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Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 4+5/2016 08 WORLD NEWS At the beginning of 2016, Hans Geiselhöringer took over as pres- ident of global dental implants manufacturer Nobel Biocare. Dental Tribune recently had the opportunity to interview the den- tal technician by training, who has held a number of important man- agement positions in the dental industryforthepast20years,about this significant step in his career and the future development of Nobel Biocare,as well as the dental implant market in general. Dental Tribune: Mr Geiselhöringer, you have been leading Nobel Biocare’s research and product de- velopment for over six years now. What are the greatest challenges of becoming the president of one of the global leaders in dental implants? Hans Geiselhöringer: Leading a company with the heritage of Nobel Biocare is a great privilege that comes with great responsibil- ity. Maintaining the pioneering spirit and momentum of innova- tion that the company has shown over the past 50 years is an im- mense challenge, but one that I embrace. At the same time, we must en- surethatwearenotinnovatingfor the sake of it, but for meaningful improvement in patient care and clinical predictability. Our solu- tions must solve the problems that dental professionals face every day. As a former Nobel Biocare customer myself, this is something I am extremely pas- sionate about. Nobel Biocare is an ambitious organisation. I am confident that, with the talented global team we have in place, challenges will soon become successes. At the end of 2014, Nobel Biocare was acquired by US science and technology conglomerate Danaher. Howhasthisaffectedyourbusiness and customers? Our integration into Danaher’s dental group has gone well, and our business has already seen a great deal of positive change. Both parties are learning from one another, and this is driving continuous improvement in our processes. Ibelieveourcustomershavefelt very little difference. They experi- ence the same dedication to help- ing them treat more patients bet- terthathasbeenthefoundationof our success for many years. Looking ahead, our customers can only benefit from the im- provements that will come from Nobel Biocare joining forces with the companies at KaVo Kerr Group. In combining our highly skilled global teams, we are creat- ing a powerhouse of digital den- tistrythatwillkeepourcustomers at the forefront of patient care. The dental implant market is a competitiveone,withanincreasing number of manufacturers in the valuesegmentontheonehandand mergers of large companies, like DentsplySirona,on theother.What is the best strategy for survival in such a competitive environment, and how will the dental implant in- dustry develop in the future? When a customer buys a prod- uct from Nobel Biocare, we see it notas the endof a transaction,but the start. This is something that sets us apart from many others in the industry. Our model has long been about partnership, offering customers not just superior prod- ucts and solutions, but also the tools and training to help them to grow their business and reputa- tion,allthetimecloselysupported by our accomplished sales force. Of course, from a product per- spective, innovation is key, and I am excited about our innovation pipeline for the months and years to come. One of Nobel Biocare’s most important strengths is our ability to offer complete solutions that are designed and tested to en- sure they work in harmony. This is essentialforimprovingtreatment outcomes. Just as an example, and a concern that is underestimated by many, unfortunately, is any mismatch between the abutment and implant. This can lead to ex- treme load and stress conditions that may cause the components or even the whole system to fail. Opting for low-cost products to restore even high-quality im- plants can lead to very expensive mistakes and, in the end, it is the patient who suffers. In terms of the future, digital dentistrywillplayanever-increas- ing role. That is why our digital solutions are developed to work in harmony, just like our implant components. Nobel Biocare’s in- tegrated treatment workflow con- tinues to evolve, allowing smarter diagnostics, better treatment planning and improved commu- nication with all members of the treatment team, including labora- tories, and patients as well. According to the World Health Organization, about 30 per cent of people aged 65–74 worldwide have no natural teeth. Over the past decade, awareness regarding im- plant solutions has increased and the number of implants placed worldwide is expected to double over the next five years. In your opinion, what are the conse- quences for the dental industry and, more importantly, for dental professionals? This, of course, represents a huge opportunity for the dental community to improve quality of lifeonalargescale.However,more patients must not mean lower standardsofcare.Patientsdeserve thebestpossibletreatment,which I believe comes only from using evidence-based products and so- lutions. However, these products are of little use in the wrong hands. That is why we are further developing our global training and educa- tional offering. We want to help ensure that those new to implan- tology and those who wish to de- velop their skills for treating cases that are more complex have both the products to provide optimal treatment for these patients and the clinical expertise to do so safely. Digital technologies have gained increasing importance in today’s dental market. How has this devel- opment changed the way dentistry isperformedindentalpracticesand laboratories in your opinion as a trained dental technician,and how well has Nobel Biocare addressed this trend? Technology has opened the door to improved efficiency, flex- ibility and results for laborato- ries and clinicians alike. Nobel Biocare’s integrated treatment workflowisindustryleadingwhen it comes to helping dental pro- fessionals take advantage of the opportunities presented by digi- tal dentistry, and together with our partners at KaVo Kerr Group, our focus in this area will signifi- cantly expand. Take, for example, the Smart- FusiontechnologyinNobelClinician Software. It merges and aligns medical imaging from CT and CBCT scans taken by the clinician and the data derived from the model and diagnostic set-up scanned by the NobelProcera 2G System in the laboratory. This im- proved collaboration allows diag- nosis and planning based on accu- rate intra-oral tissue information, the underlying anatomy and the proposed prosthetic outcome. The fusion of data is a truly visual experiencethathelpstheclinician not only define his or her treat- ment plan, but also communicate the proposal to the patient. From 23 to 26 June, Nobel Biocare will be holding its Global Sym- posium at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. What new products will be introduced? The tag line for the event is “Where innovation comes to life” because we will have a number of exciting new products and solu- tions to present. I wish I could say more,butyouwilljusthavetowait until we unveil them in New York. Places are filling up, so I would advise anyone who wants to be among the first to learn about these developments to sign up fast. The educational programme featuresthefield’sleadingexperts on stage and a very enticing and comprehensive line-up of hands- on sessions. Add the networking opportunitiesandyouhaveallthe ingredients for an unforgettable event. Thank you very much for the inter- view. “Challengeswillsoonbecomesuccesses” An interview with Hans Geiselhöringer, president of Nobel Biocare Hans Geiselhöringer “Our integration into Danaher’s dental group has gone well...” “Nobel Biocare’s integrated treatment workflow continues to evolve...” DTUK0416_08_Geisel 25.05.16 10:19 Seite 1 DTUK0416_08_Geisel 25.05.1610:19 Seite 1