CEREC 30: New Standards for CAD/CAM and Dental Events

Friday, September 25, 2015

CEREC 30: New Standards for CAD/CAM and Dental Events

Since the launch of Dentalcompare in 2006, I have attended numerous dental trade shows. These trips were always a wonderful opportunity to see a new city, get insights on the latest products, and reunite with colleagues.

Yet with all those things to look forward to, it seems a bit of boredom has crept into these events. Even with great education and interesting new products, many docs I talk to look at the conventions as an obligatory chance to get required CE credits and to take advantage of latest special on gloves.

Last week I had a chance to attend the CEREC 30th anniversary meeting, and immediately felt it was the solution to what is ailing this industry’s trade shows. We were able to preview some of the absolute latest CAD/CAM and 3D imaging technologies, and get insight into how it’s shaping the future of the industry. The education side covered clinical tips and tricks, expanded procedures for your practice, tips on marketing, and even ended with an inspirational 3 hour session with none other than Tony Robbins.

The event was fresh, exciting, well put together, and most importantly, every doctor I spoke with was genuinely excited to be there. It made me realize the most important thing in a meeting like this is to leave inspired so when my colleagues and I head home we bring a renewed passion for what we do every day along with us.

CEREC 30 accomplished this and set a high bar for future events. Here were some news and highlights from the show:

ImageCEREC – The Omnicam is Sirona’s lighting fast 3D acquisition camera that captures digital impressions in full color. At the meeting Sirona unveiled a mobile Omnicam setup that can be moved between treatment rooms without the large cart, as well as a version that could be integrated directly into Sirona treatment centers. The key point here is that this allows you to expand your functionality of a 3D scan and to have a digital impression system available in any room whether it’s integrated to your chair or connected to a tablet or laptop. Rather than taking random two-dimensional pics with an intraoral camera, you can now quickly get full color 3D models of the teeth for demonstration and treatment planning. Plus, new software upgrades makes it easy to do a digital wax-up, quickly jumping between various shapes of teeth essential for designing a smile.

Image3D Imaging – The new ORTHOPHOS SL is a digital pan, capable of adding cephalometric and cone beam imaging. The machine boasts a resolution of 80 micron voxel size, and has variable volumes you can select.

The best part of this was the release of new software, SICAT Air, which allows you to quickly visualize a patient’s airway and TMJ for diagnosis of sleep apnea. If you decide you need a snore appliance, you can upload your full arch digital scan to SICAT and you will get the appliance back in a few days. This requires no impressions, and represents a complete digital workflow. The 3D scans can integrate with CEREC scans for implant treatment planning and fabrication of surgical guides as well.

ImageSurgical Guides – Speaking of implants, CEREC Guide 2 was released. Once you determine where the implant needs to go, you can mill out full contour surgical guides right in your office with your own milling machine. Without losing any accuracy, you can be ready for surgery in approximately 40 minutes, and your cost is less than $100. Guided surgery is a more accurate and predictable procedure than simply free-handing implant placement. With this new workflow you can extract a tooth, get a 3D scan, and accurately place an implant in less than 2 hours. Plus, with CEREC’s ability to fabricate custom abutments, you could have a provisional ready in your own office for cases needing immediate provisionalization.

ImageNewest Materials – CAD/CAM technology has come a long way in 30 years. Anyone who thinks that it’s just not there yet, or that it isn’t accurate enough, simply hasn’t looked at what a machine like CEREC can do. Additionally, they are most likely unaware that a huge majority of lab cases are all completed using CAD/CAM technology. While the scanning and milling has certainly improved, the innovation of materials in recent years has further legitimized this segment of our industry. e.Max (Lithium disilicate) has proven to be a reliable option for many cases, chairside abutments would have been impossible without it. But it’s not the only choice for CAD/CAM dentists today. DENTSPLY recently introduced a new compelling material called CELTRA Duo, a zirconia enforced lithium silicate. Rather than coming in the blue pre-crystallized form, the material is already crystallized into its VITA shade. You have the option of either polishing only, or firing it in a ceramic oven to reach e.Max level strength. Plus, staining and glazing are simplified because you can more directly visualize the color.

CAD/CAM Goes Mainstream – One of the speakers at the show was Fred Joyal, co-founder of 1-800-Dentist. If you haven’t had a chance to read his book “Everything is Marketing”, you and your practice are missing out on valuable tips. His new book, “Becoming Remarkable” was released alongside an announcement that Sirona and 1-800-Dentist will be collaborating on consumer marketing starting next year. Patients will now be getting the message directly about the benefits of CEREC and same-day dentistry. The ads will then point people to 1-800-Dentist to help the consumer find a dentist who has this technology.

There is a huge difference between this and previous attempts at consumer marketing. In the past, a company would push the commercials out there hoping that their product would be requested by name in their dental office, thereby compelling the dentist to use that product. Instead, this program represents a unique partnership between the dentist, Sirona and 1-800-Dentist. Instead of relying solely on branding, these ads are designed to push patients to participating docs. It’s a better experience for everyone. The doctor investing in the equipment gets a stream of patients. Plus, the patient finds what they are actually looking for rather than going back to their office that may not ever invest in the technology. Leave it to Fred Joyal how to have this level of market awareness and creativity.

While in the past these CEREC shows have been held every few years, alongside the announcement of the company’s SIROWORLD online community, Sirona will begin hosting an annual meeting in 2016. Whether you have CAD/CAM equipment, or are thinking about buying a CEREC, this is one convention that truly delivers on the promise of providing innovations, education, inspiration and a connection with likeminded colleagues. Rather than another listing in the calendar of dental trade shows, this has become an “event” that is not to be missed.

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