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15Lab TribuneMay 3-9, 2010United Kingdom Edition D igital impression-tak- ing technology is set to see double digit growth rates as laboratory technicians and dentists adopt this highly flexible, quick, and accurate so- lution to manufacturing and fit- ting dental restorations. According to DentalProduct- sReport.com, the US market for digital impression-taking sys- tems is estimated to reach $83.5 million by 2015, with the UK braced to follow suit. In 2008, the US market for digital impression-taking sys- tems increased by 73 per cent over 2007, following new tech- nology as well as continued in- vestment by laboratory techni- cians and dentists. Commenting on the report, Julian Dorey, laboratory techni- cian at the Kingsbridge dental laboratory, who uses the Lava chairside oral scanner (C.O.S) laboratory software from 3M ESPE said: ‘The Lava C.O.S is the only software that comes through to the laboratory and takes both the impression and makes a model - it’s definitely the way forward.’ He continued: “It has in- creased accuracy and the fit is considerably better now, and it certainly has the potential to improve the working rela- tionship between dentists and laboratory technicians.” The primary advantages of using a digital impression sys- tem over traditional processes is the elimination of many man- ual steps involved in creating a restoration. The technology produces a more accurate restoration be- cause the three-dimensional image is produced instantly, al- lowing the dentist to make any adjustments necessary to the prep site in real time. Digital impression-taking technology offers many proce- dural enhancements for man- ufacturing and fitting dental restorations. The Lava C.O.S is able to take an accurate digital impression of the teeth, instantly upload- ing the image and allowing the dentist to make any correc- tions or changes to the patient’s prepped dentition. The benefits for the laborato- ry are impressive. For example, with the Lava C.O.S, there is an uninterrupted ‘digital workflow process’ meaning time-consum- ing steps such as plaster pouring, base and pin, die cutting, trim- ming, articulation and scanning are eliminated. This process also eliminates the risk associated with a tra- ditional physical impression changing size or shape during transportation, which can lead to an inaccurate final restoration. According to a US market report for Dental Prosthetic De- vices 2009, clinical studies have shown restoration remakes have been reduced from an average of five per cent using traditional methods, to less than 1 per cent with digital impression-taking systems. Following a typical life cycle of an emerging mar- ket, digital impression-taking systems are still in their embry- onic stage, where the market is still developing. According to the report, early clinical studies are encouraging as they have shown high levels of success, and are paving the way for more practitioners to adopt the technology. More than 25,000 cases have now been produced with the Lava C.O.S, for further informa- tion on this device and the 3M ESPE digital workflow process, please visit www.3mespe.co.uk/ lavacos or call 0845 602 5094. DT CAD/CAM set to rise Analysis shows digital impression technology taking a popular choice in dental care PracticeWorks KODAK R4 Practice Management Software PEARL is the new iPhone or Blackberry application for R4. No longer are you restricted to viewing your appointments, patient records and images on a computer screen. Now you can view them wherever you want, whenever it’s most convenient for you. Access your practice data on your iPhone or Blackberry with PEARL Another breakthrough from PracticeWorks For more information or to place an order please call 0800 169 9692 or visit www2.practiceworks.co.uk/links/pearl.asp PracticeWorks © PracticeWorks Limited 2010www.practiceworks.co.uk