The top 5 Digital Esthetics articles of 2018

With 2019 quickly approaching, we decided to take a look back and showcase the articles that made a big impact this past year.

Trending article: 3 MAJOR challenges when creating dentures

This year, you, our readers, were most interested in ways to get involved with digital dentures, the worst states to be a lab technician, materials that lab techs need to know about, and more. We’re excited to see what next year brings for the dental lab industry, and we’re looking forward to keeping you up to date with engaging content.

Click through the slides to read the most popular Digital Esthetics articles of 2018.

5 ways to get involved with digital dentures

By Justin Marks, CDT

Digital design and manufacturing technologies have been slowly developing in our industry for over 30 years.

The majority of crown and bridge restorations are now metal-free - a trend that has largely been influenced by the shift to CAD/CAM and the streamlined precision that it offers. CAD/CAM removables have been slower to develop, but recent advancements have generated enough buzz to help them go mainstream in the near future. With more than 36 million fully edentulous Americans, here’s a look at how labs can get their feet wet and prepare for the coming onslaught of digital denture technologies.

To read the full story, click here.

The top 10 worst states to be a lab technician

By Robert Elsenpeter

Americans take a lot of pride in the state they call home. Maybe your state is home to Abraham Lincoln (Illinois), maybe your state is home to the fi rst man who walked on the moon (Ohio), or maybe your state is home to the country’s largest pumpkin (Washington). For whatever reason, we embrace the best that our states have to offer.

On the other hand, there are some states that aren’t ideal for everything. For example, dental lab technicians may have a tougher go at it in some states as opposed to others.

We compiled data on areas such as employment, wage, healthcare, affordability and other statistics to identify which states were the toughest for dental lab technicians. Is your state on the list?

Read the full story here.

6 materials lab techs need to know about

By Robert Elsenpeter

There’s no dearth of materials at labs’ disposal. And with all of the different fabrication methods, a lab technician’s material options only broaden.

Whether creating restorations through conventional methods, milling or even 3D printing, there are several material options that labs should keep in their arsenal. Here are the top six materials lab techs definitely need to know.

To read the full article, click here.

5 things you need to know about 3D printing

By Nicholas Hamm

You’ve been hearing it for years by this point: “3D printing will revolutionize the industry,” “This technology is going to make this other product obsolete,” “Invest in 3D printing before it’s too late!”

3D printers aren’t new, but they’re continually being made cheaper, better and more accessible than ever. This means that not only do you have to track the 3D printing revolution as it relates dental industry, but you also have to track the revolution being brought to 3D printers themselves. It’s a lot to take in, but we’re here to help.

Here are five things you need to know about where 3D printing is now - what it’s being used for, how to best utilize it - and where 3D printing will be in the future. 3D printing shouldn’t be intimidating, so here’s how you can stay on top of the 3D printing revolution.

Read the full story here.

5 craziest denture tips on the internet

By Nicholas Hamm

As an expert on dental prostheses and restorations, you might take it for granted that you do excellent work.

But there’s an entire corner of the internet that says, “I don’t need an expert for that; I can do it myself.” Here’s what happens when non-experts try to get into the dental game.

You’ve spent years training to use the best materials and techniques to create the best product that’s esthetic, safe and (most importantly) functional. The following groups of people spent a few hours using household objects and YouTube guides to make or fix their dentures.

After seeing some of the worst denture tips and “hacks” from across the internet, you’ll agree that the phrase “leave it to the experts” has never been truer.

Not only will these tips not create something long-lasting or beautiful, they may just be the worst thing a patient could put in his or her mouth. They might be cheaper in the short run, but these could end up costing patients a lot more in wasted materials or health problems.

To read the full story, click here.