Non-optimally positioned implants can significantly impede the ability of restorative dentists and their laboratory partners to deliver functional and esthetic restorations.

However, advanced CAD/CAM technology is making it increasingly possible to effectively restore even significantly malpositioned implants.

The following case study illustrates how eight implants from three different manufacturers, which were placed at different times, were not well aligned. Nonetheless, the implants were able to be restored with a CAD/CAM framework (

). Frameworks milled from solid titanium have been shown to fit more accurately than cast frameworks and are biocompatible.

 A 55-year-old male patient presented with a removable overdenture supported by implants from three different manufacturers (two 6 mm 

). The implants had been placed at different times, by different dentists. The angulations of the implants were severely compromised, with implant thread exposure and soft-tissue recession on several implants (

). The patient was known to have a severe gag reflex and was a bruxer with a low lip line. The treatment plan requested by the patient was for a fixed maxillary restoration.

?The implant impression copings in place.

 The restorative dentist removed the pre-existing restorative components and made a pick-up impression, using the appropriate non-engaging impression copings for each of the three implant systems (

 In the dental laboratory, implant-specific analogs were mated to their respective impression copings in the impression. A master cast was poured in die stone. For complex cases, it is well known that master casts should be verified. In this case, the non-engaging implant impression copings were placed onto their respective implant analogs in the master cast, and dental floss was intertwined around the impression coping bodies (

 To complete fabrication of the verification index, 

 (GC America) was applied to the floss/impression coping assemblies in small increments (

). Once the resin set, all of the impression coping screws were removed, except for one. Complete metal-to-metal fit (impression coping/analog) was verified. 

?Dental floss intertwined around the impression copings on the master cast.

 In the restorative office, the dentist tried the verification index onto the implants with the one-screw test. He noticed the fit was not accurate (complete metal-to-metal contact was not visible). He sectioned the verification index, noted that all of the copings fit the implants, and then reapplied GC Pattern Resin to connect all of the segments.

 Another impression, including the verification index, was made and sent back to the lab. New implant analogs were mated to their respective impression copings, and another master cast was fabricated. The verification index was removed from the master cast, and the one-screw test was done again. This time the fit was accurate. A maxillary record base and occlusion rim was made on it and returned to the dentist for jaw-relation records. The record base was returned to the laboratory, and the casts were mounted (

?The casts were mounted on an articulator.

?The BellaTek Copy-Milled Framework mounted on the master cast with the soft-tissue replica in place.

 Using conventional denture-fabrication principles, denture teeth were set (

). The wax denture was tried in. The patient approved the esthetics, and the dentist confirmed the occlusal relationships. The wax denture was re-contoured for use as a screw-retained acrylic-resin hybrid framework (for copy-milling). The maxillary master cast, the verification index, the copy-mill wax pattern, and the signed work order were sent to the BellaTek Production Center at BIOMET 

 The wax pattern was scanned, and a BellaTek Framework was milled from a solid blank of titanium. The framework was returned to the laboratory where the framework was tried onto the master cast (

 The patient had lost a significant amount of soft and hard tissue in the maxillary arch. To recreate the missing soft-tissue volume, the BellaTek Copy-Mill Framework was masked with an opaque, and zirconium silicate microceramic material (

). This material is available in an assortment of gingival colors that correspond to color variations in the natural dentition. The gingival mask was finished with standard abrasives such as stones and rubber wheels and polished.

?Facial view of the gingival microceramic material on the framework.

?Lateral view of the gingival microceramic material on the framework. 

?Full contour wax patterns seated on the BellaTek Framework.

 The copy-milled framework was duplicated, using a silicone-duplicating material that was mixed, poured into a duplicating flask, and put under pressure at 4 bars for 40 minutes. The model was removed from the silicone, and a new master cast was fabricated in die stone. Individual full-contour wax patterns were cast in 

). These were finished, put back on the individual dies (

), and the full contours of the teeth were re-established in wax. This set of wax patterns was then invested, and a pressable ceramic porcelain system was used to fabricate the all-ceramic crowns (

Full contour was patterns on the individual dies.

?The crown restorations in place on the BellaTek

 The restoration and remaining crowns were returned to the dentist (

). The BellaTek Framework was seated intraorally and secured with manufacturer-specific abutment screws. These were tightened to the appropriate torque per each manufacturer’s instructions. The implant-supported crowns corresponding to tooth Nos. 5, 8, and 12 were cemented with 

 while tooth Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 were cemented with temporary cement so the screws could be accessed for removal, if necessary (

?Panoramic radiograph of the definitive restoration.

This patient was successfully treated with a CAD/CAM (BellaTek) framework that has been shown to fit accurately on multiple implant connections. Although the patient had received implant from three manufacturers and several were non-optimally placed, the case was recovered successfully by combining conventional prosthodontic principles with advanced implant restorative technologies. 

1. Drago C, Saldarriaga RL, Domagala D, et al: Volumetric determination of the amount of misfit in CAD/CAM and cast implant frameworks: a multicenter laboratory study. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2010;25:920-929.

2. Takahashi T, Gunne J: Fit of implant frameworks: an in vitro comparison between two fabrication techniques. J Prosthet Dent 2003;89:256-260.

This article originaly appeared in the April 2013 issue of 

. For more great behind-the-scenes articles like this, 

click here or on the magazine below to subscribe

Articles

Using a BellaTek Copy Milled Framework to solve a tricky case

 transformed the world of restorative dentistry several years ago with the introduction of IPS Empress®, the ultimate in metal-free esthetics. Then they changed everything again with the stronger, popular 

. Now Ivoclar Vivadent is taking another step toward delivering solutions to laboratories of all sizes and services with the recent acquisition of 

By adding Wieland Dental and its popular full contour zirconia brand 

, along with Wieland Precision Technology as a digital outsource option, Ivoclar Vivadent can now offer a full range of choices for labs.

“As the world leader in all-ceramic restorative materials, we are always moving in new directions to provide exciting, innovative products,” Ivoclar Vivadent CEO Robert Ganley said. “We are committed to offering dental professionals world-wide the most advanced technologies, highest quality products, and world-class education.”

It was during the Chicago Midwinter Meeting and Lab Day that Ivoclar Vivadent announced its latest acquisitions. Wieland Dental and WPT offer two different solutions for monolithic zirconia restorations.

“The need to change has never changed,” Ganley said. “By acquiring these companies, we are poised to stay ahead of the curve and can now offer our customers all-ceramics all-options.”

With this article, DLP takes a close look at Ivoclar Vivadent and Wieland Dental and will share insights from experts in the laboratory and the clinical side of the dental world.

By now, plenty of lab technicians and clinicians have produced a number of restorations using today’s top all-ceramic materials, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has worked with IPS e.max more than Matt Roberts and Lee Culp.

Roberts, a world class ceramist, and Culp, a pioneer in ceramic materials and CAD/CAM dentistry, each have taken advantage of material advancements delivered by Ivoclar Vivadent. The two pretty much use IPS e.max all the time-even if they use it differently in terms of CAD/CAM and milling situations for different cases.

“With IPS e.max the translucency level has increased to where we can use them for 99 percent of restorations and do a little bit of layering for our esthetics,” Roberts said. “It’s a wonderful material. I still haven’t seen failures with it.

“It’s also a very conservative material. I can do very thin restorations with it. I can press it down to a tenth or two tenths of a millimeter, where with the leucite reinforced glass it was six-tenths so we don’t have to take away as much tooth structure. Really IPS e.max has kind of taken over most everything we do other than bridges or really dark teeth with metal posts in them. Then we still need some zirconia or metal to hide those. That’s where the Wieland Dental products come in to play. Really between those two materials that covers 99 percent of anything I would ever do.”

Culp, the CTO for Microdental Laboratories, was among the first technicians ever to use Empress and IPS e.max. Culp also used to work at D4D Technologies, which makes the E4D Dentist System.

“We’re milling anywhere from 150 to 200 IPS e.max CAD cases a day and have been incredibly satisfied with the material in what we’re doing. We’re also one of the biggest customers for Zenostar Zirconia,” Culp said. “Because pretty much everything Microdental does in manufacturing - other than PFM and that’s not really in the all-ceramic range - comes off of a computer and out of a machine.

“We love IPS e.max, we can either mill or press it and we get beautiful esthetics.”

As a former employe of Ivoclar Vivadent, Culp was the first technician in North America to complete restorations with Empress and later IPS e.max. He’s still a big fan of both products, realizing that pressing with Empress is still a great economical choice in many cases. And now with the Wieland brands as part of the Ivoclar Vivadent family, he feels the company has all things covered for all labs.

“Between IPS e.max and zirconia, and even Empress, you pretty much have everything you’d need,” Culp said. “If you look at the materials, Ivoclar has the materials covered. For a smaller lab, that does not have a mill, the WPT is going to be a very good option for the people that can’t afford the milling machines. They’re covering all the options that a laboratory, large or small, may want to do with all-ceramic restorations. Whether they want to press, mill or mill themselves...whether they want to go ahead and use the WPT for milling. There’s a lot of options.”

Dr. Jonathan L. Ferencz, FACP, Clinical Professor of Prosthodontics, New York University College of Dentistry, has worked with all-ceramics for many years. When IPS e.max was first introduced, he was part of a team of researchers who were asked to test the material’s strength. It’s safe to say the material passed the tests.

“At New York University, where I’m on faculty, we used mouth motion function machines to test IPS e.max,” he said. “We’d put it through one million chewing cycles and simulate two and three times the normal force and we couldn’t fail the units. We couldn’t break them. We found it actually outperformed PFM and that’s been confirmed with our experience in our practice and on patients.”

But IPS e.max is not just strong. The material is so dominant in large part because of its optimal esthetics.

“The major advances since I left dental school I would say are dental implants and the advent of all white materials for dental restorations,” Dr. Ferencz said. “They have come a huge, huge distance. Historically the white materials really came as a replacement to the high costs of gold as well as the patients’ desires to have more natural replacements.

“First you had Empress, and it has been slowly replaced for many by IPS e.max. It has every bit the esthetics and it virtually has double the flexural strength and double the refracture strength. So IPS e.max restorations have virtually replaced Empress restorations, but also replaced many zirconia veneered with porcelain restorations, PFM and porcelain fused to aluminum. It’s really become the giant in dental ceramics. Esthetics were not compromised and the strength was virtually doubled.”

Another big plus for IPS e.max, Dr. Ferencz said, is that the material also is well suited for CAD/CAM restorations.

“It was engineered from the very onset to work with two different systems of fabrication,” he said. “One was the traditional hand pressed lost wax technique method, which makes it very comfortable for those who have been in dentistry a long time and prefer more traditional methods. At the same time that made it suitable for in-office CAD/CAM systems…it’s really taken the dental industry by storm. In my office we have three prosthodontists and four in-house laboratory technicians. We have done probably 2,500 to 3,000 IPS e.max restorations, and I think you can count the number of fractures or chips on one hand. It’s really quite incredible.”

Barbara Warner Wojdan is a highly accomplished ceramist-artisan and nationally recognized leader in functional-esthetic dentistry. With more then 20 years experience in multiple phases of comprehensive dentistry, she currently serves as President of Knight Dental Group, located in Oldsmar, Florida, where her passion and focus remain in the development and direction of high profile functional-esthetic dentistry and advanced laboratory-dentist communications.

While she too is impressed with the material advances in terms of look and strength, she credits Ivoclar Vivadent with also delivering products that lead to proper function.

“Certainly, Ivoclar Vivadent has been the recognized leader in almost every facet of esthetic dentistry, but I feel it equally important to recognize their commitment to the functional aspects as well,” she said. “The combination of beauty and performance is truly the reason we have experienced the success of all-ceramics materials and the standards for new materials are set high as a result.”

But having said that, advances in technology and in material science in recent years have really changed the game, Warner Wojdan said.

“Both the clinical and technical segments of dentistry have experienced evolutionary changes in all-ceramic materials and applications. These changes have been driven equally by patient demand for esthetics as well as clinical demand for predictability in strength and reliability,” she said. “Monolithic posterior restorative material options such as lithium disilicate and full-contour zirconia are rapidly replacing traditional PFM as the contemporary materials of choice. Multiple strength and wear studies coupled with reliable placement options will continue to direct this shift in material selection. Without question, digital technology further elevates the efficiency and accuracy of how the restorations are processed…from impressions to manufacture of the restorations. CAD/CAM is fast becoming the communication and application processes of choice.”

Dr. Robert Winter, a prosthodontist who also is a master dental technician and a member of the Spear Faculty, backs up Warner Wojdan’s statement.

“The most significant advancement in materials is the development of monolithic lithium disilicate,” Dr. Winter said. “No other material has comparable strength and esthetics, and it has demonstrated decisive long-term clinical performance. It can be utilized for monolithic posterior or anterior restorations, or layered labially for an improved esthetic outcome. Monolithic lithium disilicate possesses impressive fabrication technique versatility. Restorations can be produced through use of CAD/CAM technology in the office or laboratory, or by using a wax and press technique.”

And Ivoclar Vivadent’s acquisitions of both Wieland Dental and WPT will only add to these opportunities.

“The partnership that Ivoclar Vivadent has undertaken with Wieland Dental is a vital step in the advancement of material science and CAD/CAM technology. Wieland Dental produces one of the best translucent zirconia materials for use in fabricating full contour monolithic posterior restorations, and has highly accurate and affordable dry or dry/wet milling machines. The marriage of Ivoclar Vivadent and Wieland Dental has created a company that will dominate the market in the advancement of dental restorative materials and CAD/CAM technology,” Dr. Winter said. 

Ivoclar Vivadent transformed the world of restorative dentistry several years ago with the introduction of IPS Empress®, the ultimate in metal-free esthetics. Then they changed everything again with the stronger, popular IPS e.max®. Now Ivoclar Vivadent is taking another step toward delivering solutions to laboratories of all sizes and services with the recent acquisition of Wieland Dental and Wieland Precision Technology (WPT) .

An all-ceramic solution for everyone [VIDEO]

Regardless of price, many patients are looking for answers to their esthetic needs. They know technology will allow them even better results than ever before. 

Thanks to the demand, dental professionals are always looking for better options to meet these needs. Fortunately, the same technology that has created the demand also enables exciting new possibilities.

One of the best restoration options for these esthetically challenging cases is metal-free zirconia. With this type of restoration, porcelain butt margins can be avoided while maintaining maximum strength in the restoration. With a milling machine in-house and the proper color in a zirconia block, a beautiful metal-free substructure can be created.

This article illustrates the technician’s steps in matching custom shade coloring for an esthetic case.

In Fig. 1, the patient’s initial custom shade appointment indicated 50% opacity, gingival and body color with translucency modification to the gingival, body and incisal color.

The proper tool was used for custom shade taking, using three different colors -Y5, Y6 and Y7 for youthful coloration with 50% opacity, white calcification and translucency included in the porcelain tab.

The clinician’s prep design used an ovate pontic design that worked well with the technician’s plan of action making success more accessible (Fig. 2).

 2 machine then designed and milled the zirconia with accurate 5-axis precision within the milling machine (Fig. 3).

After milling, the sprue was cut with rubber (Fig. 4).

The sprue was then removed, and put back for the pre-shading stage (Fig. 5).

After sintering, the color difference can be observed (Fig. 6). At the same time, implant abutments can be created for a four-unit bridge, which is both efficient and cost-saving because one zirconia block is used for the whole process.

For proper, 50% opacity, GC One Body porcelain (

) with one color for one powder layering was used (Fig. 7).

After firing at 810°C, the three-unit bridge had the appearance featured (Fig. 8).

After contouring, lustre paste was applied and fired at 780°C. From the gingival 1/3 and the body an incisal illusion was created by using a brown coloring in this stage (Fig. 9).

For 3 units, the amount of lustre paste color differed because there are more units involved (Fig. 10).

In the mirror image the gingival 1/3 cervical color is bright while the pre-molar color is darker in shade. Interproximally, they are the same (Fig. 11).  By using various lustre paste colors, a different coloration within the restoration was created that was not monochromatic in color. This does not follow the “A1/A2 coloring” seen in most restorations, but the goal is a natural, life-like restoration, which is never monochromatic in appearance.

During a try-in the mouth (Fig. 12), the white horizontal lines, and the brown, orange tones were checked to make sure they had been naturally mimicked.

Half-way into the mouth a photo was taken to give a different view of the mouth, partly closed (Fig. 13).

It was then thought the restoration might require a little more stain, which could be examined more closely in the mouth (Fig. 14). A decision was then made to try and see how the appearance changed. Ultimately, it was decided that there was too much translucency so the stain was removed before baking the restoration.
	 

An immediate try-in reveals a natural looking restoration with beautiful tissue (Fig. 15). The dentist in the case is a periodontist and took special care of the tissue for the patient. The color, balance and design are all in alignment.

The important point in this case is not to worry about custom shading. There are many solutions and a lot of answers for those who seek them. The use of multi-layering can yield excellent results but many times it is unnecessary.

The one-body color achieved with GC Lustre Paste is all that is needed for these esthetic accomplishments. Once one is able to figure out the opacity of the adjacent dentition and identify the color characteristics between the teeth, they can likely get the final results they seek with this product-at least 40% of the time. Not only are the results beautiful, the technique is efficient and effective. Both the patient and clinician will be pleased with the results, thus reaching the final goal successfully.

How to create beautiful restorations using metal-free zirconia

Regardless of price, many patients are looking for answers to their esthetic needs. They know technology will allow them even better results than ever before. Thanks to the demand, dental professionals are always looking for better options to meet these needs.

Fortunately, the same technology that has created the demand also enables exciting new possibilities. One of the best restoration options for these esthetically challenging cases is metal-free zirconia. With this type of restoration, porcelain butt margins can be avoided while maintaining maximum strength in the restoration. With a milling machine in-house and the proper color in a zirconia block, a beautiful metal-free substructure can be created.

?Custom shade tabs were used for color matching.

?Amann Girrbach Ceramill Motion Mill 2. 

, the patient’s initial custom shade appointment indicated 50% opacity, gingival and body color with translucency modification to the gingival, body and incisal color. The proper tool was used for custom shade taking, using three different colors -Y5, Y6 and Y7 for youthful coloration with 50% opacity, white calcification and translucency included in the porcelain tab.

 The clinician’s prep design used an ovate pontic design that worked well with the technician’s plan of action making success more accessible (

 machine then designed and milled the zirconia with accurate 5-axis precision within the milling machine (

 After milling, the sprue was cut with rubber (

). The sprue was then removed, and put back for the pre-shading stage (

 After sintering, the color difference can be observed (

). At the same time, implant abutments can be created for a four-unit bridge, which is both efficient and cost-saving because one zirconia block is used for the whole process.

) with one color for one powder layering was used (

). After firing at 810°C, the three-unit bridge had the appearance featured (

?50% Opacity, GC One Body One Color Porcelain

 After contouring, lustre paste was applied and fired at 780°C. From the gingival 1/3 and the body an incisal illusion was created by using a brown coloring in this stage (

). For 3 units, the amount of lustre paste color differed because there are more units involved (

). In the mirror image the gingival 1/3 cervical color is bright while the pre-molar color is darker in shade. Interproximally, they are the same (

).  By using various lustre paste colors, a different coloration within the restoration was created that was not monochromatic in color. This does not follow the “A1/A2 coloring” seen in most restorations, but the goal is a natural, life-like restoration, which is never monochromatic in appearance.

), the white horizontal lines, and the brown, orange tones were checked to make sure they had been naturally mimicked. Half-way into the mouth a photo was taken to give a different view of the mouth, partly closed (

). It was then thought the restoration might require a little more stain, which could be examined more closely in the mouth (

). A decision was then made to try and see how the appearance changed. Ultimately, it was decided that there was too much translucency so the stain was removed before baking the restoration.

 An immediate try-in reveals a natural looking restoration with beautiful tissue (

). The dentist in the case is a periodontist and took special care of the tissue for the patient. The color, balance and design are all in alignment.

The important point in this case is not to worry about custom shading. There are many solutions and a lot of answers for those who seek them. The use of multi-layering can yield excellent results but many times it is unnecessary. The one-body color achieved with 

 is all that is needed for these esthetic accomplishments. Once one is able to figure out the opacity of the adjacent dentition and identify the color characteristics between the teeth, they can likely get the final results they seek with this product-at least 40% of the time. Not only are the results beautiful, the technique is efficient and effective. Both the patient and clinician will be pleased with the results, thus reaching the final goal successfully.

Kahng on an efficient way to match color

 is the next generation of advanced, fully automatic, high-performance digital scanners from Amann Girrbach designed to work seamlessly with the Motion 2 Mill. 

With the functionality, capabilities and precision of the 

 is even lighter, faster and one-third smaller.

Highly sensitive 3D sensors and a wide-angle measuring field allow the lab to precisely scan articulated casts, bite registrations, diagnostic models, gingiva and wax-ups plus bridges up to 14 units quickly and easily.

A wide-angle measuring field specifically minimizes the number of scan images required, while just two axes greatly reduce the scan times of full arches and articulated casts.

The Map400’s open platform, fully integrated with the Ceramill Mind Software, also provides the freedom to work seamlessly with any other open hardware or software. Theflexibility to easily export, import, modify, or process .STL files and exchange data with other dental professionals makes this an exceptionally versatile and open scanner.

		New wide-angle measuring field provides an unlimited indication width reducing the number of scan images needed.

		Two-axes reduce scan times of full arches and articulated casts.

		Fully automatic strip light scanner quickly and easily scans bridges up to 14 units.

		Compatible with the virtual articulator synched with the Artex® Cr  to easily process articulated models and automatically fabricate complete anatomic frameworks.

		Automatic user-guidance enables easy and safe operation.  

		Open platform to produce .STL files.
		

The new Ceramill Map400 Scanner is the next generation of advanced, fully automatic, high-performance digital scanners from Amann Girrbach designed to work seamlessly with the Motion 2 Mill. 

Tech Brief: Precise scanning with the Ceramill Map400 Scanner

When the research and development team at 

 started developing dental alloys they found themselves in a challenging spot. The materials that were being utilized at the time were both expensive and limited. Today they have found a solution in 

NobleBond is a flat-priced Noble PFM alloy produced by Argen Corporation. It can be used for all PFM applications and in place of non-precious alloys when casting over implants. This material is budget friendly and a highly corrosion resistant alternative to gold and palladium based alloys.

According to Product Developer Paul Cascone, NobleBond offers two important benefits over other materials, thus filling a need in the best way possible.  

First, it uses a Noble metal that is not actively traded, so there isn’t any price volatility.  This has allowed Argen to provide a fixed selling price for all of 2013.  This was never possible with other alloys.   

“One of the things that our clients have always asked for is a stable price, but it’s been very difficult to do with gold and palladium,” Cascone said. “So this product really fits that bill. From a marketing standpoint they are guaranteed the price until the end of the year.  That’s a pretty big statement.”

WATCH THIS VIDEO OF ARGEN CASTING NOBLEBOND:

The second reason NobleBond fills a need better than other products is the unexpected corrosion resistance it created. When the researchers at Argen first released NobleBond, they underestimated its versatility. A study was conducted at the University of Alabama that compared NobleBond with other alloys. Researchers discovered that it reacts to corrosion in the same fashion as palladium, a precious and much more costly material. This type of reaction is attributed solely to the addition of ruthenium. NobleBond is the only cobalt alloy to react in this manner. 

Recently, Argen has observed dental labs taking NobleBond’s uses one-step further. They’re using it in combination with titanium implants in place of non-precious alloys.  Where other non-precious materials would be prone to corrode, NobleBond stands up to the trials and shows no signs of corrosion. Therefore, it does the job of a precious alloy without the overwhelming price and market fluctuations.

Overall, Cascone is very proud of the final product and the journey he and his team set upon in order to achieve the success they’ve experienced.  

“Honestly, I’m just proud that we were able to do it,” he said. “We took this from a little known alloy on day one to a fully manufacturable and usable product that’s much more accessible and affordable for everyone.” Lab

“The development has always been driven by the economics of the commodity market, that being either gold or palladium,” said Cascone. “So the two biggest driving forces were: number one, to make as economical an alloy as possible and number two, keep it within the ADA classification of Noble.”

When the price of gold started its steep climb in the 1970’s, palladium and silver were used in its place when it came to bonds. Later, gold was replaced entirely with palladium. But then, in the mid 1990s the prices of palladium went up and gold prices went down so gold replaced palladium during this time.

Overall, the dental community was unhappy with the lack of stability when it came to the price of alloys.

With the constantly fluctuating metal market, Argen’s research and development started looking for a more stable alternative. Early on, they investigated the ADA classification system including the gold, platinum and palladium already in use, along with the other platinum group elements. Of the platinum group elements rhodium and iridium were explored, but eventually ruled out. That’s when the team started testing ruthenium. Though it came with its own initial set of hurtles like mining and its initial manufacturing process, the material fit the bill and the need, so Argen’s research and development team decided to run with the concept.

According to Cascone, the process was fraught with struggle and frustration, but the end definitely justified the means.

“The technology is unique enough that we were able to get patents, not only in the United States, but also in Germany and Great Britain,” he said. “However, the manufacturing of this product turned out to be much more of a challenge than we originally thought.”

Once the right best combination of materials was determined, then the team was set upon the difficult task of mass production. It took them a while to test out and learn the best way of making NobleBond reliable and in large quantities. However, once they did find that ideal and stable production process they were able to market it internationally. Today, NobleBond is available in over 105 countries all over the world.

click here to find out more information about Argen NobleBond

When the research and development team at Argen started developing dental alloys they found themselves in a challenging spot. The materials that were being utilized at the time were both expensive and limited. Today they have found a solution in NobleBond™. 

How NobleBond changes the game in metals [VIDEO]

Dental lab marketing has been forever transformed. 

Over the past 15-20 years, the ever-increasing influence of the Internet on how people get information and consume media has caused a sea change that has slowly but surely trickled down to the dental profession. Dental lab owners hear buzzwords like social media, search engine optimization, and online communication at every turn. 

Suddenly, lab owners are forced to not only familiarize themselves with a new repertoire of methods to promote their labs, but also an entirely new vocabulary of terms including Likes, Tweets, blogs and online reviews. It’s a challenge for seasoned marketing experts to stay on top of the latest metrics and trends, and even more difficult for lab owners to keep up with while also running and managing a busy dental lab.

But these new tactics have proven themselves to be more than just trends-now, they are valuable staples of the marketing plan for any dental lab. The lab’s website and the ubiquitous Facebook business page has supplanted the all-important ad in the phone book. Having a presence on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, revamping an outdated website, writing a blog and asking dentists to post online reviews are all critical components of a marketing communication plan that can reach today’s target dentist client.

Professionals in general-and those of us in the dental industry in particular - are sometimes hesitant to make the leap from old school tactics to new school methods. Venturing into the unknown can be overwhelming, especially when valuable marketing dollars are on the line. However, doing so can be well worth the trouble.

One of the most meaningful advantages of many online and modern marketing methods is the countless opportunities to connect with both active and prospective clients every day of the year. In addition to providing continuous opportunities to engage with clients, these new marketing methods encourage dentists to share their positive experiences with others. 

While word of mouth marketing always has been a critical component of any dental lab’s marketing strategy, social media and review sites such as Facebook, Yelp, Angie’s List and Google+ Local take the word of mouth to the next level, providing “social proof” about the lab on third-party websites. These sites tend to have more credibility than the testimonials page of the lab’s website, and also allows positive reviews to live on in perpetuity. 

Gone are the days of writing a check and hoping the advertising pays off later. Online tools that provide real-time tracking and ROI metrics are now available. Website tracking technology makes it painless for lab owners to see how many people have visited their website at any given time, the amount of time each visitor stays on the site, how people arrived at the site and which pages are most viewed. 

Email platforms are used to send promotional email messages and electronic newsletters to large numbers of clients simply by hitting the 

 button. These systems also provide details such as the number of people who received the email, as well as any who have opened and read the message. Lab owners can monitor their email lists to determine which information most appeals to their client base, giving them priceless insight into what their dentist clients are looking for from their lab.

While new media marketing is what everyone is talking and blogging about, there is still a case to be made for traditional marketing mediums. It is important for labs to take their client profiles into consideration, and to use the marketing efforts that most effectively reach their target clients. 

Most importantly, effectively and consistently tracking the results of all marketing methods, both old school and new school, is essential. With objective analysis of the return on investment for every marketing dollar spent, it is possible to determine what has actually been successful-whether it be traditional or modern

Naomi Cooper is President & Founder of Minoa Marketing and Chief Marketing Consultant for Pride Institute. She is a respected dental marketing consultant, author, speaker and industry opinion leader who co-teaches Pride’s marketing course, The New Rules of Dental Marketing. Naomi can be reached at 

Dental lab marketing has been forever transformed.  Over the past 15-20 years, the ever-increasing influence of the Internet on how people get information and consume media has caused a sea change that has slowly but surely trickled down to the dental profession. Dental lab owners hear buzzwords like social media, search engine optimization, and online communication at every turn. 

The most important (new) way to market your lab

Lang Dental was founded in 1929 by Samuel C. Lang. The company was housed in a small bungalow on the north side of Chicago. The first products were a zinc oxide and eugenol cement and silver filings that were used to make silver amalgam fillings. We no longer produce these items.

In 1989, the company built a modern, 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Wheeling, Illinois, about 10 miles north of O’Hare Airport. All of our products are manufactured, tested, packaged, inspected, and shipped from our headquarters at 175 Messner Drive.

3. How many generations of Lang have been involved in the management of Lang Dental?

I am the third generation. I joined the company in 1973. Sam Lang ran the company from 1929 until 1957. My father, Ed Lang, was a chemical engineer. He joined the company in 1945 when he was discharged from the Navy. Ed ran the company until 1979. It was under Ed Lang’s administration we introduced the JET line of auto-polymerizing acrylic resins. Today, there is a fourth generation of the Lang family involved in management. My daughter, Kate Seger, joined the company in 2002 and my other daughter, Jennie Dompke, started in 2009.

Lang Dental sells its products worldwide through a network of authorized distributors; however, the 

end user is the practicing dentist and dental laboratory technician

Virtually every dentist who has graduated from a U.S. dental school in the past 40 years has been taught how to make a provisional crown with JET Acrylic. The results are consistent and the colors are accurate. The end result is durable and color stable, ideal for long-term treatment.

6. What else do you offer besides JET Acrylic?

Over the years we have concentrated on developing and improving all forms of acrylic resin products. Acrylics are very versatile and can be effectively implemented into many procedures and appliances that will benefit the patient. We currently produce denture base resins, denture repair acrylic, orthodontic acrylic, provisional crown and bridge materials, denture reline products, and a number of materials that improve the function and esthetics of each of these products. A complete list of products is available on our updated website, langdental.com.

7. What does Lang Dental Manufacturing have that is new?

We recently started selling two new materials. The first is 

, a truly permanent resilient denture liner. NOVUS is a laboratory-processed resin that permanently bonds to the denture base and maintains its resiliency indefinitely. Additionally, it is easy to trim and finish, and does not promote microbial growth. This is a denture liner that will last the lifetime of the denture. The other new product is JET SET-4 provisional crown and bridge acrylic. This is the next generation of JET Acrylic. It is faster setting without any additional exotherm or distortion.

8. How has Lang Dental lasted so long under the same management?

The principles of unwavering quality and customer service are well ingrained in the company’s culture. That, together with value pricing, will allow any business to survive.

9. What is the most unusual application you have heard of for your products?

In the early days of the NASA Space Shuttle missions, a resin we produce was used as a fabric stiffening agent on the asbestos insulation between the skin of the spacecraft and the heat deflection tiles. This was the result of research done at Rockwell International. It goes to show that acrylics are a very versatile material, and Lang Dental is one of the few companies to have put a product into outer space.

Lang Dental will continue to expand the scope of its products. As technology changes and research expands, we will be keeping our eyes, ears and minds open to new ideas and applications for our current, and soon-to-be-current products.

This article originally appeared in the April 2013 issue of 

. To read more great articles like this every month, 

Dental Lab Products-2013-04-01