Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download

today IDS 2009 Show Preview

Impression-free practice, vir- tual construction models and articulation on Windows desk- tops, biogeneric occlusal sur- face design with intelligent software, as well as rapid pro- totyping, and 3-D printing are just some of topics increa- singly mentioned in lectures and publications dealing with CAD/CAM. Already, ‘conven- tional’ CAD/CAM technology is in use in dental offices and lab- oratories,andnowthenextstep in CAD/CAM evolution is an- ticipated. Only a few years ago, discussion focused on exact- ness of fit, the reduced costs for dentists and patients, and user-friendliness. The quality of CAD/CAM restorations was viewed with cynicism, and only a few pioneers gave scientific attention to this technology. At present, the situation is quite different. The hesitant and doubtful attitude towards computer-manufactured dental prostheses has been discarded, and an accepted, standard pro- cedure has taken its place. Manycompaniesnowinvestim- mense resources in the further developmentofthistechnology. What impelled this rapid change? On the one hand, the value of zirconium dioxide ce- ramic in particular, which can only be processed with com- puter-assisted techniques, be- came evident. This material made all-ceramic fixed partial dentures possible for the first time. Other ceramics, too, ex- hibited better material proper- ties after automated milling because the blanks used could be industrially manufactured under optimal conditions. On the other hand, the techno- logy of CAD/CAM systems has clearly improved. Based on more powerful computers and effective measuring tech- niques developed in the 1990s, it was possible to adapt 3-D recording/imaging systems to the needs of dentistry and sim- plifytheiroperation.Continued development of CAD software enabled a multitude of con- struction options (Fig. 1) and an improvement in the quality of the grinding/milling units. Economic efficiency, combined with high quality restorations, is the current hallmark of CAD/CAM technology. It is not only dentists and dental engi- neers who benefit from stan- dardised and excellently-con- trolled treatment and manufac- turing methods, the patient does as well. What is the latest in CAD/ CAM development? Anyone well acquainted with the field predicted early on that manu- facturing centres would play a crucial role: high capacity utilisation, specialised staff, centralised material purchas- ing, and high quality standards for ‘standard care’ facilitate an economical throughput, which in turn enables the amortisa- tion of the investment in highly developed manufacturing ma- chines, while increasing eco- nomic efficiency. Mid-sized and smaller labs will use their core competence in the computer- assisted manufacture of high quality, aesthetic restorations and special fabrication of par- tial prostheses. Another important current trend is the chairside manufac- ture of inlays, onlays, partial crowns, and single crowns. The dentist is this CAD/CAM pro- cedure’s target group. The one- appointment treatment has a time-saving benefit for the pa- tient and eliminates provisional restoration, which additionally minimises the risk of cusp frac- ture, enamel-margin chipping, and weakening of the dentine bond. The biogeneric formation of occlusal surfaces enables the reconstruction of missing oc- clusalsurfacesforinlays,onlays, and partial crowns according to nature’s designs (Figs. 2, 3). CAD/CAM and all-ceramics are often mentioned in con- junctionwitheachother,which is understandable given the discussion above, but this doesn’t represent all the op- tions. The enormous potential in milling procedures and, just recently, in the laser sintering of metals is often completely forgotten. The manufacture of metal restorations (eg, non-pre- cious metals, titanium, or gold alloys) will thus eventually be- come a domain of CAD/CAM technology. What does the future of CAD/CAM technology hold? Intra-oral 3-D measuring will at least in part make the im- pression-free practice possible (Fig. 4). The speed, operation, and precision of the images are being continually improved and the measurement range ex- panded. Once a 3-D data set of tooth surfaces has been stored, a completely novel form of dental diagnostics can be con- ducted, by comparing data that were recorded at different time points. Thus, quantitative, 3-D progression control of ortho- dontic treatment, the analysis of erosion and abrasion, peri- odontal changes, or interven- tions is possible. A distinct advantage of com- puter-assisted procedures over the conventional wax-up tech- nique also lies in the functional and morphological occlusal sur- facedesign.Complexalgorithms can store an immense amount of basic knowledge about tooth structures and individual ge- netic contexts. Virtual articula- tors can simulate any program- mable movement, so that con- siderablymorenaturallawsand limits, as well as individual pa- rameters, can be integrated into the restoration surface than has been possible up to now. The needs of CAD/CAM technology have propelled basic research to new heights and thus advanced other areas of dentistry. Through coope- rative ventures, universities and industry can form a use- ful symbiosis to promote and shape this exciting develop- ment. Until now, CAD/CAM or computer-assisted dentistry has not been a central subject attheuniversities.Butbecause the technology is relatively new and the performance po- tential of CAD/CAM technol- ogy is tremendous, this is cer- tain to change in the next few years, which in turn will influ- ence the training of dental stu- dents and indirectly the treat- ment possibilities in practices as well, in the interests of our patients. Prof. Albert Mehl Fig. 1: Virtual automatic reconstruction: the scanned data of the antagonist, functional movement, adjacent teeth and the prepara- tion can be considered in toto, in order to create a fitting occlusal surface that follows all the rules of dentistry and dental engineer- ing. (DTI/Photo Mehl) Fig. 2: The remaining tooth substance determines the morphology of the occlusal surface in the defect region, largely through, for instance, the position of the cusp tips, the cusp slopes, and the course of fissures. The natural rules governing the biogeneric occlusal surface can be found through the analysis of many thousands of occlusal surfaces of natural teeth. (DTI/Photo Mehl) — Fig. 3: Using the natural laws thus found, an occlusal surface is calculated that replaces the defect as naturally as possible, by adapting it to the remaining tooth structure. (DTI/Photo Mehl) — Fig. 4: In the future, intra-oral camera scanners will enable optical impressions of the entire jaw, thus preparing the way for the impression-free practice. (DTI/Photo Wiedhahn) trends 15Show Preview IDS Cologne 2009 EVE · Ernst Vetter GmbH Rastatter Strasse 30 / D-75179 Pforzheim, Germany Phone +49 72 31 97 77 - 0 / Fax +49 72 31 97 77 - 99 info@eve-rotary.com / www.eve-rotary.com EVE mit komplett neuem Prophylaxesortiment EVE mit komplett neuem Prophylaxesortiment INNOVATIONINNOVATION Köln 24. - 28.03. 2009 Halle 10.1, Gang F, Stand-Nr. 043 EVE mit neuem Schleif- und Poliersystem für Oxidkeramiken EVE mit neuem Schleif- und Poliersystem für Oxidkeramiken Rotary Grinding and Polishing Instruments Das neue professionelle Sortiment bietet vor allem Perspektiven im Be- reich der Einmalprodukte. Im Fokus stehen dabei besonders Flexibilität, Hygiene und das ökonomische Arbei- ten. Das neue Sortiment ist ausgewo- gen und wie gewohnt optimal auf die Bedürfnisse des Zahnarztes abge- stimmt. EVE Schleif- und Poliersystem für Oxidkeramiken Der Diasynt Plus ist die konsequente Weiterentwicklung eines Schleifinstru- ments, bei dem sowohl effizienter Ab- trag als auch materialschonende Bearbeitung im Vordergrund stehen. Speziell Oxidkeramiken reagieren trotz ihrer Härte sehr anfällig auf thermische Einflüsse. Vervollständigt wird das neue Schleif- und Poliersystem durch das zweistufige Diacera Hochglanzpo- liersystem. Die Polierer sind speziell für die Anwendung auf Oxidkeramiken konzipiert worden. Prophylaxe Promokit zum Aktionspreis bei Ihrem Depot-Händler erhältlich. Prophylaxe Promokit zum Aktionspreis bei Ihrem Depot-Händler erhältlich. EVE Prophylaxe AD The CAD/CAM Evolution Computers in practice and laboratory will determine action,Prof.Albert Mehl,Switzerland