Easing the Transition to Digital Dentures
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
October 1, 2019
Volume 10, Issue 10, October 2019
Page(s): p. 22
No laboratory technician in the field today could miss the fact that digital is the future of the denture industry. But for many analog laboratories, facing the prospect of transitioning to new technology can be daunting. "If I had a lab now, I'd be scared to get into digital," says Vincent Verderosa, MDT, CDT, Senior Laboratory Technician at Stony Brook University. "I'd worry about buying equipment that might become outdated too quickly, or learning the new software for design."
Also, while learning this new technology, laboratories still need to process the same number of cases to keep their business afloat.
"You need to start out with small steps," Verderosa says. "First, buy a scanner to start digitizing your case files. Then, get the denture design software to start designing."
Verderosa admits that designing with the software can take a while. In the meantime, he says, you can outsource your design work.
Laboratories taking on digital dentures can utilize external design services, like what is offered by Custom Milling Centers (CMC), to ease this transition.
"First, you get the files digitized, then start sending out the design work to the milling center. That part even takes some practice," Verderosa admits. "You will be able to see the designs sent back to you, and eventually be able to tweak them according to your special knowledge of the case: change the lateral, soften the set-up, etc."
Keeping control of the craftsmanship is important to every technician, whether they are milling a denture or printing it. Either way, technicians are able to customize and characterize the finished product for the best esthetics.
"Now that the dentures are being printed or milled, I'm not spending my time investing, boiling out, or processing them," Verderosa says. "That frees me to work on the next case. When I receive the fabricated dentures from CMC, I can now add personalized touches to finalize the case."
Verderosa and his team at Stony Brook are currently doing studies on how printed dentures wear compared to milled versions.
"The results so far are rocking me," he says. "The printed pieces are wearing better than some of the stock teeth."
The real key to digital denture success is support, Verderosa says.
"People want to get into digital, but if they don't have the right support, they get frustrated," he says. "It's not good if you've got to wait 2 days for help." But he does not worry about that with CMC. "I have a very good relationship with them and their IT support staff helps me immediately whenever I have an issue." They can even use TeamViewer to address any software issues that arise.
By offering design services, milling and printing options for fabrication, and technical support, CMC gives laboratories an easier path to transitioning their laboratory and denture cases into the digital age.
Completely monolithic material eliminates the need for bonded or glued-in teeth.
FDA-cleared for long-term use.
Pink tissue application mimics natural gingiva contours and vitality.
Verify fit and occlusion using the Zirlux Try-In DD, printed using a white resin temporary material.
See the Interview
View the full interview of Vincent Verderosa, MDT, CDT, by IDT's
Editor-in-Chief Peter Pizzi, MDT, CDT, at insidedentaltech.com/idt1107.
For more information, contact:
Custom Milling Center
custom-milling.com/digitaldentures
877-933-6455
