An Interview With Mark Palmer
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
November 1, 2014
Volume 5, Issue 11, November 2014
Page(s): p. 100
Mark Palmer (MP): Dental laboratories will experience increased revenue and profit through the addition of new products such as implant surgical guides, custom abutments, and provisional crowns. As dental clinicians become more confident in their implant procedural skills with the help of surgical guides, laboratories will experience an increased volume of business from their customers. Having guided surgery capabilities in the laboratory also will open new doors into the specialist market for them to grow the specialty segment of their businesses. Guided surgery also will be key for establishing a collaborative relationship with the laboratory’s current clients and new customers to become the true and complete solution for these clinicians’ implant needs.
MP: The increased use of guided surgery for implant cases will create additional revenue sources for laboratories through fabrication of surgical guides, provisional crowns, and custom abutments. It also will create the opportunity for laboratories to become integral partners during the treatment planning phase of implant placement and the restorative process.
MP: Through the use of guided surgery, clinicians will have decreased surgical times and decreased chair times, and it will maximize profitability. Clinicians can increase patient acceptance by presenting their treatment plan to their patient prior to the procedure. Guided surgery is a huge benefit to the patient as well as the clinician. The implant surgery is less intrusive, more predictable, and more successful than unguided surgeries. Patients also experience higher rates of satisfaction as provisional crowns provide esthetic and functional comfort.
MP: The development of powerful software that is used to combine three of the hottest and most advanced digital technologies is the driver of influence in this category. The technological advances in CBCT scanning, digital impression technology, and 3D printing will allow these three digital technologies to be integrated through powerful software solutions for the diagnostic and treatment planning phases of implant cases and to export those files for the production of surgical guides and the restorative components of the case. Our 360dps combines these technologies and as these technologies become more advanced, our software will become more powerful. Currently, 360dps software has the capability to import a DICOM image from a CBCT scan, import data from a digital impression scanner, and combine that data for export to a 3D printer for production of a 360dps surgical guide.
MP: 360imaging is the world leader in guided surgery. As such, we want to bring new technologies to the laboratories that will benefit them, their doctors, and their patients. Our ultimate goal is to provide an integral tool for every implant case around the world.
MP: Ease of use and affordability are the biggest drivers. Our success has been driven by creation of the most user-friendly and most affordable solution on the market. Through our partnership with Zahn Dental, we hope to increase our laboratory network, which will help improve service and cement the use of surgical guides in all implant cases.
MP: We are excited to work with a recognized leader and provider of products and services in the healthcare industry. Zahn Dental’s complete digital technology portfolio enables dental laboratories to increase their digital workflow and offer more products and services to the clinical market. As the leader in providing integrated solutions to the dental laboratory industry, Zahn will be instrumental for us in working with and assisting dental laboratories and 360imaging’s preferred technology partners to further penetrate the guided surgery field quickly, profitably and with confidence.
