	Glidewell Dental Lab, provider of dental laboratory services and products, announced three promotions this month: one within Research & Development and two related to the Customer Relations department.

In R&D, Grant Bullis was promoted to Director of Implant R&D and Digital Manufacturing. In Customer Relations, Paula La Bar was promoted to Director of Customer Care, while Armine Khrimian transitioned into the role of Manager of Customer Relations. Grant, Paula and Armine are integral to the continued success of the dental lab, and Glidewell Laboratories is pleased to welcome them to their respective new roles.

	As Director of Implant R&D and Digital Manufacturing, Grant will oversee the lab's development, manufacturing and release of multiple implant and digital products and services. With more than 14 years of R&D experience, Grant's "inherently driven nature make him the right candidate to ensure that digital and implant manufacturing continue to support the company's strategic goals," stated Glidewell Laboratories COO Greg Minzenmayer.

Paula began her career at Glidewell in 1980 and held various roles throughout the company before becoming Manager of Customer Relations in 1996. As Director of Customer Care, Paula will be responsible for ensuring all customer contact across the lab exceeds the lab's service commitments. This will include corporate-wide review and oversight of all customer-facing employees. Working with the Call Center managers, she will define minimum performance standards, create needed reports and tools, and define companywide standards of care. Paula's outstanding service and communication skills make her ideal for this new position - a position that is critical to the future success of the dental lab.

Armine joined Glidewell in 1999 as a Customer Relations representative and was soon promoted to Training Coordinator and then to Team Lead. She assumed the position of Customer Relations Supervisor in 2005. In her new role as Manager of Customer Relations, Armine will ensure the company's standards in communication and service are utilized and that employees are equipped with the necessary skills to provide the lab's customers with outstanding service.

	Glidewell Dental Lab is a privately owned corporation that has more than 40 years of history as a provider of high-quality dental restorations to dental practitioners nationwide. It has its own 53-person R&D team and is the most resourceful dental lab in the world. Its newly developed CAD/CAM processing capabilities are recognized as among the most advanced in the lab industry. View our large selection of clinical videos, CE courses and our products and services.

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 Glidewell Dental Lab, provider of dental laboratory services and products, announced three promotions this month: one within Research & Development and two related to the Customer Relations department.

Glidewell Dental Lab announces promotions

	The IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council has announced that Zirkonzahn USA Inc., of Norcross, Ga., will begin providing IdentCeram certificates to all dental labs purchasing its zirconia milling block products.

	“Zirkonzahn USA Inc., is a welcome addition to the ranks of IdentCeram licensees. We now have 14 companies participating in the IdentCeram program along with 24 companies in the IdentAlloy program,” commented Charles Yenkner, Executive Director of the IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council.

	IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council is a nonprofit organization formed to raise healthcare standards through the documentation of alloys and ceramic materials used in dental restorations. For more information regarding the Council's materials documentation program and other activities, please call 888-577-2634 or visit 

. IdentAlloy and IdentCeram are trademarks of the IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council.

 The IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council has announced that Zirkonzahn USA Inc., of Norcross, Ga., will begin providing IdentCeram certificates to all dental labs purchasing its zirconia milling block products.  “Zirkonzahn USA Inc., is a welcome addition to the ranks of IdentCeram licensees. We now have 14 companies participating in the IdentCeram program along with 24 companies in the IdentAlloy program,” commented Charles Yenkner, Executive Director of the IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council.

Zirkonzahn to provide IdentCeram Certificates

	National Dentex Corporation, one of the largest owner/operators of dental laboratories in North America, announced that its shareholders adopted and approved a merger agreement with GeoDigm Corporation. National Dentex continues as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of GeoDigm, a technology based manufacturing and laboratory company and a portfolio company of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe ("Welsh Carson").

	"We believe that the Merger with GeoDigm provides an attractive all-cash valuation to our shareholders," said David L. Brown, Chief Executive Officer of National Dentex. "We look forward to partnering with GeoDigm and its ICON(R) platform to transform dental lab operations and create clear value for our dental clients," said Mr. Brown.

	"We look forward to working with National Dentex's strong management team and broad laboratory network, which are vital to extending ICON(R) technology's benefits to dental clients everywhere. Welsh Carson's financial sponsorship greatly increases the National Dentex - GeoDigm combination's acquisition capacity. This capacity offers unaffiliated laboratory owners an opportunity to acquire fundamentally transformative technology through joining an industry leader," said Andrew Hofmeister, Chief Executive Officer of GeoDigm.

	National Dentex Corporation serves an active customer base of over 24,000 dentists through 42 dental laboratories located in 28 states and one Canadian province. National Dentex's dental laboratories provide a full range of custom-made dental prosthetic appliances, including dentures, crowns, and fixed bridges, and other dental specialties.

	GeoDigm, based in Chanhassen, Minnesota, is a leading innovator in dental and orthodontic imaging and manufacturing technology. GeoDigm deploys its proprietary, digitally-enabled production system exclusively through GeoDigm Laboratories, delivering improved products and services to its client base of over five thousand dentists and orthodontists.

 National Dentex Corporation, one of the largest owner/operators of dental laboratories in North America, announced that its shareholders adopted and approved a merger agreement with GeoDigm Corporation. National Dentex continues as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of GeoDigm, a technology based manufacturing and laboratory company and a portfolio company of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe ("Welsh Carson").

NDX, GeoDigm merger completed

	Talladium President Ed Harms (left) and Candulor USA Managing Director Ted Smudde.

	Candulor USA, the leading Swiss tooth manufacturer, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Talladium Inc., based in Valencia, Calif., for the distribution of its entire line of removable products. The agreement provides Talladium Inc. with the rights to sell Candulor products in the United States.

	The growing demand for removable products combined with Talladium's proven track record will allow us to rapidly enter the removable market and establish significant growth” said Jason Frazier, Talladium Inc.’s National Sales Director. “The newly added Candulor product line signifies to our customers that Talladium values their needs for quality products not solely on the crown & bridge side. Our customers are very pleased with the increased selection of product, the quality, and the price.”

	Talladium, well known throughout the U.S., has built a reputation as a distributor of quality crown & bridge products with a special emphasis on supplying complete systems. The addition of the Candulor’s full removable line of products will allow Talladium customers to consolidate their purchases to one vendor.

	"Candulor is quite pleased with the addition of Talladium to our rapidly expanding US distribution network. Talladiums reputation as a high-profile distributor of dental products in the US is well known to us," said Ted Smudde, Managing Director, Candulor USA. "Their commitment to quality and service, as well as their success in introducing new products, was appealing to Candulor. We are particularly pleased that they will be selling our tooth lines through their well established distribution network."

	Candulor USA will continue to sell direct in the U.S. via its E-Shop and 800 number. The Talladium distribution will allow for Candulor customers and every lab, no matter where they are located, to have faster customer service and access to a larger base of sales representatives. The new arrangement also provides customers reduced shipping costs.

	Candulor, one of Europe’s leading tooth manufacturers, was formed in 1936 in Switzerland. In 1952 Candulor was first introduced in the U.S. by Dr. John P. Frush via private labelling the Swissedent tooth cards. In 1993, Candulor once again private labelled their tooth lines in the US under the name Geneva 2000. On April 1st, 2008 Candulor formed its U.S. subsidiary, Candulor USA. At inception of the U.S. subsidiary, all Candulor lines began selling direct in the U.S. under the Candulor brand name. Over the last 15 years, the Candulor product portfolio has been significantly expanded: new tooth lines, new acrylics, dental devices and materials for characterizing the teeth as well as denture base materials round off the range. Today, Candulor is one of the few companies to offer a complete prosthetic system.
	
	For more information on Candulor, please visit 

, contact our customer service at (800) 436-3827, or contact Talladium customer service at (800) 221-6449.

   Talladium President Ed Harms (left) and Candulor USA Managing Director Ted Smudde.  Candulor USA, the leading Swiss tooth manufacturer, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Talladium Inc., based in Valencia, Calif., for the distribution of its entire line of removable products. The agreement provides Talladium Inc. with the rights to sell Candulor products in the United States.

Talladium to distribute Candulor products in U.S.

	Despite well-publicized reception issues, more than 1.7 million people purchased Apple's iPhone 4 in the first three days it was available.     

	Getting started on this Tech Smart column has been difficult because I’m finding it hard to pull myself away from the captivating and remarkably crisp screen of my one-day-old iPhone 4.

	I’ve spent quite a bit of time testing out and getting used to the quirks of my brand new smartphone since it arrived in the mail. Thus far it’s living up to all of the hype both good and bad. The screen is amazing, the processor peppy, the tweaked operating system an improvement on it’s predecessor, the battery life far more robust and the stylish external antenna a mixed blessing.

	My initial reaction is that I made a great decision to upgrade from my older model for the latest hardware to be given a spot on the austere tables of the Apple Store. In every way I’ve noticed it’s better than the 3G I’ve carried for the last couple of years, and it has a whole range of new capabilities such as video chats and multi-tasking.

	It’s certainly the state of the art for right now, but right now could be over in a matter of weeks. Something even more powerful and better running with further reaching capabilities will certainly be along soon. In some people’s opinions it’s already here in the form of HTC’s EVO 4G or DROID Incredible or Motorola’s DROID 2 and DROID X.

	But whether it’s smartphones or computers or scanners or mills, buying the latest and greatest still only guarantees a short stay at the cutting edge. Unless you’re financially blessed enough to upgrade everything constantly-and anyone who is so blessed probably didn’t get there by making wasteful purchases-it’s important to make purchases and upgrades when that cutting edge not only takes you to new places, but new places you’ll be comfortable staying at for a while.

	The next generation of every technology is perpetually right around the corner. It’s easy to immediately become unhappy with a purchase because it can’t do something the next device is capable of. Conversely, it’s just as easy to suffer purchasing paralysis by constant over analysis where you never pull the trigger on adopting a new technology because there’s always that newer, better version on the way, and buying now means missing out on that.

	Analyzing yourself and your needs first is the key to avoiding both pitfalls. By looking inward, you can gain an understanding of what your priorities are in terms of technological capabilities and efficiencies to be gained through their use. It is only after you know what needs are not being met that you should take a look around to see if there is a technology ready to assist you.

	So if it’s a CAD/CAM system you’re considering to expand the products you can offer at your lab, or like me, a new smartphone to help keep you connected to work, family, friends and information on multiple levels, it’s crucial to know how the new technology will be put to use before you begin looking at individual devices and systems.

	Once you know what you need, it’s important to look at technologies that will not only address those needs, but will (at least in some areas such as hardware) go well beyond your basic needs. That’s not to say it’s smart to buy technology with functions you will never use, but rather to look for technologies that have room for you to grow into, as well as the potential to grow themselves. Make absolutely sure the new gear will accomplish your key tasks efficiently and effectively. Any additional power or capabilities should be technological overhead that you are basically banking for the future.

	“It’s just as easy to suffer purchasing paralysis by constant over analysis where you never pull the trigger on adopting a new technology because there’s always that newer, better version on the way, and buying now means missing out on that.”

	If you buy a system or a device that is the latest thing out and you use every bit of the processing power and other hardware capabilities, your investment will essentially be a time capsule to the moment it was purchased, and as I already said it soon will be outdated. Of course hardware can be updated, but rarely without a significant new investment.

	On the other hand software updates are sometimes free and usually less expensive when they do have a cost. New software can make a system or a device seem brand new all over again, as it often unlocks some of the untapped hardware potential. When researching technology purchases, look into how often a system receives software updates, whether there is usually a cost for them and how substantial they tend to be.

	Software updates made my iPhone 3G a more valuable device during it’s two years of service, and based on Apple’s track record with these things, I expect my new iPhone 4 to be similarly upgraded during the years of service I have planned for it.

	I know Apple is on track to put out a new iPhone each year, but I plan to sit on the sidelines for the next few rounds. I have yet to find tasks I use my smartphone to accomplish that this one does not do, and what it does it does amazingly quickly. I bought this one confident that it is more than capable of doing what I need for more than the two-year lifespan of my mandatory AT&T contract.

	With my research done and my internal needs assessed, I am confident in my technology investment and am excited to watch my new smartphone plow through all the tasks I call on it to do. Sure I know my current one might no longer be the latest and greatest even by the time you’re reading these words, but I have no worries that it will fail to meet my needs during the lifespan I have planned for it.

	Now the only question I have left about my decision to go with the iPhone 4 is where to find a decent case to ameliorate those pesky antenna issues and protect this thing from the inevitable accidental drop or two it’s sure to be subjected to.

Noah Levine writes the monthly Tech Smart column on consumer electronics for Dental Lab Products. Contact him at 

 Despite well-publicized reception issues, more than 1.7 million people purchased Apple's iPhone 4 in the first three days it was available.       Getting started on this Tech Smart column has been difficult because I’m finding it hard to pull myself away from the captivating and remarkably crisp screen of my one-day-old iPhone 4.

Avoiding electronics envy

Objet Geometries, the innovation leader in 3D printing, together with 3Shape A/S, a global leader in 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions for the Dental Industry, today announced the availability of a jointly developed solution that integrates with the 3Shape Dental System(TM) 2010, enabling its 3D restoration designs to be produced on the Objet Eden line of 3D Printing systems.

	Dental labs can now look forward to a seamless digital workflow for production of dental restorations - all the way from 3D scanning of impressions and CAD-Design using 3Shape Dental System™, CAM preparation with 3Shape CAMbridge™, and on to final manufacturing and production on Objet Eden 3D Printers.

	Complete integration is made possible by 3Shape's CAMbridge™ manufacturing software that brings the digital model information from Dental System™ onward to the Objet Studio™ software that communicates directly with the Objet Eden 3D printer.

	"3Shape has worked closely with Objet to test and qualify the complete process required to produce dental components on Objet Eden 3D printers," says Avi Cohen, Head of Medical Solutions at Objet Geometries. "This includes special optimizations to ensure that components designed in 3Shapes's CAD software will always print reliably and accurately using Objet's additive manufacturing methods and techniques."

	"We are very pleased to offer our dental lab customers access to complementary solutions from the 3Shape Dental System™. This represents yet another leap towards the age of the full digital dental lab. The knowledge learned through the successful integration of both technologies in the hearing aid market has certainly allowed a faster and a more successful implementation of the digital dental highway for all dental labs worldwide, bringing mass customization to small and mid-sized labs alike," concludes Avi Cohen.

	3Shape A/S is a Danish company specializing in the development and marketing of 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions designed for the creation, processing, analysis and management of high-quality 3D data for application in complex manufacturing processes. 3Shape is a privately-held company headquartered in Copenhagen, with the market's largest development team in Denmark and Ukraine, production facilities in Poland, and Sales and Support Offices in New Jersey, USA and Shanghai, China.      

	Objet Geometries Ltd., the innovation leader in 3D printing, develops, manufactures and globally markets ultra-thin-layer, high-resolution 3-dimensional printing systems and materials that utilize PolyJet™ polymer jetting technology, to print ultra-thin 16-micron layers. The market-proven Eden™ line of 3D Printing Systems and the Alaris™30 3D desktop printer are based on Objet's patented office-friendly PolyJet™ Technology. All Objet systems use Objet's FullCure® materials to create accurate, clean, smooth, and highly detailed 3D parts. Objet systems are in use by world leaders in many industries, such as Education, Medical/Medical Devices & Dental, Consumer Electronics, Automotive, toys, consumer goods, and footwear industries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Japan. Founded in 1998, Objet serves its growing worldwide customer base through offices in USA, Mexico, Europe, Japan, China and Hong Kong, and a global network of distribution partners.

 Objet Geometries, the innovation leader in 3D printing, together with 3Shape A/S, a global leader in 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions for the Dental Industry, today announced the availability of a jointly developed solution that integrates with the 3Shape Dental System(TM) 2010, enabling its 3D restoration designs to be produced on the Objet Eden line of 3D P

dlpmagazine.com-2010-07-01

Glidewell Dental Lab announces promotions

Zirkonzahn to provide IdentCeram Certificates

NDX, GeoDigm merger completed

Talladium to distribute Candulor products in U.S.

Avoiding electronics envy

Objet and 3Shape Join Forces