Sunday, 18 May, 2025

05 Aug 2014 | Press Release

news > News and Events > Page 1

Brilliant dentistry: digital manufacturing processes for dental laboratories at the International Dental Show 2015

Events

Today, the use of dental digital processes is a largely self-evident part of the daily routine in dental laboratories. As a result, individual process steps can be eliminated and the quality of processes and results can be improved.


This is why innovations and trends in digital manufacturing processes will take up a lot of space at the IDS 2015, and are guaranteed to gain most of the visitors' attention. "This technological evolution is fundamental for the industry, and it demonstrates rapid developmental progress for dental-prosthetic rehabilitation measures. For that reason, this digital 'state of the art' for dental laboratories will be one of the key topics of the IDS 2015", says Dr. Martin Rickert, Chairman of the Verband der Deutschen Dental-Industrie VDDI (Association of German Dental Manufacturers).

The digital laboratory process chain begins with the preparation data, which have been scanned at the dental practice: these can then be directly integrated into the laboratory's design software. This means they can be processed further in the laboratory - using data sets which have been recorded with intraoral scanners (IOS) - or data sets which have been generated via scanned-in impressions. As a result, individual process steps can potentially be eliminated - i.e. whenever the manufacture of a model can be avoided - because the work can be completed without models.

However, preparation data of impressions or models are still much more frequently generated by desktop scanners. The equipment is used to scan in working documents, and scans may subsequently be used as a virtual working document for designing crowns, bridges, abutments or the bases of dentures. Besides, many scanner types also allow the scanning of models while these are still being held in the articulator. Using this kind of virtual technology, dental technicians can check the fit and occlusal contact of their work in the articulator, in exactly the same way as they are used to with their analogue equipment. The object designs can be viewed from all sides on-screen using a computer mouse and control keys, and if necessary, they can also be corrected. The great thing about it: the zoom function allows for easy and detailled identification of the articulatory movements and possible interfering contact. Equally, data generated from electronic maxillomandibular relationship records can be integrated into numerous design software products. This helps with displaying a patient's chewing movements in the virtual articulator, and with taking them into account in the restoration design.

For many prosthetic restorations, on-screen digital work has replaced the manual working techniques using modelling instruments and brushes. Object designs, such as crowns, bridges, abutments or bases of dentures, are built up biomimetically, are selected and modified from image databases, or designed free-hand. And in all cases a computer mouse is used. For the most part, it has replaced the conventional instruments of a dental laboratory, and is now the medium used to add unique and individual touches to the technician's work.

Furthermore, special software is available for various indications: alongside software for designing crowns and bridges, there is also software for designing abutments and conical crowns. But such design tools are also available for removable bases of dentures - known within analogue dentistry as model casting. Throughout the evolution of dental software, designs have been integrated into these options, which ensure the long-term durability of the restorations. So, for instance, anatomically reduced tooth profiles, oval connectors or emergence profiles which are freely adjustable within their dimensions.

Whether three, four or five-axis machines are demonstrating their particular strengths in undertaking their respective tasks, whether with or without an additional setting angle - the widest variety of equipment is used to manufacture restorations within the in-house laboratory via milling and grinding work. The IDS 2015 will also demonstrate all of the latest developments in CAM technologies. These machines can manufacture all dental frameworks - and the five-axis milling or grinding contact surfaces operate so that time and materials are saved. Furthermore, geometrically complicated framework forms can also be produced.

But it is also possible to manufacture the frameworks using a special "workbench extension": the industry partner. This approach will save the costs of investing in equipment, and stocking up with blanks or metal alloy powders. Also, as a result, the client incurs no costs for setting up, or manufacturing items over and over again. The services are mostly used for manufacturing objects made of zirconium dioxide or of non-precious dental metal alloys with cobalt chrome as well as titanium. Production is done via milling processes or additive manufacturing. Generally, clients receive their orders within 48 hours: for the final plating, e.g. for veneering and high-gloss polishing, or, as with removable partial denture prosthetics, for completion of dentures and plastic saddle bridges.

The additive manufacturing, i.e. the constructive and generative manufacture of objects, still remains predominately limited to the industrial manufacture of crowns, bridges and bases of dentures via laser sintering. However, machines are already on offer for manufacturing in the in-house laboratory, too, and the IDS 2015 will demonstrate what innovations are available for this dental manufacturing option. There is yet another reason for demonstrating the additive manufacturing approach, though: it is model manufacturing using laser sintering or stereolithography. This field of application is of great importance in dental digital workflows with impressions of the preparations via intraoral scanners - in particular for all restorations which cannot be manufactured without models.

"Dentists, practice staff, as well as dental technicians can attend the International Dental Show (IDS), the world's largest trade fair for dentistry and dental technology, in Cologne from 10 to 14 March 2015, and inform themselves in an optimal way about the current status of the ranges available for the digital practice. Exhibitor specialists, experts and experienced users will be prepared to exchange information", says Dr. Markus Heibach, Executive Director of the Verband der Deutschen Dental-Industrie VDDI (Association of German Dental Manufacturers).

IDS takes place in Cologne every two years and is organised by the GFDI Gesellschaft zur Furderung der Dental-Industrie mbH, the commercial enterprise of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI) and staged by Koelnmesse GmbH, Cologne.

Related Events

Related Contacts

Staying Safe

Abstracts

Staying Safe

Management

Stream the latest dental videos...
COVID-19 Update #2

Sponsored Links...

Upcoming Events...

Jan 01 2025
May 15 2025

NCDS 2025

Myrtle Beach, USA

May 20 2025

GalMED 2025

Lviv, UKRAINE

May 21 2025

Dentima Krasnodar 2025

Krasnodar, RUSSIA

May 22 2025

C.O Life Summit

Barranquilla, COLOMBIA

May 22 2025

ICOMS 2025

Singapore, SINGAPORE

May 23 2025

Famdent Show Mumbai 2025

Mumbai, INDIA

May 26 2025
May 28 2025
May 28 2025

Buldental - Bulmedica 2025

Sofia, BULGARIA

May 29 2025

CUSCO 2025

Urubamba, PERU

May 30 2025
Jun 03 2025
Jun 07 2025
Jun 09 2025
Jun 10 2025

PACK EXPO Southeast 2025

Guadalajara, MEXICO

Jun 11 2025
Jun 18 2025
Jun 20 2025

Scottish Dental Show 2025

Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM

Jun 21 2025
Jun 25 2025
Jun 27 2025

ICOI Asia Pacific Congress 2025

Deagu, KOREA, SOUTH

Jul 22 2025
Aug 01 2025
Aug 07 2025
Aug 07 2025

IndoHealthcare Expo 2025

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Aug 22 2025

HKIDEAS 2025

Hong Kong, HONG KONG

Aug 28 2025

ABSO Meeting 2025

Hamilton Island, AUSTRALIA

Sep 03 2025

AAPD 2025

Kuta, INDONESIA

Sep 09 2025
Sep 11 2025

Veneers: A Comprehensive Guide

Auckland, NEW ZEALAND

Sep 12 2025
Sep 13 2025
Sep 17 2025

PharMed Cambodia 2025

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Sep 19 2025
Sep 20 2025
Sep 25 2025
Sep 29 2025

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2025

Las Vegas, USA

Oct 02 2025

IAO 2025

Padova, ITALY

Oct 02 2025

ITI Congress Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL

Oct 09 2025

Pragodent 2025

Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC

Oct 15 2025
Oct 16 2025
Oct 16 2025

DDS Global Congress 2025

Venice, ITALY

Oct 16 2025

OHAA 2025 National Congress

Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA

Oct 24 2025
Nov 05 2025

ITI Congress Mexico

Mérida, MEXICO

Nov 06 2025
Nov 07 2025

ITI Congress Italy

Bologna, ITALY

Nov 08 2025

CDSS 2025

Singapore, SINGAPORE

Nov 14 2025

IDEC 2025

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Nov 20 2025
Nov 28 2025
Dec 05 2025

8th Dental Expo 2025

Lahore, PAKISTAN

Mar 20 2026
Apr 17 2026

IDEM Singapore 2026

Singapore, SINGAPORE

Nov 27 2026
Nov 26 2027
Nov 24 2028