Annual Report 2003 - Nobel Biocare Corporate

NOBEL BIOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 200313“NobelPerfect isthe first implantdesigned toreplicate naturalanatomy.”NOBELPERFECT The launch of a new scanner,Procera Piccolo, proved such asuccess that sales forecasts neededto be revised several times.technology. With Procera, firstintroduced in 1988, Nobel Biocarerevolutionized the processes for producingdental applications. Proceraremains the world’s only commerciallyavailable process for industrialproduction of individually designedcrowns, bridges and abutments.The traditional method of replacingthe natural tooth crown with a fixedprosthetic crown has been availablefor about 100 years. The dentistprepares the tooth and takes animpression, which is sent to a dentallaboratory where a new crown isproduced in a lengthy, handicraftprocedure. The work at the dentallaboratory is split in two parts. First, asupporting inner construction, the socalledcoping, is made. Afterwards, thecoping is coated with an outer layerof porcelain.Procera is aimed at the productionof the coping – the part of the processto be industrialized. The dentist sendsan impression to a laboratory where amodel of the tooth is read by a ProceraScanner connected to a PC, whichdesigns the coping digitally. Thedigital information is then transferredto a central production facility, wherethe individually adapted coping ismanufactured. Within 1–3 days thelaboratory receives the coping andadds an outer layer of porcelain toobtain the desired shape and color.A vital part of the new strategyProcera is a vital part of NobelBiocare’s new strategy. By providingindividually designed dental crownsand bridges for conventional dentistry,the system functions as a door-openerto general practitioners.To date four million Procera copingshave been produced and NobelBiocare is the world market leader inCAD/CAM based dentistry. To furtherpenetrate the market, Nobel Biocarein 2003 launched a new scanner,Procera Piccolo, aimed at small andmedium sized laboratories. The launchhas been a success and the sales forecastshad to be revised several times.In 2004, Nobel Biocare will furtherstrengthen its crown and bridge offernamed Nobel Esthetics.Dental ImplantsNobel Biocare is the world leaderand pioneer of dental implants. Theimplant offer covers all indicationsand encompasses a wide range ofdifferent implants, abutments andtreatment tools. Thanks to strongR&D resources, Nobel Biocare meets