Sirona launches CEREC MC XL & more

With 21 years of innovation and experience in CAD/CAM hardware, software and materials, Sirona has now addressed the 4th dimension - time - with their latest releases for the highly successful CEREC 3D.

Both the new hardware and software on offer are a significant step forward and deliver important benefits that fulfil the long-standing demands of dentists.

New hardware

The new CEREC MC XL (Milling Chamber eXtra Large) milling machine will be sold alongside the regular CEREC milling unit to provide two options for practices depending on budget and requirements. The MC XL offers a faster and more precise solution for large practices that is quieter and easier to use.

Like the existing milling unit, the CEREC MC XL is equipped with two milling motors while the new inLab MC XL comes with four motors. However, dentists who value the added convenience of four motors can order a second motor set as an option.

The MC XL also offers considerably higher precision (+/-25µ) with greater speed. Compared with the existing unit, the milling steps are two to four times smaller. As a result, feldspar and glass ceramics with strength ratings in excess of 300 Mpa can be milled with laboratory precision.

The milling time has been reduced by an impressive 60% and the milling volume has been significantly increased. The MC XL can handle much larger blocks - up to 85 x 40 x 22 mm (compared to 40 x 19 x 15.5 mm) which will become available in 2008 for bridges of up to 10 units. Tools are no longer necessary to clamp the blocks in place.

The milling chamber also boasts colourful illumination so at a glance, the user can tell whether the MC XL is milling (white) or scanning (blue), whether the milling process has been completed (green), or whether a fault has occurred (red). All other steps are shown in plain text in the display together with any error messages and reminders.

MC XL milling machines are network-capable and can be accessed directly via LAN or WLAN (54 MBit/s) or integrated into existing wired and wireless networks (54 MBit/s).

The MC XL milling machine is also 40% quieter.

New software

The new Version 3.00 software sets new standards in evidence-based CAD/CAM. At the touch of a button, the software delivers a true-to-life anatomy for inlays and onlays and paves the way to even more efficient workflows. The user interface appears in a fresh modern design. The extended operating modes ensure that the software is even easier to use. Several new features have been added - and existing features refined - in order to enhance the tried-and-tested CEREC procedure. The world of dentistry is in a state of constant change - and CEREC is keeping pace with these developments.

Biogeneric inlays and onlays

CEREC 3D enables dentists to create high-precision, aesthetic restorations directly at the chairside in the course of just one treatment session. The new Version 3.0 of the CEREC 3D software includes powerful biogeneric algorithms for the creation of inlays and onlays. Despite its high degree of sophistication, this biogeneric process is easy to understand. The CEREC 3D V3.00 software analyzes the optical impression of the inlay/onlay preparation and compares the prepared stump with thousands of real-life anatomical structures contained in a database. The software then selects the best-suited proposal and adapts it to the cavity. As it is based on thousands of possible morphologies occurring in nature, this anatomical restoration proposal emulates a natural tooth in terms of function and visual appearance. This in turn means that CEREC is more efficient and easier to use than ever before. In most cases, it will not be necessary to edit the biogeneric restoration proposals using the various software tools.

New graphical user interface

The toolbar icons and toolboxes of CEREC 3D V3.00 have been redesigned so that they are more intuitive and easier to use. The desktop boasts an attractive new colour scheme.

CEREC 3D and Master modes

To cater for biogeneric inlays and onlays and accommodate the requirements of new and experienced CEREC users, the CEREC 3D V3.00 software package has been divided into two parts - a streamlined CEREC 3D mode and a Master mode. The CEREC 3D mode supports the efficient construction of inlays, onlays and crowns in the posterior region utilising the Dental Database (with or without an antagonist optical impression). In routine cases, all the user has to do is to press a button and the system starts the milling process. The same applies to new CEREC users. For more complex cases such as anterior restorations, correlation designs, quadrants, etc., the user can activate the Master mode via the "Settings" menu.

Both modes contain the new high-performance biogeneric algorithms which generate natural morphologies for inlays, onlays and partial crowns.

CEREC dentists are now able to incorporate the benefits of inLab software into their chairside acquisition units.

New materials

• VITA CAD Temp® blocks are a fibre-free, homogeneous, high-molecular and interlaced acrylate polymer with a Microfiller (composite). See article on page 22 of eLABORATE Vol 4. No2 for more information.
• IPS e.maxCAD LT is a lithium disilicate glass ceramic block available exclusively to CAD/CAM technology and achieved by means of an innovative manufacturing process. The process results in a material with a Flexural Strength of 130MPa in the machineable intermediate phase and 360Mpa following a 26-minute crystallisation phase in a conventional vacuum furnace. The crystallization process is achieved at 840°C leading to a structural transformation of the Lithium disilicate crystals. During this transformation the final physical characteristics of strength increase to 360MPa and corresponding optical characteristics such as colour, translucency and brightness. With the new inLab® 3D software, full Anatomical and Cut Back Anterior/Posterior Partial/Full Crowns and Veneers in addition to Implant Superstructures are now possible. Where highly aesthetic restorations are desired a partial reduction of the labial third can be milled in a CEREC using the new inLab 3D Software. Following which IPS e.max Ceram can be applied. When combining all four innovations, namely material (e.max CAD LT), software (new v3.00) hardware (new MC XL) and (inFire) a high strength, high precision cementable crown is achieved, eliminating the necessity for PFM's. e.max CAD LT is available in shades A-D and BL.
• Dentona - Sirona has approved Dentona's Esthetic-Base Gold - brilliant die stone with optimal suitability for CAD/CAM - as the newest addition of approved die stones for milling with the Sirona inLab. CAM - Base brown has been discontinued and is no longer available for sale.

Sirona inFire HTC

Sirona now offers a high-temperature sintering furnace inFire HTC. Features include a particularly large firing chamber (diameter: 130mm, height: 80mm) to accommodate up to 2 trays (up to 25 units per tray); Pre-programmed with firing programs for all sintering materials that can be milled on Sirona inLab -SIRONA inCoris ZI; SIRONA inCoris AL; VITA In-Ceram YZ; VITA In-Ceram AL and Ivoclar Vivadent e.max ZirCAD; Easy selection of firing programs; and over night firing through timer-function to benefit from lower cost energy-prices at night.