September 8, 2009
I usually have CNBC playing as “background music” while I’m working at the bench, so I hear a lot of pundits making their predictions for all types of stocks and commodities. My ears always seem to perk up when some Wall Street pro starts talking about gold. If you haven’t noticed, we’re closing in on $1000/oz, and there’s plenty of chatter about the potential to get to $1500/oz within the next year. In addition, palladium and silver have seen recent double-digit percentage increases in price over the last few months.
So, whether you’re using Nobel or High Noble alloys, chances are the price of your PFMs and Full Cast Crowns is going up in the near future. Why not take the opportunity to check out our complete line of fixed price, all-ceramic restorations like e.Max, Lava or Vericore? (Visit the Fee Schedule section of the blog to download the PDF).
All three crown types have proven themselves with respect to fracture resistance. All three can be conventionally cemented. And, all three offer significantly better esthetics than PFMs – no “black lines” should your patient experience gingival recession. The question is not so much “Why?”, but “Why not?”
BTW – I have it on good authority that there just might be another material choice hitting the market sometime in the next few months that’s going to make things even more interesting. Watch this space for breaking news as I hear it…
September 4, 2009
As I alluded to on Wednesday’s post, after making the decision to return the NobelProcera Scanner, I’m pleased to announce that we will be installing the new 3Shape D700 Scanner sometime in mid-October. We already have a 3Shape D640 scanner through our affiliation with the WhipMix Vericore System, and have found it to be the best, most functional CAD/CAM device on the market. However, the D700 raises the bar to new levels.
The new design uses a two-camera, three-axis scanning process which provides unparalleled accuracy (< 20 microns) at speeds up to 40% faster than previously available. In addition, the new software enables us to customize the tooth morphology output; design substructures and overpress patterns for our Pulse Interface PPMs in one step; scan and design custom abutment and bar solutions for a variety of implant platforms, and will eventually offer the capacity to scan impressions.
The system is completely open meaning we’re not restricted to using any particular milling center – we can shop for the best combination of quality and value to suit our needs. Our training is slated for October 7-9. Once we’re home and operational, I will be sure to fill you in with any updates.
Labor Day weekend – Have a great one! I’ll be back on Tuesday…
September 3, 2009
Just a quick update regarding a post from last week regarding full contour crowns milled from shaded zirconia -
We have an account who started asking for this type of restoration, and although I was little skeptical, I agreed to fabricate a few. I wasn’t crazy about our first attempt – designed using 3Shape CAD software and milled out of Crystal Zirconia on a Digital Dental milling machine – was a little disappointing. I wasn’t crazy about the morphology or the margins, so we decided to print the same file on our wax printer and then refine the margins and anatomy by hand. Once we were happy with the design of the pattern, we simply set it up as a copymill, and sent it to the same milling machine.
Much better result, and – in my humble opinion – something definitely worth considering as an alternative to full cast crowns or maybe even e.Max. I would love to get some feedback from some manufacturer’s regarding 1) the apparent increase in flexural strength of the Crystal zirconia (950 mPa) over that of e.Max Press (400 mPa), and 2) the potential for detrimental effect to opposing natural dentition of highly-polished zirconia.
Here’s a pic of the final restoration (simply polished with Yeti Diamond Polishing Paste – no stain or glaze ) Eat your heart out, Willi …
BTW – We have the same crown being milled with Lava zirconia, just to see if there is any demonstrable difference in the milling. Also, just had the Vident rep in – this could be an interesting application for their Invizion zirconia designed and milled on the Cerec InLab (I have to think of something to do with that giant-sized paper weight…)
Follow-up: The Lava Crown came in, and there was no difference in the quality of the mill – either the morphology or the marginal integrity – that I could discern. However, I can say that the HT Crystal zirconia is definitely more translucent than Lava, but you need to keep in mind you’re giving up about 20% in terms of fracture resistance. I will assume that the LT Crystal zirconia is probably comparable to Lava in terms of both translucency and strength. The question becomes, “How strong is strong enough?”
September 1, 2009
Yesterday, after much hand-wringing, I made the decision to return our new Nobel Procera scanner. If you read my recent posts reviewing the system, you know that there were a number of unfulfilled expectations with regard to the functionality of the CAD software – only two of the four basic applications worked even remotely as advertised.
It seems that Nobel Biocare made the decision to deliver the systems, complete with warts, to a select group of laboratories who were expected to operate as something akin to Beta Level 2 sites. Whether that idea wasn’t clearly communicated to me, or I didn’t understand what was being said at the time is a moot point. Once the concept was clearly enunciated, or I got the wax out my ears (you choose what you want to believe), I couldn’t really get behind the project.
The decision boiled down to the fact that Nobel Biocare has shown up late to the party, her dress is a mess, and I don’t want to dance with her if she thinks she can treat me like some lovesick, pimple-faced freshman who couldn’t get another date.
Cuz she’s wrong…
(BTW – I want to be clear that my Nobel Biocare rep – Steve Gilbert- has been nothing but professional through out this entire process. Sometimes, bad decisions are made high up the food chain with which guys in the field have to deal…)
Anyway, we’re going in another direction. More to follow -
September 1, 2009
Had an interesting conversation with Stuart Steinbock, VP of Marketing for WhipMix. As you know, we were the first lab in the country to have the WhipMix Vericore System for the design and manufacturing of shaded zirconia copings and frameworks featuring the industry standard Metoxit zirconia. We’ve been very pleased with the results, and with the recent addition of milled zirconia custom abutments on any of 31 different implant platforms, the Vericore System is really at the forefront of the CAD/CAM revolution in our industry.
And, they are not resting on their laurels.
According to Stuart, they are now accepting verified master casts with set-ups for the design and fabrication of milled titanium overdenture bars. Using highly accurate CDM scanning technology, Stuart stated they have been able to mill bars to a measured tolerance of less than 8 microns! That’s exceptional, and bodes well for the company’s proposed year-end release of milled titanium custom abutments.
I believe WhipMix will eventually develop technology using scanning locators for the abutment application – allowing laboratories to scan and design abutments using 3Shape’s software – which will put them in direct competition with Atlantis and Nobel Biocare, among others.
WhipMix has been a true partner to our laboratory, delivering high product quality with exceptional service. If you haven’t tried a Vericore zirconia restoration, or a Vericore zirconia abutment, I highly recommend you do so. I guarantee you’re satisfaction.
