The CAD/CAM Chorus

January 2011 | Dental Lab Products

Forward Trends: Technology

The CAD/CAM Chorus

Digital technologies for designing restorations that are then produced via computer controlled mills and printers have had a profound impact on the dental laboratory industry. Here we present an array of voices and opinions sharing their thoughts on what it all means, and what the future of the dental lab may look like.

by Noah Levine, Senior Editor

Photos: (Clockwise from top left) Sirona; Straumann; Diadem Digital Solutions Inc.; 3M ESPE; 3Shape; Nobel Biocare; Sensable Dental Technologies

Change arrives in many forms, and when it comes it means different things to different people. Few observers of the dental lab industry believe CAD/CAM and other digital technologies will be just a passing fad. In fact, there is a sizable majority who feel these technological developments will (and already have begun to) drastically reshape the industry, creating new business models, new opportunities and new approaches to producing dental restorations. While many are excited about what this will mean, not everyone is ready to embrace the digital way of doing things. In this article we present voices from different parts of the industry sharing their thoughts about the impact CAD/CAM has already made and the ways it will continue to reshape the industry.

The most excited person on the planet

Lee Culp, CDT – Chief Technology Officer, DTI

A logical progression

Roddy MacLeod – Vice President of CAD/CAM, Sirona
 

View from an early adopter

Scott Udell – Manager, Udell Dental Laboratory
 

Standing apart

Joshua Polansky – Owner, Niche Dental Studio  

Weighing the options

Sara Kazan, CDT – President, Nellmar Laboratory
 

Working out the kinks

Robert Lash – President, Moskey Dental Laboratories
 

Blurring the lines

Dr. Gary Severance – Vice President of Marketing and Clinical Affairs, D4D Technologies
 

Web Exclusive:
A key to our facility

Melker Nilsson – President and General Manager, Nobel Biocare North America
 

Web Exclusive:
Bridging the digital divide

Bob Steingart – President, Sensable Dental Products