On our Dental Lab Network Forum we often receive question like the ones posted below:

I feel like I am supposed to have a scanner in the lab but not sure how I will benefit. Is there something I am missing ?. Could someone who is digitally enlightened please pass on the benefits/changes a scanner has made for their lab.
Cheers jeff


I’ve gave it much thought………especially since I just sent a 6-unit lava case to Milling Center
Much like being able to press to metal with e.max, I’d like that option. If you really hate waxing (which I don’t) you could always scan all your stuff and have them all printed for casting. Zirconia abutments on all anteriors (I’d bet it would be cheaper than ordering regular abutments if you scanned them yourself). At this time for me, I still enjoy waxing and am not half bad at it, therefore I don’t spend hours metal finishing. Maybe if I start doing more implants (which is beginning), larger span cosmetic bridges, and really don’t have the time to wax then I might consider the scanner, till then……….

We thought that it is time to respond  to these questions:

If this is the way your think then your situation is the most common situation among lab technicians. You are squeezed between low demand from your dentist and technological advances. Your action to wait is an expected respond of the businessman operating in the recession environment.

However, lack of demand during recessions usually forces reduction of business cost. Beside all proven clinical benefits of CAD/CAM its main advantage is actually lower cost of production. To understand that you need to look at the new production process which shaping up in the industry. Craftwork of small dental laboratory is slowly being replaced by combination of Milling Centers and Chairside Manufacturing. Yes there are still processes which remain in the hands of lab technician, but even that will eventually be automated.

Will it happen tomorrow, next month or in a year? We can only guess. However, I’ve heart that in Germany CAD/CAM adaptation rate is close to 90%. Labs are not looking for dental scanners any longer but replacing software for one which is functionally richer; the one which can deliver implant work and provide dynamic occlusal morphology.
What can we learn from that? It seems that simple cases can be done in the dental office and more complex are send out to Milling Center. Hence, if you are not planning to retire in the next few years gaining in-depth CAD/CAM experience maybe vital for your business.

Even though current CAD software practically automates crown and coping design, design of multi-unit bridge on implant requires deep understanding of CAD/CAM technologies and software proficiency. And it takes time to perfect it.

Take control of your design it will provide you with numerous benefits:

1. Increased service offering
2. Lower turnaround times
3. Higher quality
4. Lower cost

But what about demand?
Chinese built Shanghai before it became business capital of China. When their were asked about demand the answer was “Build it and they will come”.

In conclusion I have a few questions to ask:

1. Is your doctor aware about new materials you might be able to offer or new technological know how you have which allow him to provide new services to his patients?
2. Can you offer these services to other dentists?

Survival of the fittest or in today’s word is all about knowledge and speed.

3dO dental model archiving services are designed to reduce physical storage of dental models in dental office.  It provides secure, inexpensive and searchable on-line storage with monthly backups delivered to dental office.

3dO has developed a file transfer service specifically designed for dental industry. It allows secure and simple transmission of files between laboratory, milling center and dental office.

 It varies based on individual laboratories. Generally moving design in-house usually saves approximatelly $20 per simple crown.

1. Ability to design puts you in control of your work

2. Dramatic improvement of turnaround time due to electronic work submission

3. Ability to offer new services to your dentist

4. Be prepared for the future - digital laboratory

 Yes, 3dO provides an easy leasing arrangement of DS2 scanner and software.

 DS2 callibration should be performed at least once a year using special calibration tools.  Callibration is a part of device regular maintenance and provided free of charge for customers who subscribe to 3dO support and maintenance contract.

 Solutionix DS2 is a stripe-light scanner. Unlike laser scanners it does not require 3 axis to move laser beam. Stripe-light based design improves accuracy and reduces calibration requirements for DS2.

 3D laser scanners use trianguiulation technique which uses laser light to probe the object. Laser beam shines on the object and the camera takes serious of images of beam location.  This technique is called triangulation because the laser dot, the camera and the laser emitter form a triangle.  In most cases a laser stripe, instead of a single laser dot, is swept across the object to speed up the acquisition process.

 Stripe light scanners project a patter of stripe light on the object and analyse deformation of the patter.  A camera looks at the shape of the line and uses a technique similar to triangulation to calculate the distance of every point on the line.  The advantage of structured-light 3D scanners is speed. Instead of scanning one point at a time, structured light scanners scan multiple points or the entire field of view at once. This reduces or eliminates the problem of distortion from motion.  In addition, in most of the cases it reduce complexity of the apparatus by eluminating lasor and its moving components thus reducing cost and simplifying maintenace. 

 A 3D scanner is a device that analyzes a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape.  There are many technologies used to build 3D scanners. These technologies are divided between contact and non-contact scanners.  Contact 3D scanners probe the subject through physical touch which imposes obvious limitations. Non-contact scanners either emit some kind of radiation or light and detect its reflection or simply detect reflection of the visible light in order to probe an object or environment.

 Non-Contact scanners in dental applications use either stripe (structured) light or triangulation technologies using lasor beam.  The main advantage of these technologies is mainly speed and its invasiveness. Non-contact scanners usually take serious of object scans and then the scanner software stiches them together into 3d image.  Read more about this at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_scanner 

Are you looking for a dental scanner? Well, you may then have some problems deciding which model to choose. Scanners are becoming important pieces of equipment for scanning dental impressions and models. 

To choose a proper scanner, you need to take note of some important criteria. For example, the output format, quality, speed and software bundle are all key considerations. 

1. Scan Impressions? In the process of determining appropriate scanner a thorough consideration should be given to its ability to scan impressions. Impression scanning maybe a key factor in the orthodontic or dental office in-house laboratories.

2. The Output Format? The second key factors in choosing a computer scanner is the scanner’ ability to produce open system (not proprietary) file format i.e. STL.  STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software.  This file format is supported by many software packages; it is widely used for rapid prototyping and computer-aided manufacturing. Read more about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format). This factor will determine your ability to choose the most suitable milling center when subcontracting your milling work. As well as is the freedom of dental CAD software choice.

3. The Software? The dental CAD software is third most important element.  Careful consideration should be given in the software selection. Different software packages provide different functionality ranging from simple crown design to complex bridge on implant work as well as orthodontic modelling.

Solutionix Corp., the world leader in 3D scanner manufacturing. It develops and manufactures a range of scanners for different industries, including medical.

Details about the company can be obtained at: www.solutionix.com/about/history.htm