Driving Materials Development
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. 50-51
The indirect materials market in 2014 again was dominated by new product launches that were laser-focused on the automated production of patient-specific restorative solutions. Many targeted the rapid shift of patient demand to biocompatible all-ceramic fixed prosthodontics (which remains the backbone of the dental and dental laboratory industries), while others concentrated on the implant market—from materials for milling custom abutments to bar-supported removable prosthetics. Emerging as a new segment in this category were products designed to support the automated manufacture of milled and 3D-printed full-arch removable dentures. Driving development of all these material innovations is the demand for more efficient, streamlined manufacturing processes and expanded material options. In all segments of material development, the industry is heading toward simplicity in handling and production efficiencies, while looking to maintain positive esthetic aspects in the case outcome.
It is hard to say when the materials market will break the stranglehold of zirconia and the lithium oxides, but don’t think that great materials research and development minds aren’t working on it.
