International Dental Show 2023 – Day 2 Recap

The second day of the world's largest dental products exhibition—the 2023 International Dental Show (IDS)—was as busy and full of technology innovations and industry insights as the first day. Here are some of the highlights Dental Products Report® encountered throughout day 2.

Align Technology Turns Focus to Ortho-Restorative Treatments

At a press briefing showcasing the latest updates to the Invisalign Platform, Align Technology discussed its recently launched Invisalign Smile Architect™ software update that allows clinicians to combine orthodontic and restorative treatment planning within a single platform. While noting that 45% of restorative case outcomes could benefit from some orthodontics, company representatives said their solution is able to bring the two areas of care together without the need for a clinician to adopt a new workflow.

Additionally, the company demonstrated the latest versions of the iTero intraoral scanner and previewed upcoming software enhancements that will include radiograph analysis, as well as an updated treatment outcome simulator that goes beyond images to create a realistic video of the patient with the proposed treatment outcomes which can enable them to not only visualize a new smile but to see it truly come to life. While no launch timeline was mentioned, the company did say they are hoping to launch this feature as soon as possible.

Stratasys Sets New Standards in Multi-Material and Multi-Shade 3D Printing

3D printing is well established in the dental industry as the technology is a perfect fit for producing large numbers of very small customized parts, and the options available to dental practices and labs continue to improve at a rapid pace.

For Stratasys, the latest advancements are the company's J3™ DentaJet® 3D Printer which uses PolyJet™ printing technology to allow it to produce multiple parts from multiple materials in the same print run. Additionally, the company was showcasing its TrueDent™ Resin, which allows for the printing of monolithic multi-color dentures.

In a discussion with Dental Products Report®, Ronen Lebi, vice president of dental at Stratasys, says the company did a lot of testing to get the new material to get the material and its various gingival and teeth shades to work, but the result is the first monolithic printed denture which can bring a new level of efficiency to dental labs and practices.

The future of 3D printing is going to focus on advanced materials that will open new opportunities for applying 3D printing in dental settings, Lebi says, and he notes that Stratasys has created a dedicated dental team to provide support and service to dental operations so they can adopt new workflows and efficiencies quickly and successfully.

"No other vertical I've seen has such a strong use case for 3D printing," he says. "The trend is there."

Diagnocat Demonstrates Advanced Artificial Intelligence Imaging Solution

While it is still pending FDA clearance for a full-scale launch to dentists throughout the United States, the company's software is already widely used in other regions, and Diagnocat's booth was a busy place in the IDS exhibit hall.

The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution works with multiple digital imaging formats to automatically organize and analyze 2D and 3D images. With the ability to detect and document a range of more than 65 potential conditions from caries to periodontal issues, and beyond. The solution provides an easy to review report that can be evaluated by a clinician and shared with a patient as a part of a treatment recommendation.

Additional software applications include a module that can automate CBCT image segmentation and then create 3D STL models from the CBCT's DICOM data, as well as cloud capabilities for easy remote access and collaboration.

Panthera Dental Brings Magnetic Connection Back to Removables

Sometimes what's old is new again, and that was exactly the news from Panthera Dental as the company debuted its Magnet-X solution. This new removable implant bar features a magnetic connection system designed for both the high degree of retention these restorations require, as well as the ease of attachment and removal many dental patients need.

After announcing the new solution, Miles Cone, DMD, CDT, FACP, presented a lecture walking through his testing of the new solution and highlighting how this is an ideal option for patients with limited dexterity. Dr Cone shared how he'd wanted to see magnetic attachments return to the removables space, and that his testing with Magnet-X shows that the system is an ideal option for many older patients. With no parts that wear out over time, Magnet-X provides consistency and stability.

Dentsply Sirona Showcases Its Latest Innovations

With kiosks, stands, and products on display across an area more than 100 meters long, there was no shortage of innovations to discover through Dentsply Sirona's booth at IDS 2023. Still despite the massive footprint, the booth was designed with sustainability in mind and features reusable booth structures, as well as reusable cups at the in-booth cafe.

A booth tour included a look at the company's recently launched DS OmniTaper Implant System which adds one more option for clinicians using the company's implant solutions. However, the real highlights in the booth were the latest updates to a pair of critical dental technologies, the company's latest dental chair and delivery system, Axano, as well as the newest features added to the DS Core cloud-based communications hub.

The Axano solution is a fully automated and integrated chair and delivery system. With the ability to preset multiple chair and delivery system positions, and a simple yet powerful foot pedal control, the Axano is easy to use during treatment, but the real power is the system's customizable controls that can operate multiple handpieces for restorative, endodontic, prophylactic, and surgical applications, and all of the controls can be customized on the delivery unit's large touchscreen panel.

The chair solution even integrates with clinical imaging solutions, allowing the images to be viewed on a patient-facing video screen with annotations from the clinician to help patients understand what they're seeing.

The new updates to DS Core allow streamlined communications with 1 secure portal connecting a practice and all of its data to labs, patients, referral partners, and more.

Oqton Brings New Efficiencies to 3D Print Production

A newer software company entering the dental CAD/CAM and AI arenas, Oqton makes solutions designed to bring new levels of efficiency to dental labs and production facilities. Capable of automating some of the most tedious steps in 3D printing production workflows, the solution can automatically plan the placement of and supports for multiple restorations within a single 3D print build.

Especially useful with metal 3D printers, the Oqton software arranges planned restorations and parts within the three dimensions of the build volume to optimize both the number of parts produced at once, as well as the pattern of the printing itself. These advancements enable 3D printers to produce more in less time.

3D Systems Continues to Drive New 3D Printing Applications

Finally, a stop by the 3D Systems booth provided a chance to see the company's latest printer, the compact-sized NextDent LCD1. Capable of printing a wide range of materials with a high degree of accuracy, the system is small enough to fit almost anywhere and powerful enough to handle a wide range of printing tasks.

The company also previewed new print materials for CAD/Cast workflows and denture base printing. Both materials are updated versions of previous materials from the company, and they mark the company's dedication to consistently improving the dental technologies it offers.

"We want to make materials for all the workflows, and we want to make our materials best in class," says 3D Systems vice president/general manager dental Stef Vanneste.

As a company 3D Systems is working to provide the systems, materials, and support to help the industry continue to shift to digital workflows, Vanneste says. As materials advance, he believes 3D printing will be capable of being the standard for the production of any dental restoration and appliance. The key is proving the effectiveness and value of the new materials being developed.

"We need to challenge the notion that zirconia is the gold standard," he says.