Straumann opens its CADCAM system with CARES Visual 7.0

Having presented its new dental design software, CARES Visual 7.0, at the recent Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, Straumann has now begun the roll-out of this new system to CADCAM customers in Europe and North America.

Like all Straumann software, 'CARES Visual 7.0' is designed to enhance user friendliness and versatility, but what distinguishes it most is that it 'opens' the Straumann CADCAM system by offering customers the possibility of producing prosthetic elements through third-party milling.

Using CARES Visual 7.0 customers can design prosthetic crowns, bridges, onlays, inlays etc. by computer and then route the design data to a milling process either in- or outside Straumann. The workflow inside Straumann is validated, seamless and offers one of the broadest ranges of materials and applications. Importantly, prosthetic restorations delivered through this process are covered by the Straumann guarantee.

The choice to produce externally might be driven by special functional or material preferences that are not available through Straumann. Today many dental laboratories have to invest in multiple CADCAM systems in order to serve a mixed customer base with differing requirements. This places considerable economic and administrative burdens on the labs, which could be reduced through a single open system.

Dr Sandro Matter, Executive Vice President of Straumann's Prosthetics Business Unit, commented: "Customers want state-of-the-art functional software that offers flexibility and full assurance of predictability and reliability. CARES Visual 7.0 meets these criteria and ensures Straumann quality. It means that labs can now invest in a CADCAM system without the fear of being locked in to a single manufacturer."

CARES Visual 7.0 is available as an upgrade to customers with CARES Scan CS2 scanners and is installed in all new Straumann CARES systems delivered as of 1 March 2012.

Creating the open dental software platform of the future
Digital technologies are becoming widespread in dentistry and cover a broad spectrum of applications - from general practice-management to treatment planning, imaging, guided surgery, digital impression-taking, right through to computer-aided prosthetic design and manufacture. As digitalization grows, so too does the number of incompatible systems, making dental laboratories reluctant to invest in technology that might become obsolete or compromise flexibility. Software standardization - the precondition for open systems - would break this gridlock.

A year ago, Straumann and 3M ESPE - a pioneering leader in digital dentistry - joined forces with Dental Wings to create an open global standard software platform for use across a range of dental applications. The initiative is expected to offer enhanced flexibility, simplicity, and convenience for users, while saving time, costs and investment.

CARES Visual 7.0 has been developed on the open DWOS (Dental Wings Open Software) software platform, which - thanks to its scope, quality, and functionality - is positioned to become the future standard software solution in dentistry.

About Straumann CARES
Straumann CARES Digital Solutions provide dental professionals with a holistic, reliable and precise outcome. From scanning the intra-oral situation to sophisticated, prosthetic-driven backward planning, the digitalization of dental workflows is bringing about new and exciting possibilities for patients, surgeons and lab technicians. The Straumann CARES platform offers seamless connectivity to thousands of scanners in dental practices worldwide and provides Straumann customers with access to future leading edge developments in digital dentistry.

About Straumann
Straumann entered the field of digital dentistry in 2007, through the acquisition of etkon AG. The Group moved into computer guided surgery and intra-oral scanning in 2009 and manufactures CADCAM scanners and design software. In 2011, Straumann acquired a minority stake in Dental Wings Inc., underscoring the Group's commitment to establishing a standard software platform for the dental industry.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Straumann (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. Straumann currently employs approximately 2450 people worldwide and its products and services are available in more than 70 countries through its broad network of distribution subsidiaries and partners.