DTUS1610

Clinical LAB TRIBUNE | June 20104D AD modate any future loss of dentition that this patient may have. If we were hand-waxing this partial, we would basically have to start anew. With the SensAble system, our technician can simply recall the original design and change it as needed, without requiring the patient to return to the dentist — making it easier for the patient and freeing up the dentist to see other patients. Having digital files of our designs also saves us time in the case of a miscast. Full-contour crown case One of our other cases (Fig. 2) involved a patient who complete- ly sheared off the top of a molar, and required a crown to restore the tooth. In this case, we felt an all- ceramic pressed restoration (mono- lithic) would provide a better solu- tion than a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown because the high ten- sile strength of a ceramic pressable restoration could withstand the con- stant pressure of chewing, required of a molar. Also, an all-ceramic crown would be more esthetically pleasing — all- white as opposed to white with an unappealing, thin, black metal line where the crown and gum tissue meet. In this case, the dentist prepared the top of the patient’s remaining tooth. Using one of the integrated tooth libraries in the SensAble system, the technician designed a full contour crown (Fig. 2), literally in two min- utes — a crown that anatomically matches the patient’s other teeth and fits perfectly. Next, the digital design was print- ed in resin, which was used to cre- ate an investment mold. Then, in one final step, the heated ceramic ingot was pressed into the pre-heat- ed mold to produce the final pearly, luminous restoration. Conclusion In today’s economy, labs are seeking more ways to work smarter as well as more efficiently to produce pre- cise, high-quality restorations. New, highly versatile dental CAD/CAM systems that deliver multiple types of restorations, along with consis- tent results, regardless of which technician does the work, give labs a greater return on their technology investment. Labs that purchase with an eye toward maximizing the use of their CAD/CAM systems will ultimately win out as our industry continues to transition to a digital future. John Aitchison, CDT, owner of Minot Dental Laboratory, has more than 35 years of experience in the dental lab industry. Minot Dental Laboratory is one of the oldest continually operating full-service dental labs in the United States, founded in 1906, with more than 20 staffers and a commitment to quality and innovation. Bob Steingart, president of SensAble Dental Products, has more than 25 years experience in successfully transforming innova- tive technologies into commercial solutions. He has held executive positions in business development, product management and market- ing at Avid Technologies, EMC, Lotus Development, Sitara Net- works and Kurzweil Applied Intel- ligence. Steingart holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and BSEE and MSEE from MIT. About the authorsLTf LT page 3D LT Aurident

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