At an impressive leading trade fair like the IDS, an innovation has to be really loud in order to be heard. To ensure that exciting new products don't get lost amidst the loud advertising drums, we recommend reading up on them after a week full of new products. You should take your time with the new ideas, look at marketing messages objectively and question them with a critical eye. We have drawn up an EADT summary that is intended to support the IDS review.
Face scanner in focus
The range of face scanners at IDS 2019 was manageable compared to other innovative products. Face scanner manufacturers offered device types based on different approaches. In terms of approach, face scanners can be divided into three variants.
- All-in-one: A DVT device with an integrated face scanner. In addition to the DVT, the face is also recorded. This digital 3D DVT facial scan is offered as a complete system for dental practices.
- App-based face scanner: This technology is operated via a smartphone or tablet. The face scanner app either uses the camera of the smartphone/tablet or an external accessory is plugged into the smartphone/tablet and connected to the app. The face scanner app is available for iOS, Android or Windows.
- Stand-alone devices: With these face scanners, various cameras for capturing 3D data are housed in one housing. The 3D face scanner can be connected to the computer via an interface.
Generally, face scanners produce an OBJ data format that needs to be imported into Exocad, 3Shape or Dental Wings. The different CAD systems should support the integration of face scan data to enable comprehensive diagnosis and treatment planning. The aim of integrating 3D facial data is the uncomplicated networking and further processing of intraoral, DICOM and model data in one system.
3D printing in focus
According to SmartTech Publishing*, dental 3D printing is expected to grow to a market volume of $2027 billion by 9,5. This rapid increase was also evident at IDS 2019. What is striking: it is not just the dental industry that is pushing onto the market with printers, technology companies from outside the industry are also discovering the “dental” target group. 3D printing systems have evolved. The focus is on process chains, as well as speeding up the printing process. High-speed printers work with special technologies, some of which are patented by manufacturers. Standalone post-processing systems (with an integrated follow-up process) reduce the time required.
“New” applications presented by 3D printers were also interesting. An example is a validated process chain consisting of software, printer and press oven, with which CAD restorations for ceramic pressing are digitally pinned or embedded and then printed in burnout resin. CAD applications were demonstrated for the 3D printing of impression trays or bite registrations, with which the shape and form of the tray can be optimally matched to the impression material or method.
Dental filament printing (thermoplastic melt layering) also received a lot of attention. With this technology, a thermoplastic material is shaped by melting it (no polymerization). Also new for dental applications is LCM technology (Lithography based Ceramic Manufacturing), which enables 3D printing of zirconium oxide restorations. A promising trend looking into the future; also a new printer for the multichromatic color infiltration of monolithic zirconium oxide restorations. Here, after determining the areas to be colored in the CAD software, the coloring solution is “printed” onto the zirconium oxide framework.
*SmarTech Markets Publishing = market research and industry analyzes in the field of additive manufacturing
Lithium(X)silicates in focus
The trend in tooth-colored restorations is moving more and more towards monolithic, ie a restoration consisting of one unit/material. These restorations are much quicker and easier to produce. In addition to the zirconium oxides of different generations (uncolored/colored or as multilayers), glass ceramics, i.e. lithium (X) silicate ceramics, have also become increasingly popular. This glass ceramic top group is now divided into three further groups:
- lithium disilicate ceramic,
- lithium silicate ceramics and
- Lithium aluminosilicate ceramic.
At IDS 2019, numerous manufacturers presented lithium disilicate ceramics for pressing. A manufacturer presented CAD/CAM blocks also made of lithium disilicate ceramic for post-crystallization.
Zirconium oxide in focus
In the area of all-ceramic materials, the processing of zirconium oxide continues to play a key role. The manual coloring of whites using dyeing liquids has been almost completely replaced by pre-colored materials. Numerous manufacturers supply 16 color systems in the VITA color spectrum. However, the large selection of blanks requires a large storage space, which is not available in every laboratory. The trend continues to be towards monolithic zirconium oxides. The 3rd generation of zirconium oxide in particular is translucent, but has lower strengths, which must be taken into account in the indication. The 4th generation, on the other hand, has comparable translucency values, but higher strengths. It is therefore important to know the material properties in order to use the materials “correctly”. The range of multilayer blanks with improved color gradients for optimized creation of monolithic restorations has been significantly expanded. The first suppliers mix several generations in a blank in order to achieve high strength in the basal area and high translucency in the occlusal area. This creates a different level of strength in a blank - in addition to the color and translucency gradient. It remains to be seen how the scientific data evaluates these new material compositions. In general, speed is playing an increasingly important role in all areas of zirconium oxide processing - i.e. shortened sintering times. For this purpose, for example, a special sintering furnace for rapid sintering was presented.
Fastening materials in focus
At this year's IDS, most manufacturers relied on their proven products that have been available on the dental market for a long time. Some small changes were made to the various forms of application, such as: B. additional color coding to mark the system affiliation or redesign of the bottle lid for easier handling when opening. With a self-adhesive luting composite, changes in the composition made it possible to reduce the processing time and avoid refrigerator storage. In addition, dental companies appear to be increasingly expanding their product range with products for laboratory bonding of titanium adhesive bases and crowns. So far only two products have been approved, but according to the manufacturers at the IDS, twice as many products will be available by the end of the year.
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