easier digital workflow without having to worry about dongles to ensure an open file transfer-this system is 100 percent open. That is very important in today’s laboratories where we use multiple pieces of equipment and multiple software programs to make our restorations. We can do everything with the data provided and can make any kind of restoration the doctor prescribes.

This lab near Madison, Wis., has made the digital leap with the help of their partners at 3M ESPE.

KH: Some labs are purchasing scanners for their customers as a way to drive business. How do you feel about that?

TZ: We haven’t purchased scanners for our clients. We believe the doctor has to make the investment so that he or she has truly been made a part of the process. Sure, there is a learning curve with any technology and there are times that people will give up on something if they haven’t made an investment into it. When you get something for free, it’s a lot easier to go back to the old way of doing things.

We want to show our doctors that, with a minimal investment, there are a lot of savings they will immediately see, and the return on investment for the scanner is very quick. We want to give them that incentive to purchase the scanner, use it properly, and send us their scans.

KH: Is there a certain type of dentist who is more excited about the digital workflow than others?

SD: We’re finding that the younger doctors are used to getting data through their cell phones so they are very comfortable with the digital side of things. They like technology and are comfortable with it. However, that being said, there isn’t just one demographic that we see as the ideal fit for this technology.

Any doctor, no matter the age or gender, can see the advantages to going digital if he or she has a busy practice. Dentists don’t have time for remakes or mistakes. They want to know that when they get a crown back from their lab, it will fit.

Lava™ Plus High Translucency Zirconia from 3M ESPE

SD: We like its colorization and predictability. With some of the other materials on the market, you never knew what you were going to get. That’s not the case with Lava Plus zirconia.

I think that is its greatest advantage, and it also looks really good. It’s a very esthetic full-contour zirconia that we also are able to use for our copings and products with minimal cutbacks. It helps us with the entire gamut of final restorations. Its strength is superior and it provides the customer with excellent esthetics.

TZ: From a business perspective, the flexibility of the material is extremely beneficial. As Steve said, we use Lava Plus zirconia for copings, partial cutbacks and full-contour crowns. We can even do multi-unit bridges with different finishes on each tooth depending on the indication. It has given us the ability to offer more options, but only incur the holding cost to stock one material. There really isn’t a downside to using this product.

KH: We’ve talked about the 3M True Definiton Scanner and Lava Plus zirconia. How important is your lab’s relationship with 3M ESPE?

TZ: We use our relationship with 3M ESPE as a marketing tool. We tell our clients that zirconia is not the same across the board, and they should always find out what type of material their lab is using. The properties can differ dramatically depending on how it is processed by the manufacturer and the laboratory.

We believe it’s very important to work with a trusted partner who produces trusted materials and is willing to stand by those materials. We also know the amount of research that 3M ESPE puts into a product before it goes to market, which makes it easy for our lab to feel comfortable introducing a new product or material to our clients.

Additionally, education is very important to our laboratory and our clients, and 3M ESPE always provides excellent support in terms of doctor and lab education. We couldn’t be happier with our relationship.

The 3M True Definition Scanner is accurate-and more consistently accurate-than leading systems on the market. Unlike many systems that are “closed,” 3M True Definition Scanner digital impression files can be used with any system that accepts STL files, and the scanner provides seamless integrations to a broad range of CAD/CAM, digital implant and orthodontic appliance workflows.

3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Plus High Translucency Zirconia 

Lava Plus zirconia is a zirconia system designed to deliver the esthetics of a layered restoration in a monolithic all-zirconia. Compared to other shaded zirconia materials, the unique formula of the Lava Plus zirconia system provides significantly higher translucency and beauty, without compromising strength.

In the ever-changing world of dental laboratories and technology, D&S Dental Laboratory in Waunakee, Wis., believes it has found the pathway to continued success by incorporating an all-digital strategy. 