CAD0111

Fig. 1_A versatile system, Tizian mills metal, ZrO2, composite, burn-out plastics and PMMA. Fig. 2_Quick assistance— the restoration is created digitally in only a few work steps. Fig. 3_Efficient material saving— optimal use of blanks with Tizian CAD/CAM. Fig. 4_Reacts flexibly—Anger has had success using pin attachments in cases of strongly divergent insertion directions. 40 I I industry report _ Tizian system _Dental technicians, who wish to produce high-class dental restorations and therefore need to select a particular CAD/CAM system, will quickly discoverthatthechoiceofmaterialsandproduction procedures is limited. This is quite disagreeable, especially because in the majority of cases the cost of such systems is enormous. Presently, the market providesanabundanceofmechanicalandCAD/CAM systems. To prevent losing track of the choices, one mustbeawarethatCAD/CAMisonlyprofitableifex- penditureislowandthesystemissuitableforalarge range of applications. Furthermore, it is important thattheaddedvalueremainwiththelaboratoryand thatthesoftwareiseasytouse,evenfordentaltech- nicianswithlittlepreviouscomputerknowledge.For these reasons, master dental technician (MDT) Michael Anger uses the open Tizian CAD/CAM sys- tem (Schütz Dental), which offers a high degree of personal and creative freedom. Zirconiumdioxide(ZrO2)isthematerialofchoice for dental restorations. The material is strong, bio- compatible, free of corrosion and long-lasting, the edges do not darken and it conducts heat in a simi- lar way to natural teeth. The dense, smooth surface isconducivetoahygienicandcleansituationinside the mouth. However, ZrO2 is difficult to handle. It is sohardthatitisextremelydifficulttomachineonce it has been sintered. Therefore, it is advisable to mill the restorations before sintering the material. _Flexibility without narrow confines Anger and the 32 employees of his laboratory in RemageninGermanyhavespecialisedinrestorations produced from this next-generation material for quitesometime.Asidefromcrownsandbridges,they produce inlays, as well as implant and attachment restorations from ZrO2. For this purpose, Anger in- vested in a Tizian CAD/CAM system, which he and his colleagues use to scan, design and mill. The reasonforhisdecisionisthatincontrasttoothersys- tems,TizianCAD/CAMisnotlimitedorregulatedinits possibilities. “The scanner features an open data in- terface, which means that we are not dependent on certainsoftwareorononlyonesinglemanufacturing method,” Anger states. He appreciates this freedom, as it allows him to react flexibly to his customers’ CAD/CAM 1_2011 No more one-way streets Author_ Thomas Dürr, Germany Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 1 Fig. 2