Machined Esthetics
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
May 1, 2014
Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2014
Page(s): 30-31
One of the most prevalent myths surrounding the adoption of CAD/CAM technology is that automated manufacture and cosmetic dentistry are mutually exclusive. One cannot embrace technology without abandoning the “art” of the final dental restoration in favor of mass production. However, CAD/CAM technology is simply one more precision tool that technicians can use to work more efficiently, employ a broader range of materials, and play a more direct role in quality control and customer satisfaction. It cannot replace the technical knowledge, judgment, or artistry of an expert technician.
As demonstrated by the adoption of digital processing by dental technology industry leaders such as Peter Pizzi, CDT, MDT of Pizzi Dental Studio, CAD/CAM technology doesn’t require laboratories to compromise any of their values in the areas of precision or esthetics. “CAD/CAM is tool,” explains Pizzi. “One that allows us to produce restorations more quickly and cost effectively, and that enables us to focus our time on the elements of the restoration where our expertise can deliver the most value for the clinician and patient.”
A second common myth is the belief that CAD/CAM technology is used strictly (or even primarily) for processing zirconia. While bringing zirconia restorations in-house can have compelling financial benefits for almost any laboratory that is currently outsourcing, CAD/CAM can also replace manual waxing, and the right system can even replace the PFM casting process and enable in-house production of implant abutments, bite splints, and bars. These dramatically expanded in-house capabilities can increase profit margins from existing clients by eliminating outsourcing expenses, and can also lead to new revenues as laboratories attract new clients by offering a broader range of services.
A third myth is that CAD/CAM adoption requires a dramatic change in laboratory operations or workflows. The best CAD/CAM systems can actually be integrated into existing workflows with little disruption, and will make existing staff and processes more efficient. Choosing a CAD/CAM partner with an effective training and support program can also help to ensure a smooth transition and maximize the benefits of the new system.
The truth is that the role of CAD/CAM technology in the modern dental laboratory has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. What began as a method to speed the production of a fairly limited range of restorations has evolved into a tool that enables laboratories to dramatically increase the range, quality, and esthetics of their in-house production capabilities.
Amann Girrbach’s Ceramill Desktop CAD/CAM System includes industry-leading scanners, design software, milling units, furnaces, and materials.
The Ceramill System gives laboratory owners more control, more business, and more time. Ceramill’s diverse materials and 5-axis milling capabilities give them the control necessary to keep more restorations in house, and offer accuracy and quality that competitors can’t match. The ability to deliver a broader range of services will also enable laboratory owners to open new revenue streams and boost their bottom line with in-house production of complex, high-profit, and highly esthetic restorations. At the same time, Ceramill’s efficient, intuitive workflow means the laboratory will be able to process restorations faster, freeing up time for managing the business, and giving the entire dental team more time to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and esthetics of the final product.
With an extensive background in the dental laboratory industry and a laboratory-focused CAD/CAM approach, Amann Girrbach is ideally positioned to offer the technology and expertise needed to help laboratory owners and technicians make the most of this continually expanding opportunity.
A proven leader in the field of dental technology, Amann Girrbach was formed in 2004 through the merger of two leading European dental laboratory companies with more than 100 years of combined history. One of these companies was focused on traditional, analog laboratory equipment, and the other on dental technology, which set the tone for Amann Girrbach’s ongoing emphasis on CAD/CAM equipment that responds to real-life laboratory workflows and technician needs.
Even before becoming a leader in the field of digital dentistry, Amann Girrbach had already demonstrated its commitment to innovation through the development of groundbreaking products like the Artex® articulator. These precision-oriented model management tools helped to establish Amann Girrbach as a company focused on the needs of dental technicians pursuing accurate, esthetically-pleasing restorations.
Amann Girrbach and its North American division, Amann Girrbach America, provide direct sales, support, service, and continuing education for all of the company’s CAD/CAM products. This means that instead of interacting with dealers or distributors, Amann Girrbach customers experience single-source accountability and responsiveness at every stage of the ownership experience.
Features of the Ceramill CAD/CAM System:
Complete—The integrated nature of the Ceramill System means that its components are designed to work together for maximum accuracy and efficiency, which increases speed, precision, and ease-of-operation, and also frees technicians to devote their time to the artistry of the final restoration.
Modular—Ceramill’s unique modular design allows laboratory owners to expand—not replace—the system as their needs evolve, protecting their CAD/CAM investment and enabling them to quickly take advantage of new technologies.
Open—Ceramill’s open architecture gives laboratory owners the power to export, import, modify, and process STL files—making it interoperable with a variety of commonly used hardware and software, including intraoral scanners.
Specialized—Amann Girrbach built Ceramill specifically for the sophisticated needs of dental laboratories, giving it the ability to design and produce the types of large, complex restorations that scaled-down, simplified systems can’t even dream of.
