Straumann and Sirona collaborate to offer dental practices and labs a broader range of CAD/CAM prosthetic options

Straumann and Sirona Dental Systems have signed a collaboration agreement that enables dental practices to produce individualized implant prosthetics chairside using Straumann Variobases supported by Sirona's CEREC system. At the same time, Sirona lab customers will be able to use Straumann's centralized milling option as a 'trusted partner' in the Sirona inLab workflow.

Straumann is the leading manufacturer of dental implants for which it offers a comprehensive range of abutments to connect the implant with the prosthetic crown, bridge or denture. The company also offers high-precision CAD/CAM prosthetics that are produced at its milling centers and can be ordered through its open software platform.

CEREC is the leading chairside CAD/CAM system offering solutions for restorations, orthodontics and implantology. In the latter category CEREC has introduced innovative workflows allowing for the chairside production of customized implant abutments and crowns.

In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the popularity of simple titanium-bonding-base abutments (TiBases). Straumann has responded to this trend by introducing its Variobase family of abutments with original connections, which now includes a specially designed Variobase for CEREC users. Sirona's CEREC system enables dentists and dental labs to produce a variety of cost-effective TiBase CAD/CAM prosthetics for implants chairside.

Marco Gadola, CEO of Straumann commented: 'Our aim is to ensure that patients with Straumann implants also receive prosthetics with Straumann original connections, which are produced to our specifications, fit perfectly and are covered by our warranty. We are pleased that we can now offer CEREC users this option with Sirona's support as well as the possibility for Sirona inLab customers to conveniently order high-end prosthetics from our milling centers in Germany, the US, Japan and Brazil'.

Straumann Variobases for CEREC are now available in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, with other countries to follow pending regulatory approvals. In the near future, Straumann expects to launch a new version with an optimized emergence profile which is compatible with existing material blocks used in the CEREC system. After an update of the CEREC software expected in early 2016, will be fully supported by the CEREC workflow for individualized abutments.

In a second agreement, the companies have settled mutual patent disputes, allowing Sirona to continue offering its own existing TiBase design for Straumann implants and permitting Straumann to use Sirona's mirror anatomy software functionality for designing prosthetic teeth in its CAD/CAM CARES Visual software.

About Sirona CEREC and inLab

30 years ago Sirona introduced the world's first CAD/CAM system to the dental market: CEREC. Today CEREC is the most popular CAD/CAM system in dentistry delivering the convenience of single-visit-dentistry to dentists and patients all over the world. CEREC now also supports innovative workflows in orthodontics and implantology making it the center of the modern dental practice. Sirona's CAD/CAM expertise also extends to the laboratory market where inLab is one of the leading brands and Sirona itself has established an important presence in the dental materials business.

About Sirona

Sirona is the global market and technology leader in the dental industry and has been a worldwide partner for dealers, dental practices, clinics, and dental laboratories for more than 130 years. Sirona develops and produces the complete range of dental equipment products, including CAD/CAM systems for computer-assisted ceramic restorations (CEREC), digital imaging systems for intraoral and panoramic x-rays, as well as volume tomography (3D), treatment centers, instruments and hygiene devices. Sirona's largest development and production site is in Bensheim, Germany. The company has more than 3500 employees around the world and has been listed on the NASDAQ since 2006 (symbol: SIRO).

About Straumann CARES

Straumann CARES Digital Solutions represents a complete solution, from guided surgery and digital impression-taking to the computerized production of prosthetics using state-of-the-art CAM processing. Each step seamlessly interlocks with the next and is designed for high quality throughout the digital workflow. Straumann has opened the CARES solution to offer connectivity and flexibility to customers equipped with various other systems including 3M™ True Definition, Align Technology iTero®, Dental Wings, 3Shape, Exocad.

About Straumann

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Straumann Group (SIX: STMN) is a global leader in implant, restorative and regenerative dentistry. In collaboration with leading clinics, research institutes and universities, Straumann researches, develops and manufactures dental implants, instruments, prosthetics and tissue regeneration products for use in tooth replacement and restoration solutions or to prevent tooth loss. Including its Neodent business, the Group currently employs approximately 3400 people worldwide and its products and services are available in more than 70 countries through its broad network of distribution subsidiaries and partners.