Chicago (again)

February 27, 2010

Also had an opportunity to drop by B&D’s suite. Must say it was quite busy. I was pleased to see a very nice promotional piece on their about-to-be-released Hybrid Zirconia Custom Abutments. If I understand it correctly, you will be able to use the 3Shape Abutment software to scan proprietary scan caps for a variety of different platforms including Biomet 3i, NobelActive, NobelReplace, Straumann Bone Level and AstraTech. Once scanned the software will automatically load an image of the corresponding titanium insert manufactured by Swiss-Medent. You then design the coronal portion of the abutment complex; mill it out of zirconia (shading possible), and cement the zirconia abutment head to the titanium insert using 3M’s RelyX Unicem.

It’s the same concept as a Lava abutment – one of the chief advantages of this type of abutment is that the forces occurring during the torquing of the seating screw are on the titanium insert, not the zirconia – but preliminary numbers show it will be much more cost effective.

BTW – during the Lava Users’ Meeting, they did announce that 3M will be releasing a 5.3 version of the Lava Design software which will enable you to do the same thing – for any platform for which you can purchase an insert. I think – don’t quote me – the main difference is that with the Lava iteration you would scan the insert on the model. I don’t believe its necessary to have scan caps. Check with your 3M rep to be certain.

I have to say, for a small company B&D is remarkably aggressive and responsive. If you’re in Chicago, you should stop by and check ‘em out.

© 2010, Jeff Saylors. All rights reserved.