Dental Asia March/April 2022

www.dentalasia.net 

www.dentalasia.net 

MARCH 

MARCH / 

APRIL 

APRIL 2022 

2022 

SINGLE-VISIT 

RESTORATIONS 

MADE EASY 

ChairsideCAD 3.0 Galway 

Intuitive design software

User Report 

DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021 3

24 

49 

30 

58 

40 

BEHIND THE SCENES 

56 Combining digital and conventional denture 

workflows: An immediate denture case 

report 

58 exocad: comprehensive implant libraries in 

exoplan 3.0 Galway 

CONTENTS 

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT 

24 Balancing practice and academic 

DENTAL PROFILE 

27 Coltene continues forward momentum 

towards innovation despite pandemic 

30 Straumann Group enables dental implants 

and orthodontics solutions for all 

CLINICAL FEATURE 

34 Minimally-invasive restoration of an incisal 

edge defect with CAD/CAM hybrid ceramic 

36 Osteoma of the maxilla 

40 Photobiomodulation: An updated literature 

review with a case report 

44 Class II orthodontic treatment using Invisalign 

treatment with mandibular advancement 

USER REPORT 

49 Correcting a single midline diastema 

52 Rehabilitation of an edentulous lower jaw 

presenting reduced residual bone crest with 

Anthogyr Mini Implant System 

54 Simultaneous GBR and GTR in the posterior 

mandible area 

IN DEPTH WITH 

61 Achieve gentle and effective treatment of 

periodontitis and periimplantitis with the 

Vector system 

62 Digital solutions lead the way into the dental 

practice 

63 Rolence Dental introduces latest digital 

image system and dental equipment 

64 The two sides of the W&H Lina steriliser 

65 BUSCH develops enhanced systems and 

tools 

SHOW PREVIEW 

75 IDEM returns for its 12th edition with new 

panels and conference 

76 Sino-Dental continues to be wonderful 

REGULARS 

4 Editor’s Note 

6 Dental Updates 

66 Product Highlights 

78 Giving Back to Society 

79 Events Calendar 

80 Advertiser’s Index 

2 

DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022

User Report 


EDITOR’S NOTE 

Riding the waves 

of progress 

PABLO SINGAPORE 

Publisher 

Publications Director 

Senior Editor 

William Pang 

williampang@pabloasia.com 

Jamie Tan 

jamietan@pabloasia.com 

Josephine Tan 

josephine@pabloasia.com 

The dental industry remains steadfast 

on its path to greater development 

and advancement. In this issue, we 

have prepared articles showcasing the 

community’s embracing of progress and 

advancement, through the relentless 

efforts of the practitioners adopting 

digital technology and streamlining their 

workflows. 

Speaking to Dental Asia, Dr Yu Na, 

Singapore’s first dental clinician to 

receive the National Medical Research 

Council’s Clinician Scientist Award in 

the Investigator Category, talks about 

her personal experiences and recent 

achievements in research, showcasing the 

fine footwork that goes into threading the 

tightrope between practice and academia. 

On the other hand, the adoption of 

digitalisation continues to be relevant to 

the dental community. On page 31, Vida 

Lau, commercial director of South East 

Asia at Straumann Group, stresses the 

importance of adopting digital workflows 

that can simplify complex treatment 

processes, benefitting both dentist and 

patient: “Ultimately, clinics that excel 

at digitalisation will gain considerable 

advantages in terms of outcome quality, 

as well as cost and time savings.” 

Likewise, further research in the 

community has also fuelled a new 

direction in dentistry. In a paper by Dr Kevin 

Ng and Dato’ Dr How Kim Chuan, it was 

demonstrated “that intraoral PBM could 

be used to decrease alignment treatment 

time and pain/discomfort, as well as 

encourage bone formation, promoting 

bone healings and osseointegration of 

dental implants” (pp.43). 

As we continue to usher in the first quarter 

of the year, Dental Asia is also proud 

to present a fresh new layout befitting 

its commitment to deliver the latest 

trends and developments in dentistry. 

We hope that this fresh start will deliver 

to you, our readers, fresh ideas and 

novel perspectives, and serve the wider 

community for the better. 

Agatha Wong 

Assistant Editor 

Scan for digital copy 

of Dental Asia 

Assistant Editors 

Graphic Designer 

Circulation Manager 

PABLO BEIJING 

General Manager 

PABLO SHANGHAI 

Senior Editor 

Agatha Wong 

agatha@pabloasia.com 

Yap Shi Quan 

shiquan@pabloasia.com 

Czarmaine Masigla 

czarmaine@pabloasia.com 

Jolin Tan 

jolintan@pabloasia.com 

Shu Ai Ling 

circulation@pabloasia.com 

Ellen Gao 

pablobeijing@163.com 

Daisy Wang 

pabloshanghai@163.net 

HEAD OFFICE 

PABLO PUBLISHING & 

EXHIBITION PTE LTD 

3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62 #01-23 

Link@AMK, Singapore 569139 

Tel: (65) 62665512 

Email: info@pabloasia.com 

Website: www.dentalasia.net 

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PABLO SHANGHAI 

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Email: pabloshanghai@163.net 

ADVISORY BOARD 

Dr William Cheung 

Dr Choo Teck Chuan 

Dr Chung Kong Mun 

Dr George Freedman 

Dr Fay Goldstep 

Dr Clarence Tam 

Prof Nigel M. King 

Dr Anand Narvekar 

Dr Kevin Ng 

Dr William O’Reilly 

A DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022 

Dr Wong Li Beng 

Dr Adrian U J Yap 

Dr Christopher Ho 

Dr How Kim Chuan 

Dr Derek Mahony 

Prof Alex Mersel

A 

Bone Level 

User Report 

REG & PX designs for 

biological integration 

With more than 30 years of experience 

in implantology, Anthogyr launched the 

Axiom® implant system 10 years ago to 

improve access to implantology by 

offering innovative and accessible 

solutions, a greater comfort for practitionners 

and performance in their 

everyday practice. 


DENTAL UPDATES 

3Shape announces software updates to 3Shape Model Maker 

Users of 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner 

and 3Shape Studio applications can 

now automatically convert their digital 

impressions to dental models. 

The new Model Maker solution, Model 

Maker 2022.1, uses an automated 

workflow powered by artificial intelligence 

(AI)-technology that converts scans to 

models in minutes. 

Full arch dental model optimised for 3D printing 

According to 3Shape, the model is 

automatically generated from the TRIOS 

scans with a single click and includes 

key-features to optimise 3D printing. 

The algorithm will create a model using 

hollowing and drain holes, thus optimising 

the use of resin and to ensure a good 

printing experience. Bevels are also added 

to the base structure of the dental model 

to ensure that models can be removed 

easily from the build platform of most 

common 3D printers. 

Additionally, an AI-powered algorithm in the 

cloud will convert TRIOS scans to .STL files 

which can then be exported and produced. 

The algorithm ensures an automated workflow 

requiring no input from the user. 3Shape 

reported that generating a model can take a 

couple of minutes depending on factors like 

local internet speed. While waiting to receive a 

model, users can exit the workflow using the 

‘home’ button and continue to work on other 

cases. 

Other updates include a Cross Section tool to 

inspect the model, and a progress overview 

page to verify if the model has finished 

generating. 

Model Maker 2022.1 can only be accessed from 

the 3Shape Unite platform. Users can enter their 

workflow either from scratch as ‘new action’ in 

their TRIOS scanning workflow or by selecting 

relevant scans and images in the patient media 

library to create a model. ■ 

3M reports Q4 and full 2021 performances 

3M has announced their performance for Q4 

and the whole of 2021. In particular, the total 

sales for the healthcare segment, which includes 

oral health, grew by 0.7% to US$2.3 billion in Q4 

2021, and the segment’s organic local-currency 

sales grew by 1.6% in the same period. The 

segment’s operating income was $536 million, 

a decrease of 1.6% year-on-year, and operating 

margins were 23.6%. 

On a geographic basis, total sales in Q4 2021 

grew 2.1% in the Americas, and decreased 0.2% 

in Asia-Pacific, and 4.5% in Europe, Middle East 

and Africa (EMEA). Organic local-currency sales 

grew 2.2% in the Americas, 1.4% in Asia-Pacific, 

and decreased 1.9% in EMEA for the same 

period. 

"3M delivered a solid fourth-quarter performance 

— with notable strength in December — as 

we maintained our relentless focus on 

serving customers in a challenging external 

environment," said Mike Roman, chairman and 

CEO of 3M. "Our team effectively managed 

supply chain disruptions, made good progress 

on pricing actions and controlled costs. 

"Throughout 2021 we performed well, delivering 

full-year sales growth of 10%, robust cash flow 

3M headquarters (Image: 3M) 

and a strong increase in EPS. We also returned 

significant cash to shareholders, reduced debt 

and helped the world respond to COVID-19. As 

we continue to actively manage our portfolio 

and improve our operations, we will prioritise 

investments in fast-growing end markets to 

drive long-term growth, as well as advance 

our commitment to sustainability. As we enter 

2022, I am confident we will continue to grow 

our business and find new ways to apply 

science to improve lives." ■ 

For the whole of 2021 results, 3M recorded 

a 9.9% increase year-on-year to $35.4 billion. 

Organic local-currency sales increased 8.8% 

while acquisitions, net of divestitures, decreased 

sales by 0.5%. Foreign currency translation 

increased sales by 1.6% year-on-year. 

6 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022


DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022 7


Align Technology promotes digital dentistry for interdisciplinary orthodontics 

Align Technology has reinforced its 

commitment to dental professionals in the 

region with its presence at the 16th Annual 

Conference of the Saudi Orthodontic Society 

(SOS) as a platinum sponsor of the event. 

The annual conference, which took place 

from 24-27 Feb 2022 in Riyadh, highlighted 

the importance of interdisciplinary 

orthodontics and brought together more than 

500 individuals from the orthodontic industry 

including doctors, laboratory practitioners 

and industry partners. 

Over the course of the conference, a range of 

lectures, panel discussions and workshops 

also took place with a focus on topics that 

promote interdisciplinary orthodontics and 

interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Angelo Maura, general manager of Middle 

East and Africa at Align Technology, said, 

“The 16th SOS Annual Conference will serve 

as a much-needed platform for leveraging the 

digital technologies that will move us toward 

the future of dentistry, as well as foster more 

collaboration between the different specialties 

in the field.” 

Align Technology hosted two key events 

during the conference, focusing on driving 

interdisciplinary orthodontics through the use 

of digital technologies. One of these was a 

lecture by Dr Waddah Sabouni, an orthodontist 

specialist, discussing “Alternative Approaches 

to Orthognathic Surgery with Clear Aligners”. 

The lecture covered the management of 

orthognathic surgery cases within the 

Invisalign system, explaining different 

approaches to the timing of the surgery 

within orthodontic treatment. Additionally, 

Dr Sabouni shared his perspective on the 

differences, benefits and considerations 

between the alternative approaches. 

Another key event being hosted by 

Align Technology was a four-hourlong 

workshop, also by Dr Sabouni, on 

“Aligner Treatment: Possibilities and 

Considerations”. Taking place on 27 

Feb, The workshop explored the broad 

aspects of the applicability of clear 

aligners within the orthodontic practice, 

including the scope of malocclusions that 

can be treated with aligners, as well as 

different interdisciplinary treatments such 

as cases with periodontal considerations, 

pre-prosthetic or pre-restorative 

treatments. ■ 

CAD-Ray announces new partnerships with DOF, MaxxDigm and Akuretta 

CAD-Ray has expanded its technology 

offerings following the partnerships with 

another three manufacturers that share their 

vision for innovative, user-friendly dental 

technology. 

The union of CAD-Ray and DOF will bring the 

Craft 5X milling machine to computer-aided 

design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing 

(CAM) dental offices in the US market. The 

Craft 5X mill consists of a dust collector, water 

pump and compressor all in one tower-shaped 

housing. It is easy to install, user-friendly, and 

intuitive. CAD-Ray reported that the Craft 5X 

can work with any intraoral scanner and any 

CAD design platform, including both CLINUX 

by CAD-Ray and exocad. 

CAD-Ray has also established a partnership 

with MaxxDigm, a South Korean robotics 

company. CAD-Ray will be distributing the 

Chaiman four-axis chairside milling unit. The 

Chairman boasts 5kW servomotors, dual 

spindles and ultra-fast 10-minute milling 

times for glass ceramics and zirconia. It 

comes self-contained with everything needed 

to get started with chairside restorations, 

interfaces easily with any IOS and/or CAD 

system and has direct integrations with 

CLINUX by CAD-Ray and exocad Chairside 

CAD. 

Finally, CAD-Ray and Akuretta have 

announced a distribution partnership for the 

SOL Dental 3D Printing system. The SOL is a 

3D printer priced well below its competition 

in the dental space. The SOL is an LCD printer 

with a native resolution of 49 microns, and 

a chairside solution for high-precision, fast 

3D printing. SOL delivers accurate results 

with 54 LED lights that perform at 95% 

light uniformity. It can be paired with the 

SOL automatic wash/dry unit and Ultra- 

Fast UV cure box to complete the package. 

Furthermore, SOL is an open platform printer 

with resins available from Akuretta, and 

partner companies like Keystone, Dentca, 

Bego and more. 

A provider of dental CAD/CAM and conebeam 

computer tomography (CBCT) 

solutions, CAD-Ray is also a global distributor 

of MEDIT intraoral scanners, and has 

partnerships with technology manufacturers 

such as Sprint-Ray, Prexion, HDX-Will, Vita, 

exocad and more. The company’s own CAD 

software, CLINUX, is a browser-based CAD/ 

CAM software for dentists. ■ 



Nexa3D partners Nowak Dental 

Supplies to provide dental 

3D printing solutions 

Nexa3D, producer of resin 3D printers, announced that it has 

entered into a reseller partnership with Nowak Dental Supplies, 

a family-owned and -operated provider of dental devices and 

equipment. Nowak Dental Supplies will offer Nexa3D’s entire 

dental portfolio, including the NXD 200 dental 3D printer, NexaX 

software, the post-processing xWASH and xCURE systems, and 

the full range of Keystone validated dental 3D printing materials. 

The NXD 200, utilising Nexa3D’s lubricant sublayer photo-curing 

(LSPc) printing technology, features a 8.5-litre build volume, 

allowing for the printing of multiple parts simultaneously, as well 

as the fast speed for which Nexa3D printers are known. 

“The confidence that Nowak’s customers have in its team is 

critical to us,” said Jim Zarzour, head of dental solutions at 

Nexa3D. “That, in turn, gives us confidence, knowing that our 

products and joint customers will be fully supported. To have 

someone of Nowak Dental Supplies’ calibre as a reseller for the 

NXD 200 is something we’re very excited about.” 

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The NXD 200, with its modular design, enables easy repairs, 

part replacements, and technology upgrades, and is designed 

for use with the NexaX software. NexaX requires no advanced 

3D design or printing knowledge to utilise, making it ideal for 

experienced and novice users alike. 

“We at Nowak Dental are extremely excited about bringing 

this new printer to the market,” said Shawn Nowak, president 

of Nowak Dental Supplies. “With how quickly technology is 

changing, we are staying at the forefront of products to offer our 

customers. The Nexa3D brand of printers allows customers to 

stay competitive and bring the speed that is needed in today’s 

landscape.” 

Nowak Dental Supplies is a supplier to the dental industry, with a 

small-business model that emphasises personalised customer 

service and dedicated technical support. It works closely with 

both dental laboratories and dental offices, supplying from large 

lab equipment to small orthodontic accessories. ■ 

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DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022 9 

ad_PStouch_dental_asia_95x250_en_211214.indd 1 14.12.21 15:38


Dentsply Sirona partners with FDI and Smile Train to create cleft care protocols 

Dentsply Sirona has announced a three-way 

partnership with FDI World Dental Federation 

(FDI) and Smile Train, a cleft-focused 

organisation, to develop global standard 

protocols for digital cleft treatment. 

The protocols aim to increase access to digital 

treatments for patients with clefts and advance 

cleft care for the one in 700 babies born around 

the globe with cleft lip and or palate. 

According to the press release by Dentsply 

Sirona, the three partners will jointly work on 

integrating digital workflows and sustainable 

solutions into these new protocols as well 

as creating and providing the necessary 

clinical education infrastructure to oral health 

professionals around the world. 

The partnership also includes designing and 

setting up online courses and webinars to 

introduce dental professionals around the world 

to digital cleft care. 

Prior to this new partnership, Dentsply Sirona 

pledged a US$5 million donation to Smile Train 

as part of a five-year commitment to help 

children around the world gain access to 

cleft treatment. 

“At Dentsply Sirona, we live our sustainability 

strategy every day in numerous ways. One of 

the most rewarding aspects is working with 

Smile Train and FDI to be able to offer the 

best care possible to children with clefts,” said 

Jorge M. Gomez, CFO and head of the Dentsply 

Sirona Sustainability Programme. “Giving these 

children healthy smiles by utilising the most 

advanced digital technologies is part of our 

larger sustainability goal to improve global oral 

health care and create millions of healthy smiles 

around the world. We are happy to contribute our 

knowledge and technologies for this important 

cause.” 

“We are proud to be working with Dentsply 

Sirona and Smile Train to increase the global 

access to the best possible cleft care,” said 

Professor Ihsane Ben Yahya, president, FDI. 

“Cleft surgeries and cleft care benefit hugely 

from digitisation and together with our 

partners we work fervently on providing oral 

health professionals, especially in limitedresource 

settings and remote regions, with the 

Zoe was supported by Smile Train partner Hospital 

Pediatrico Dr Humberto J. Notti with presurgical 

orthopaedics, cleft lip, and cleft palate surgeries 

(Image: Dentsply Sirona) 

infrastructure and training necessary to correctly 

use these digital technologies.” 

“Children with clefts are more susceptible 

to poor oral health which can greatly impact 

their speech, ability to eat, and their overall 

well-being,” said Susannah Schaefer, president 

and CEO, Smile Train. “We are delighted that 

our new partnership with Dentsply Sirona and 

FDI ensures that Smile Train centres around 

the world will have access to digital treatment 

protocols that integrate the latest, newest 

technologies to provide best-in-class digital oral 

healthcare.” ■ 

UnitedHealthcare Dental launches digital resource with quip to improve 

dental care 

UnitedHealthcare Dental has introduced several 

enhancements designed to help people improve 

their oral health and access dental care in a 

more convenient and informed way, with the aim 

of helping lower costs and improve satisfaction 

among members and dental professionals. 

According to the company, the latest offering 

expands access to 24/7 virtual dental visits to 

help members meet with a licensed dentist 

via phone or video, giving eligible members 

in many UnitedHealthcare Dental plans two 

virtual dental appointments with no cost 

sharing. The enhanced virtual dental care 

benefit is designed to improve access to 

dental advice anywhere and anytime, which 

may help avoid often-unnecessary visits to the 

emergency department for oral health issues. 

In addition, to help people improve their oral 

care habits, members of UnitedHealthcare 

Dental can now save up to 30% on smart 

electric toothbrushes, including toothpaste, 

refillable floss and refillable mouthwash from 

oral health company quip. 

UnitedHealthcare Dental members will also 

have access to an online resource to help bring 

greater transparency to treatment options 

and the cost of dental care, with the goal of 

helping prevent surprise costs. The Treatment 

Plan Calculator offers access to cost 

estimates based on actual contracted rates 

and the member’s plan, including real-time 

processing capabilities. 

“As more and more Americans adopt a 

digital-first mindset, these new resources 

are designed to help our members improve 

and maintain their dental health, which 

may contribute to overall well-being and 

help reduce the risk of certain chronic 

health conditions,” said Colleen Van Ham, 

CEO, UnitedHealthcare Dental. “These new 

initiatives advance UnitedHealthcare’s 

approach of using technology to improve 

access to quality, cost-effective medical and 

dental care, while empowering people with 

personalised information.” ■ 





Partnership between Bien-Air Dental and Midmark to provide more complete 

operatory ecosystem 

Bien-Air Dental and Midmark have announced 

a partnership that combines the two 

companies’ dental technology into a simple, 

easy-to-use delivery care solution. 

Dental clinicians are exposed to health and 

safety risks on the job every day. Midmark 

and Bien-Air are working together to enhance 

safety, optimise ergonomics and improve both 

clinician and patient experiences. They will be 

integrating Bien-Air’s latest electric handpiece 

solutions into Midmark’s dental delivery 

equipment for a more complete operatory 

ecosystem. 

Now, dental clinicians can select Midmark’s 

Procenter and Elevance delivery units with 

Bien-Air’s newest micromotor and contra-angle 

handpieces for an operatory-ready solution. 

The solution simplifies workflow for a 

broad range of clinical procedures, provides 

ergonomic balance, lighter weight and smaller 

size for less strain, enable access to oral cavity, 

and reduce the risk of patient burn and crosscontamination. 

“Midmark is constantly looking for ways to help 

design better care in the clinical environment, 

which is what makes this partnership so 

exciting,” said Jon Wells, president and CEO 

for Midmark. “We are thrilled to be joining 

forces with another industry-leading company 

like ours that shares our strategic vision. Our 

collaboration reflects the emphasis both of our 

companies place on improving the lives and 

livelihoods of each dental team we serve and 

improving the experience at the point of care.” 

Edgar Schönbächler, CEO, Bien-Air Dental, also 

commented: “For more than 60 years, Bien- 

Air has been leading the way in electric motor 

systems for dental and surgical applications. 

Reliability and efficiency, typical Swiss values, 

have always guided our company. We are 

excited about this new step in our longterm 

partnership with Midmark. The seamless 

integration of our products is the result of a 

common understanding of the practitioner’s needs, 

helping to improve clinical efficiency and the 

patient’s journey.” 

As part of this new partnership, Midmark is also 

offering Bien-Air’s Lubricare 2 handpiece care and 

maintenance system for automatically cleaning 

and lubricating handpieces. This maintenance 

system integrates into the instrument processing 

workflow and is compatible with handpieces from 

a variety of manufacturers. ■ 

Ivoclar Group launches new logo and visual identity 

The Ivoclar Group has launched a new visual 

identity to align with their goals of becoming 

more customer-oriented. 

In 2021, Ivoclar set new accents with targeted 

activities that are more strongly focused on 

the needs of the customer. In order to visually 

underline the new departure into a customeroriented, 

modern and innovative age, Ivoclar 

is starting 2022 with a new appearance and 

an adapted logo. 

Their most important change is the 

"Vivadent" in the brand name and logo has 

been dropped, as have some additional visual 

elements, so that in the future, the company's 

focus on the essentials will also be reflected 

in the logo. 

The reduction to the essentials, a lifestyleoriented, 

emotional visual language that puts 

people in the foreground contributes to the 

company’s mission of "Making People Smile". 

At Ivoclar, the external understanding of 

the brand rests on three supporting pillars: 

partnership and customer, innovation and 

technology, and family and friends. 

With its focus on putting people, partners and 

customers at the centre of its activities, Ivoclar 

underpins its claim to make the workflows in 

the daily work of dental technicians and dentists 

easier and more efficient, and likewise to make 

the patient experience as pleasant and personal 

as possible. 

The brand image is and remains a first point 

of contact with the company, which is why 

Ivoclar believes it is important that the brand's 

appearance also serves the function of a 

mission statement and reflects the innovative 

strength that is lived out. 

"With our long-standing tradition, our pioneering 

achievements and our constant innovation, 

we can rely on a strong corporate brand as a 

Ivoclar’s new logo, which is more minimalistic, 

and dropped the “Vivadent” in its previous logo 

foundation,” explained Diego Gabathuler, CEO of 

the Ivoclar Group. "Nevertheless, I am convinced 

that there is still a lot of unused potential for 

us here, which we want to fully exploit in the 

future. A clearly structured positioning, which 

is also expressed in the visual appearance, is 

particularly important with regard to a futureoriented 

alignment of the company, which leads 

to the innovation that places our customers and 

their patients at the centre of our actions and 

activities.” 

The new Ivoclar logo and corporate design will 

be used globally in all communication channels 

from now on — where this has not yet been 

incorporated — and will also be gradually applied 

to brochures and other printed collateral. ■ 



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Colgate-Palmolive introduces global Know Your OQ Campaign as part of Oral 

Health Commitment 

Colgate-Palmolive has announced the 

launch of a public health initiative, dubbed 

Know Your OQ, to empower people to 

understand and improve their oral health 

quotient. 

Similar to intelligence and emotional 

quotient, Colgate hopes for people to know 

their oral health quotient and understand the 

links between oral health and overall health 

and well-being. The company will commit 

more than US$100 million over the next 

five years to address a global health crisis 

affecting nearly half the world’s population 

and ensure oral health is incorporated into 

broader public health strategies. 

“As the worldwide leader in oral care and 

with our trusted Colgate brand in more 

homes than any other, Colgate-Palmolive 

has the opportunity to address a global 

health crisis that has far-reaching and 

significant impacts,” said Noel Wallace, 

chairman, president and CEO of Colgate- 

Palmolive. “We’ve got the team, the partners, 

the innovations and the motivation to 

reimagine a healthier future for all.” 

Oral health is often overlooked, even though 

an estimated 3.5 billion people currently 

suffer from oral diseases. Despite there 

being proven strategies for prevention, 

cavities remain the most prevalent chronic 

disease among adults and children, and it is 

estimated that 2.3 billion people suffer from 

tooth decay. 

Periodontal disease is among the most 

common ailments, with severe gum diseases, 

which may result in tooth loss, affecting 

10% of the global population. The crisis of 

oral disease has significant consequences, 

since oral health has impacts for physical 

health and emotional well-being: research 

has shown that oral health is linked to other 

physical health conditions, and a global 

Colgate study has found that childhood cavities 

lead to worry, anxiety and sadness in both kids 

and their parents. 

“Research has consistently shown that oral 

health is a window to overall health, yet oral 

health literacy is very low,” said Maria Ryan, 

vice-president and chief clinical officer at 

Colgate-Palmolive. “That’s why we’re on a 

mission to help people increase their oral 

health knowledge with: Know Your OQ. If we all 

understand the importance of oral health and 

embrace simple, proven preventative strategies, 

we can help decrease risk for oral diseases and 

empower people worldwide to join in the fight 

against oral diseases that impact overall health 

and well-being.” 

At the Know Your OQ website, people can take a 

free, interactive assessment to determine their 

OQ score. The website also includes information 

about the depth and breadth of the global 

oral health crisis and provides educational 

resources for primary care physicians, nurses 

and educational leaders as well as consumers to 

improve oral hygiene, encourage healthier habits 

and promote overall systemic health. ■ 

Planmeca Romexis implant library installation packages available for download 

Planmeca Romexis has announced 

an improvement to its implant library. 

The individual installation packages for 

each implant manufacturer can now be 

downloaded directly on the Planmeca 

website. The packages include installers for 

both Windows and macOS, and the installers 

are compatible with Romexis 5.0 or newer. 

From now on, a specific implant 

manufacturer’s implants, sleeves, and 

others, can be individually installed into 

the Planmeca Romexis implant library, 

instead of installing the full Romexis implant 

library which contains implants from over a 

hundred manufacturers. 

Customers with the Romexis 3D Implant 

module will be able to download and 

install the packages to their implant library 

themselves on the Romexis server computer. 

Benefits of individual installation packages 

and direct download include: shorter timeto-market 

for new implants and updates; 

immediate access to installation packages 

after release; package size of 30-60MB, 

compared to extensive implant library 

package; faster installation when installing 

one manufacturer instead of the full library; 

easier use of the library list; and contents 

of each manufacturer-specific installation 

package on the library website. ■ 





Carestream Dental announces sale of Scanning Technology Business 

Affiliates of Carestream Dental have 

entered into an agreement to sell 

Carestream Dental’s Scanning Technology 

business to Envista, a global dental products 

company for US$600 million. The Scanning 

Technology business is composed of 

Carestream Dental’s intraoral scanner 

equipment such as CS 3600, CS 3700, and 

CS 3800 and related software. 

Carestream Dental will continue to operate 

its imaging technology, clinical software and 

practice management software businesses 

which provide innovative solutions for 

dental practices, groups, dental support 

organisations (DSOs) and industry partners. 

The sale of the Scanning Technology 

business will not only deliver proceeds 

representing the value of the company’s 

innovation processes, but also allow 

Carestream Dental to focus its investments 

and efforts in the growing dental cloud and 

technology solutions market. Its recent 

investments in Sensei Cloud practice 

management and Swissmeda’s suite of 

clinical software solutions complement 

device innovation with new growing 

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications 

focused on helping practices and groups 

build new revenue, profits and patient 

flows. 

“This is an exciting time for Carestream 

Dental and our customers,” said Lisa 

Ashby, CEO of Carestream Dental. “We’ve 

had a multi-year investment plan in 

cloud solutions and technology, and this 

transaction allows us to better focus 

and accelerate our innovation in AI tools, 

clinical cloud applications and cloud 

practice management for GPs, DSOs, and 

specialty practices. We will continue to work 

together with our customers and partners 

to create innovation which delivers both 

clinical and operational value, and think 

Envista represents a great home for our 

Scanning Technology business under which 

our employees and customers will thrive.” 

Subject to legal, regulatory and employee 

consultation requirements, it is anticipated 

that the transaction will close in late Q1 or 

early Q2 of 2022. ■ 

Henry Schein releases new webinar series to address complex oral health needs 

Henry Schein Dental recently announced its 

2022 webinar series, Breaking Down Barriers 

to Care, designed to enhance access to oral 

care among vulnerable patient populations, 

including paediatric and older adult patients, 

and those with diverse health conditions and 

disabilities. 

The programme, which kicked off earlier 

this year, features speakers from a variety of 

clinical backgrounds, who address treatment 

for patients with HIV, cancer, cardiac issues, 

and more. 

The 2022 webinar series includes: 

• 26 May at 18:00 EDT: “A Lifetime of 

Optimum Oral Health Begins with 

Paediatric Preventive Care” 

• 27 Jun at 20:00 EDT: “Treating Patients Living 

With HIV+” 

Dr Gary Severance, executive leader of 

Professional Services, Henry Schein Dental, 

commented: “At Henry Schein, we remain 

committed to improving health equity for 

all populations, and offering education that 

customers can rely on to deliver oral care for 

better patient outcomes. 

“We are pleased to provide a programme that will 

help customers tackle areas of dentistry that are 

often overlooked and the complexities of diverse 

patient needs. By breaking down barriers to care, 

we can help health happen.” 

Additional webinars are in development for 

September, October and November, and will address 

breaking down barriers to care for patients with 

disabilities, diabetes and cardiac conditions. ■ 





W&H provides inspiration for sustainability in dental practices 

Medical technology company W&H is calling 

on dental practices to get involved as part of 

its international campaign, #dentalsunited. 

The campaign, “#dentalsunited – UNITED 

we go green”, has the objective of setting 

out common steps toward environmental 

protection. The campaign provides a wealth 

of practical tips encouraging dental practices 

to think and act green. 

As Peter Malata, managing director of W&H, 

said: “Sustainability is not a vision for the 

future, but rather a necessity for the present.” 

When it comes to the environment, there 

are various opportunities for improvement 

in the medical and dental industry. Singleuse 

and plastics are often still commonly 

used in order to comply with the necessary 

hygiene standards. In addition to this, a lot 

of material is used for equipment as well as 

energy. 

This is where W&H comes in. What specific 

steps can dentists take in their practice 

to be a part of the solution? From energy 

consumption to conserving resources to 

consistent recycling, firms will find out what 

industry-specific action is required. 

FROM RAISING AWARENESS TO 

GREEN DENTAL PRACTICES 

Since October, the medical technology 

company has been providing its online 

audience with green suggestions and the 

opportunity to share their ideas once a week. 

Social media posts and further blog 

contributions are creating more awareness 

around the important topic of environmental 

protection. Sources of problems are identified 

and solutions provided for more sustainability. 

W&H also supports the quality seal ‘Die Grüne 

Praxis’, develops and creates sustainable 

products, and takes responsibility for the 

environment at its head office in Bürmoos, 

Salzburg, Austria, and in the W&H Group with a 

range of activities. 

Malata concluded: “As a manufacturer of 

medical devices, we have always been focused 

on innovation and advancement. Progress 

always requires change. With this in mind, we 

are committed to starting a movement in the 

medical and dental industry, in which we raise 

awareness, inspire and support each other 

along the path to more sustainability.” ■ 

Grin to expand teledentistry platform with Oral-B 

Grin, a digital platform that provides oral 

health solutions with local dentists and 

orthodontists, has announced a partnership 

with Oral-B. At CES 2022, the companies 

unveiled the latest dental technology which 

creates new industry standards in assisting 

patients in understanding their oral health. 

Grin’s remote monitoring and consultation 

capabilities, combined with Oral-B’s 

products, will ensure that their customers 

have access to the latest personalised oral 

health insights and at-home professional 

consultations. 

This means consumers can understand their 

brushing and flossing habits, select the right 

Oral-B products, improve behaviours for 

better smile results, and have more frequent, 

informed conversations with their local 

doctor, all in an easy-to-use application. 

Image: Daniel Frank/Unsplash 

According to Grin, the Grin experience 

consists of the Grin App, the Grin Scope, and 

Grin Scope mini — the US Food and Drug 

Adminstration (FDA)-listed medical devices 

which attach to any smartphone camera and 

take scans to measure changes to patients’ 

teeth. Under the supervision of partner 

doctors, these technologies allow providers to 

transition patient check-ins from in-office to 

virtual by remotely monitoring teeth movement, 

gum health, and oral hygiene. 

With the burden of office visits reduced, oral 

health and teeth straightening under the care of 

a local doctor is more accessible. 

“I created Grin to transform the entire dental 

health industry by using technology that 

connects professionals and patients to 

bring better oral care directly to everyone,” 

commented Adam Schulhof, DMD, CEO and 

co-founder of Grin. “Partnering with one of the 

most trusted consumer product brands like 

Oral-B clearly attests to our commitment. 

“Grin will continue its pledge to drive innovation, 

and by joining ranks with Oral-B, we will ensure 

more people can have better oral health.” ■ 





BEGO Group receives TOP 100 seal of approval 

The BEGO Group of companies from 

Bremen, Germany, has announced that they 

are included in the 29th annual TOP 100 

competition, having been awarded the TOP 

100 2022 seal. 

At the heart of the TOP 100 innovation 

competition is a scientific selection process 

that participants must undergo. On behalf of 

compamedia, a media organisation based in 

Germany, the organiser of the competition, 

innovation researcher Nikolaus Franke, 

and his team examined the BEGO Group 

on the basis of more than 100 indicators 

from five categories: “Top Management 

Promoting Innovation”, “Innovation Climate”, 

“Innovative Processes and Organisation”, 

“External Orientation/Open Innovation” and 

“Innovation Success”. 

“How focused is a company on innovation? 

How consistently do its structures follow 

this goal? With TOP 100, we examine this,” 

explained Franke. “The most innovative 

medium-sized companies receive the seal. 

It shows that they are excellently equipped 

to meet future challenges.” 

On 24 Jun 2022, BEGO will be honoured 

for these achievements in person by the 

competition’s mentor, science journalist 

Ranga Yogeshwar. 

BEGO is one of the top innovators for 

the second time. Founded in 1890, the 

German company offers dental technicians 

and dentists innovative equipment, 

instruments, materials, implants, services, 

and processes for the manufacture and 

processing of dental restorations. 

In 2015, BEGO launched a 3D printing 

system called Varseo, developed in-house 

with and for dental laboratories, for the 

laboratory production of a range of dental 

restorations from high-performance resins. 

In early 2020, it presented VarseoSmile 

Crown plus, a tooth-coloured, ceramic-filled 

hybrid material approved as a Class IIa 

medical device for 3D printing of permanent 

single crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers. ■ 

The TOP 100 award 

Zest Dental Solutions to partner with Dental Whale 

Zest Dental Solutions has announced its 

newest partnership with the Dental Whale 

Membership. Effective immediately, the 

three-year agreement with Dental Whale 

supports over 19,000 Dental Whale offices 

across the US. 

buy LOCATOR and LOCATOR R-Tx abutments 

directly from Zest to support implant systems 

used in each member’s office. Additionally, 

Dental Whale will be utilising the LOCATOR and 

LOCATOR R-Tx Scan Bodies to support digital 

initiatives. 

Zest Dental Solutions as a key manufacturer 

in the implant locator and overdenture fields. 

We are excited to collaborate with bringing 

quality offerings and education to the Dental 

Whale membership.” ■ 

As part of this agreement, Zest will be part 

of Dental Whale’s preferred network for 

LOCATOR, LOCATOR R-Tx, and LOCATOR 

Overdenture Implant Solutions. In addition 

to local office support, Zest will also be 

partnering with the clinical support team 

to launch Dental Whale’s ORCA platform 

supporting Removable Overdenture 

surgical, prosthetic, and hands-on training 

programmes being hosted in-person and 

remotely across North America. 

Zest Dental LOCATOR family products are 

now part of Dental Whale’s network and 

are available to Dental Whale members. 

Dental Whale offices will have the ability to 

“Zest Dental is excited to have Dental Whale 

as part of our dental support organisations 

(DSO) member family,” said Tom Stratton, CEO 

of Zest Dental Solutions. “We are committed 

to supporting Dental Whale member offices 

with preferred access to the LOCATOR product 

family, and helping their clinicians grow their 

practices and create stellar smiles.” 

Phil Cruz, vice-president of procurement, 

Dental Whale, also commented: “Dental Whale 

looks forward to continuing its rapid growth 

with the addition of Zest Dental Solutions in the 

preferred supplier network. As part of Dental 

Whale’s mission to provide solutions that 

simplify dentistry, we see the partnership with 

Zest Dental LOCATOR family products 


DUAL CURING CORE & RESIN CEMENT 


3 Indications – 1 Material 

Ò Optimal monoblock interface 

Ò Two setting times 

Ò Outstanding sealing and protection 

Ò Excellent retention & durable strength 

POSTS FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT INDICATIONS 

ParaPost ® System 

Ò A versatile range of fiber posts, metal posts 

and prefabricated casting post components 

Ò One-office-visit and laboratory techniques 

Ò More than 55 years of expertise 

Ò Proven clinical success with > 500 studies 

Ò Endo meets Resto – complete system with 

core-build-ups and cements 

005024 09.19 

https://www.facebook.com/COLTENE.AsiaPacific 



Virtual event by Dentsply Sirona to announce collaboration with Google Cloud 

and Primeprint 

Dentsply Sirona has announced details about a 

collaboration with Google Cloud and a separate 

new 3D printing solution, Primeprint, in a virtual 

global on 4 Mar 2022. 

The company will introduce a series of 

innovations designed to enhance digital 

workflows with benefits for dentists, dental 

labs and patients globally. A highlight of this 

event will be interviews with Urs Hoelzle, senior 

vice-president in engineering at Google, and 

Don Casey, CEO of Dentsply Sirona, who will be 

announcing a new collaboration between the 

two technology companies. 

GOOGLE CLOUD 

The collaboration with Google Cloud will help 

dentists and dental labs to unlock benefits of 

digital dentistry – whether they are continuing or 

just starting on their digital journey. 

The new digital dentistry solutions will be 

based on six key principles: enabling high-value 

dental care; next-generation digital featuring 

secure and seamless sharing of data with 

laboratories and other dental practitioners; easy 

access to data whenever needed; high-quality 

3D visualisation of dental imagery; stringent 

data protection and security standards; and 

an innovative environment for software, data 

integrity and storage. 

Christian Martin, managing director of Alps 

region at Google Cloud, commented: “Dentsply 

Sirona is transforming the dental industry. At 

Google Cloud we believe that we have the right 

expertise, capabilities and services to strongly 

support Dentsply Sirona in its vision for the 

future of oral healthcare.” 

Casey added: “This exciting collaboration will 

allow us to deliver on our promise: empowering 

millions of customers by proudly creating 

innovative solutions for healthy smiles. We will 

succeed in this by giving dentists an innovative 

platform to underpin the digital infrastructure 

of their practice and enabling a seamless 

workflow that helps dentists to focus on what 

matters most: treating their patients.” 

PRIMEPRINT 

Separate from the collaboration with Google 

Cloud, Dentsply Sirona will also launch 

Primeprint, a medical-grade 3D printing 

system for dental practices and dental labs. 

Primeprint is a smart hardware and software 

solution that is optimised for dental 

applications. It runs the entire 

printing process, including 

post processing, and 

delivers “reproducible and 

accurate” results with strictly 

biocompatible materials. 

The printing process meets 

high regulatory 

requirements for 

medical products. 

■ 

New SLS powder: Glass filled Nylon 12 for strong, heat-resistant parts 

Formlabs has introduced the Nylon 12 GF 

Powder, a glass-reinforced plastic powder ideal 

for producing stiff, thermally stable parts on the 

Fuse 1 selective laser sintering (SLS) printer. 

The Nylon 12 GF Powder is the third material 

designed specifically for the Fuse 1 ecosystem, 

providing Formlabs customers with options to 

scale in-house production affordably. The new 

material joins Nylon 12 Powder and Nylon 11 

Powder in the Formlabs SLS materials library, 

enabling customers to diversify their operations 

and scale production with varied material 

properties. 

This new material combines the utility of 

Nylon 12 with the rigidity and heat resistance 

of glass filler, making it ideal for any application 

requiring sustained load-bearing ability and 

elevated thermal resistance. Fuse 1 users can now 

add Nylon 12 GF Powder to their catalogue if they 

need stiff, functional prototypes, robust jigs and 

fixtures, replacement parts, and parts with threads 

or sockets. 

The Nylon 12 GF Powder can be used for strong, 

stiff, stable medical devices and replacement 

parts in the healthcare industry, particularly 

for customisable end-user medical device 

components. 

Stiff, static jigs and fixtures, brackets, mounts, 

and casings are all product types that would 

benefit from the strong, rigid mechanical 

properties of this new powder. 

Nylon 12 GF Powder also withstands 

elevated temperatures, with a heat deflection 

temperature of 113°C. Many materials can 

deform when exposed to high heat, and lose 

their dimensional accuracy, especially when 

the heat is combined with a load-bearing 

application. Nylon 12 GF Powder has the 

thermal stability to withstand applications 

where other SLS powders would show signs of 

elongation and deformation. 

HIGH PERFORMANCE VERSATILE 

MATERIALS 

The Nylon 12 GF Powder’s tensile modulus is more 

than 50% higher than that of Nylon 12 Powder, 

and almost 75% higher than Nylon 11 Powder. 

Customers should choose Nylon 12 GF Powder 

when printing parts that need to bear heavy loads 

for a long time without any bending or elongation. 

Other benefits of Nylon 12 GF Powder include: 

a minimum refresh rate which ranges from 30- 

50%, and can be adjusted to minimise material 

waste, optimise cost per part, or improve part 

finish; a simplified material changeover process, 

which reduces downtime and enables more 

in-house, multi-material production with a single 

printer unit; among others. ■ 



exocad launches community blog 

exocad, an Align Technology company and 

a dental computer-aided design (CAD)/ 

computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) 

software provider, has announced the launch 

of exoBlog, a community-based blog that 

will feature educational interviews with 

practitioners, dental technicians and thought 

leaders in the dental industry. 

exoBlog was launched on 23 Feb 2022. 

The initial set of blog posts touched on 

first impressions of the recently released 

ChairsideCAD 3.0 Galway, providing first-hand 

experiences of implementing digital solutions 

in a dental practice and highlighting the 

benefits of digital workflows that can enable 

collaboration between laboratory and dental 

practices. 

“Community dialogue is extremely 

important to us at exocad,” said Christine 

McClymont, global head of marketing and 

communications at exocad. “With this new 

platform, we aim to bring together both 

newcomers to the field of digital dentistry 

and experienced professionals, to learn from 

each other and share practical tips to make 

their daily workflows easier.” 

The launch of exoBlog follows a broader 

expansion of exocad’s digital community 

resources. Users can now access information 

on exocad’s product releases, upcoming 

events, and tips and tricks on Facebook, 

Instagram, WeChat, YouTube, LinkedIn and, 

most recently, TikTok. ■ 

Medical Protection Society launches research initiative to improve patient 

safety and clinician well-being 

Medical Protection Society (MPS), of which 

Dental Protection is a part, has launched the 

MPS Foundation: a new not-for-profit research 

initiative to help shape the future of patient 

safety through the funding of healthcare and 

dental research. 

The foundation will invest in research and 

analysis, with the key focus being on areas of 

patient safety and clinician well-being, both 

medical and dental. It is part of MPS, which 

currently supports more than 300,000 doctors, 

dentists and healthcare professionals, and 

has almost 130 years of global healthcare 

experience. 

The MPS Foundation is being launched 

across each of the countries and regions 

where MPS has a member base, including 

Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the 

UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New 

Zealand and the Caribbean, and is open to 

applications from both members and nonmembers. 

The research projects supported by the MPS 

Foundation will have to be academically 

robust and evidence-based. Available 

funding will range from £5,000-200,000, or 

the equivalent in local currency, depending 

on the scale, focus and duration of the 

proposal. 

“I am proud to launch the MPS Foundation, 

which will help both members and other 

healthcare professionals navigate the 

challenges of modern practice and find 

research solutions.” 

MPS Foundation funding is focused in four 

main areas. First, the impact of human 

factors on patient safety, outcomes and 

risk. Second, the impact of processes 

and delivery models on patient safety, 

outcomes and risk. Third, the personal and 

professional wellbeing and development of 

clinicians, and lastly, the impact of digital 

integration and technology on patient safety, 

outcomes and risk. 

Dr Graham Stokes, dentist and MPS 

Foundation chair, said: “As the world’s 

leading protection organisation, our aim is 

simple: to create sustainable global change 

through ambitious research. The MPS 

Foundation will develop an international 

knowledge base that can be applied locally, 

leveraging our organisation’s global reach. 

The funding is eligible to universities, medical 

and dental schools, third sector and private 

research institutions and organisations, 

private or public hospitals or hospital groups, 

local hospital networks, primary health 

networks, dental practices, dental groups, 

MPS members and clients, and non-MPS 

individuals and organisations. ■ 



Balancing practice 

and academic 

As Singapore’s first dental clinician to receive the 

National Medical Research Council’s Clinician Scientist 

Award – Investigator Category, Dr Yu Na is no stranger 

to further research in dentistry. Dental Asia spoke with 

the senior dental surgeon and clinician-scientist at 

National Dental Centre Singapore on her experience 

and expertise on the trends and advancements that 

will lead the industry in the coming years. 

EARLY EXPERIENCE AND 

INSPIRATION 

Can you share with us your 

beginnings as a dental 

professional, and what are your 

early influences in pursuing a 

career in this field? 

Dr Yu Na: When I was young, I 

remember going through braces 

and being curious about the 

mechanisms. I also remember 

trying to adjust the wires myself 

and being fascinated by the devices 

and instruments every time I went 

to the dentist. During high school, I 

chose to major in biology, and this 

eventually led me to dentistry. 

What are the reasons behind 

your decision to specialise in 

prosthodontics, and what inspired 

you to pursue your PhD studies 

focusing on cell-based strategies 

to regenerate periodontal tissues? 

Dr Yu: Each dental specialty has 

its attraction. Since my time as a 

young dentist, I have always felt a 

sense of satisfaction from seeing 

the smiles on my patients after 

their prosthodontic treatment. To 

me, that was the deciding factor 

for choosing prosthodontics. In 

prosthodontics, I enjoy the precise 

control in operative dentistry, the 

process of creating a device, and the 

delivery of an end product that we 

pass to our patients. 

I was looking for more fundamental 

biology topics to deepen my dental 

knowledge for my PhD studies. I 

was able to build my foundation 

in critical thinking and learnt the 

mental framework in scientific 

investigation. My research training 

also taught me to assess a 

clinical problem from scientific 

perspectives and seek solutions 

using an evidence-based approach. 

Regenerative periodontology is one 

of the most challenging domains in 

dentistry while cell therapy, tissue 

engineering and biomaterials are in 

the fields of cutting-edge science 

and help further shape my mindset 

of scientific thinking. 

How will you describe your typical 

day in the workplace as you juggle 

between clinical and academic 

commitments? 

Dr Yu: I take on various roles as a 

scientist, clinician, and manager on 

a typical day. I start my mornings 

with academic work which includes 

replying to emails, panel reviews, 

reports and drafting of papers. 

This is followed by project-related 

meetings where I review our 

projects, brainstorm, and gather 

progress updates with engineers 

and scientists. Over lunch, we are 

on Zoom calls with the clinical 

team. I start my clinics after lunch 

and attend to about five patients till 

evening. Thereafter, I will meet with 

a clinical educator on structuring a 

conference lecture. 

My day is packed, but each role 

is a conduit to the other. I see 

myself as a bridge between clinical 



problems, technical solutions, and 

using that to educate others. I 

also find it a privilege to be able to 

switch between my roles between a 

researcher and clinician. 

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT 

AND RESEARCH 

Can you briefly discuss your 

research proposal on clinically 

integrated smart digital workflow to 

improve the quality and efficiency in 

the production of removable partial 

dentures (RPD) for Singapore’s 

ageing population? In particular, 

what were the motivations behind 

this study, and what are the 

potential long-term implications? 

Dr Yu: Working with a team of 

dental laboratory technicians, I 

witness the challenges of manual 

fabrication and the dependency of 

skilled workmanship to produce 

a well-fabricated prosthetic. With 

the ageing population in Singapore, 

there is a need for radical solutions 

in dentistry. I saw a window of 

opportunity to innovate through 

digitalisation and I hope to leverage 

my position as a clinician-scientist 

to build an ecosystem in digital 

dentistry. It was with all these in 

mind that I initiated the digital 

solution with automatic design 

software and 3D printing for the 

mass manufacturing of RPDs. 

What other opportunities do you 

see in extending your work in this 

research, and what advice will you 

like to give to dental researchers to 

inspire them to push their interest in 

oral science? 

Dr Yu: Digital dentistry is disrupting 

conventional dental practice with 

its role in diagnosis and treatment 

planning, treatment, laboratory 

aid, patient motivation, practice 

management, training and research. 

There are numerous benefits to 

digital dental solutions, which 

include higher efficiency of cost and 

time, flexible workflow, improved 

accuracy, higher predictability of 

outcomes, fewer visits to the dentist, 

early detection of dental diseases, 

shorter recovery time, better quality 

images and reduced exposure 

to x-rays. To me, these long-term 

benefits outweigh the initial high 

capital costs and investment 

involved. 

THE FUTURE AND BEYOND 

Can you provide us with an 

outlook on digital technology in 

prosthodontics – what can be 

its limitations when it comes to 

providing dental care to patients, 

and how are you overcoming this 

challenge? More crucially, what 

advice will you give to fellow 



practitioners who are hesitant to 

adopt digital technology? 

Dr Yu: In recent years, we have seen 

an increase in the demand for dental 

procedures. With digital technology, 

we are better equipped to provide 

solutions for dental care, and we 

can improve our patient experience 

and enhance our dental workflow. 

The adoption of technology will 

also drive the dentistry industry 

forward. However, the expense and 

special training that comes with the 

solutions often result in dentists 

being reluctant to adopt such new 

technologies. 

Digitalisation will be the trend for 

future dentistry, I would encourage 

fellow practitioners to upskill their 

digital knowledge to prepare for the 

new service model. 

What other trends do you foresee 

happening in the dental field in 

the next five to 10 years, and how 

can dental professionals prepare 

themselves better as the world 

embarks on its recovery road from 

the pandemic? 

Dr Yu: The trend of digital 

transformation in dentistry is evident 

in the past few years. Digital dental 

solutions provide better comfort and 

experience during dental visits. They 

save time for both the patient and 

the dentist. 

These solutions help dental 

professionals manage their practice 

more efficiently by streamlining the 

workflow. As these solutions can 

potentially increase the profitability 

of dental practice, the adoption 

rate is increasing. It will continue 

to increase in the years to come as 

more dental professionals realise 

the value these solutions have for 

the success of their practice. 

As more and more patients start to 

demand better experience and more 

time-efficient procedures, I believe 

that these digital solutions will 

become the norm. DA 



Coltene continues forward 

momentum towards innovation 

despite pandemic 

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting business operations globally, 

Coltene directs its strategies towards growth and operations through 

maintaining communication with its customers and continued product 

innovation. 

In the middle of difficulty lies 

opportunity – what Albert Einstein once 

said and can still be applied in today’s 

world that looms under the COVID-19 

pandemic. One company that has been 

focusing on growth while continuing 

to innovate in its products to better 

support the dental community during 

these challenging times is Coltene, 

which has been proactive in maintaining 

communication with its partners during 

the pandemic. 

Speaking with Dental Asia, Rodolfo Frei, 

director of Coltene Asia-Pacific, said: 

“This communication has allowed us 

to remain close to the developing and 

changing needs of the market as a 

result of the pandemic to serve them 

best. This has been possible, thanks to 

the fact that we have great coverage 

with Coltene managers around Asia- 

Pacific.” 

Understanding local markets and 

their different needs is still key to the 

success of any company. Frei shared 

that Coltene has been able to maintain 

dedicated and personalised contact 

with local partners through its local 

sales force, but at the same time 

also connected to its headquarters in 

Switzerland with a global message. 

“This period has also allowed us an 

opportunity to review certain strategies 

to discontinue non-strategic products 

and focus on key segments which, in 

turn, means that our customers get 

the products and services that they 

want, and have come to expect from 

Coltene,” he added. 

Beyond communication, Coltene 

has also compiled and continuously 

updated tools and resources on its 

website to support the healthcare 

professionals in managing the 

impact of COVID-19. In addition, 

the company offers various 

webinars on the topic 

of infection control to 

provide its customers 

with in-depth training 

in this area looking 

at aspects such 

as hand hygiene, 

surface cleaning and 

disinfection to name 

but a few. 

He continued: 

“Many companies 

started trying 

online training for 

the first time 

due to contact 

restrictions. 

Congresses 

and fairs took 

place virtually 

and Zoom 

meetings 

suddenly 

became part 

of everyday 

Rodolfo Frei, 

Director of Coltene Asia-Pacific 



life. Due to the high acceptance of 

this form of communication, some 

activities will certainly still take place 

online after COVID-19. Nevertheless, 

the dental community is now looking 

forward to face-to-face contact again. 

“A somewhat surprising finding 

is that in markets with very strict 

hygiene regulations, the demand for 

disinfectants has not increased as 

much as one would generally expect. 

From this, we conclude that, in general, 

dental practices were already doing 

a great deal for patient and practice 

team safety before the pandemic.” 

CONTINUING PRODUCT 

INNOVATION 

With the information gathered from 

their customers, Coltene was able 

to revise and release new products 

for their customers. Undeterred by 

COVID-19, the company has been 

consistently introducing new products 

and innovations to the industry. 

A product Coltene has developed is 

SUPERKRAFT which combines two 

solutions – SoloCem and ONE COAT 7 

UNIVERSAL – into one product. The 

former is a self-adhesive cement 

and the latter is a light-cured, 

one-component bonding agent. 

Frei explained: “The dentist should 

have a cement that can do both – 

lute a restoration self-adhesively 

whenever the indication allows it, 

and lute a restoration adhesively in 

combination with a bonding agent 

whenever a ‘bonding-boost’ is 

required.” 

Besides SUPERKRAFT, Coltene has 

also released the BRILLIANT family, 

a line of composites focusing on 

efficiency and aesthetics. 

“Our base material BRILLIANT 

EverGlow is known for its good 

polishability and gloss retention. At 

the same time, handling properties 

are highly appreciated by dentists,” 

he remarked. “The CAD/CAM 

composite blocks BRILLIANT Crios 

and the composite shells BRILLIANT 

COMPONEER are based on the same 

material as BRILLIANT EverGlow. 

This means that you have a perfectly 

matching system to make great 

looking restorations out of one 

material.” 

The duo shade system offered by 

the BRILLIANT range, he added, 

contains seven basic shades which 

cover the VITA range. In conjunction 

with the translucent and opaque 

shades, dentists will have the kit 

required to meet the demands of 

aesthetic restorations. 

Another new launch by Coltene is 

the CanalPro Jeni endo-motor. Fully 

automatic and electric controlled 

with an integrated apex locator, 

the Jeni aids with smoothening 

root canal preparation. The 

Jeni assistance system also 

continuously adapts to the 

individual root canal anatomy 

and guides the mechanical and 

chemical preparation step by step. 

Citing a quote from Dr Nicolas 

Gutierrez from Madrid, who said 

that it was “amazing how the endo 

assisted algorithm worked in the 

hands of a prosthodontist”, Frei 

commented that dentists were 



“enthusiastic about the possibilities 

for everyday use of the Jeni Motor”. 

With these new product launches, 

Coltene was able to respond to the 

needs of the market in spite of a 

global pandemic crisis. 

Nevertheless, Frei emphasised the 

need for a hands-on approach in 

experiencing their new products. He 

raised the Jeni system as an example 

and said: “During COVID-19, we were 

forced to rely mainly on webinars but 

the true power of the endo-motor is 

only revealed when you can practice 

with it yourself. Therefore, now that 

the measures have been relaxed 

somewhat, we are relying on face-toface 

training in the form of our Europewide 

‘Jeni City Tour’.” 

THE PATH FORWARD 

Having joined the Coltene family in 

2009, Frei has had a front-row seat in 

observing the company’s growth for 

the last decade. As the dental industry 

continues to evolve and demands 

continue to change, its leadership has 

allowed Coltene to continue offering 

new products to its customers, 

establishing itself as a provider and 

manufacturer of consumables and 

small-size equipment for dental 

treatment applications. 

Frei lauds the arrival of Martin 

Schaufelberger, who joined Coltene as 

CEO in 2012, and said: “His vision and 

leadership has helped the group to be 

recognised worldwide, in the areas of 

infection control, dental preservation 

and efficient treatment.” 

Particularly in the area of infection 

control, Coltene acquired SciCan, a 

provider of infection control solutions, 

and Micro-Mega, a manufacturer of 

endodontic instruments. The merger 

with Coltene strengthens the market 

position and product range under 

this new group, opening up synergies 

and expanding the range in the joint 

business fields of infection control 

and endodontics. With its combined 

resources, the group is said to be 

in an even better position to address 

compliance and regulation standards. 

“With the integration of SciCan into 

the group, we were able to meet the 

ever-increasing demand in hygiene and 

disinfection protocols. Our innovations 

in this field meant that we remained 

at the forefront with solutions that 

the pandemic demanded. It is a move 

that has enabled us to strengthen our 

presence as the true infection control 

specialists,” Frei elaborated. 

As the Coltene team continues to deliver 

new products to its customers, Frei is 

grateful for the partnerships formed 

during this trying period, and concluded: 

“We forge and recognise partnerships 

during difficult moments, and we are 

delighted and honoured to have such 

loyal, enthusiastic, proactive customers 

in the whole region. 

“We, the Coltene team are excited, and 

look forward to being able to continue 

sharing our expertise and passion with 

the dental community in Asia.” DA 



Straumann Group enables 

dental implants and 

orthodontics solutions for all 

With a slate of products and service geared toward aesthetic 

dentistry, Straumann Group and its united brands are enabling 

dentists and patients around the world to achieve valued results 

using the latest in dental treatment for the Asia-Pacific region. 

With a slate of products and services 

geared toward aesthetic dentistry, 

Straumman Group and its brands are 

enabling dentists and patients around 

the world to achieve valued results 

using the latest in dental treatment 

for the Asia-Pacific region. 

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, 

the Straumann Group and its brands 

– including Straumann, Neodent, 

ClearCorrect, Dental Wings and 

other fully- or partly-owned 

companies and partners 

– are committed to 

delivering excellence, 

innovation and quality in 

replacement, corrective 

and digital dentistry. 

With more than 9,000 

employees worldwide, 

the group develops, 

manufactures 

and supplies 

dental implants, 

instruments, 

biomaterials, CAD/ 

CAM prosthetics, 

digital equipment, 

software, 

and clear 

aligners for 

applications 

in replacement, restorative, orthodontic 

and preventive dentistry. 

Vida Lau, commercial director of 

South East Asia at Straumann, told 

Dental Asia: “Straumann Group offers 

Neodent and Straumann implant 

solutions as well as ClearCorrect 

aligners which are comfortable, 

removable, nearly invisible, and, best of 

all, they work without impacting your 

daily life. 

“Straumann delivers innovative 

systems that are connected to digital 

solutions, services, equipment with 

partners and third parties providing 

digital solutions such as scanners 

and workflows for dentists that will 

optimise treatment outcomes for 

patients. Partnering with the largest 

global scientific network we create 

a leading ecosystem for aesthetic 

dentistry within the world, and we 

are considered by many clinicians in 

providing dental implants to be the 

standard of care for replacing missing 

teeth.” 

Available in Malaysia since 2004 

through its suppliers and stakeholders, 

Straumann’s products and services 

achieved prominence in its home 

country and the countries they 

Vida Lau, Commercial Director, 

South East Asia, Straumann 



Straumann Group offers a wide selection of products and services for the dental community 

operate in. Being one of the world’s 

top distributors has enhanced the 

company’s exposure within the 

market, giving them an edge in terms 

of speed and efficiency, she added. 

“We are proud to offer up-to-date 

technology as part of our service. Our 

partners can expect modern care and 

treatment in all your procedures with 

our dental technology.” 

GOING DIGITAL WITH 

DENTISTRY 

Digital innovation has been reshaping 

administrative and clinical processes 

for several years now, according to 

Vida, on top of generational changes 

that also reflect a changing consumer 

attitude towards implants. She 

elaborated: “Several fundamental 

and reinforcing trends drive deep 

structural changes, and as we move 

along in embracing advanced digital 

solutions, it is now more than ever 

to remain resilient to stay ahead of 

the competition. Instantaneously, 

technological advancements, 

low-cost alternatives, a lack of 

qualified personnel, changing patient 

preferences and dental school 

curricula, as well as new treatment 

standards are further accelerating the 

adoption of digital solutions.” 

These advanced solutions, she added, 

will eventually cover the entire dental 

workflow, delivering quantifiable 

benefits for dentists, technicians and 

more importantly, patients. 

“Ultimately, clinics that excel at 

digitalisation will gain considerable 

advantages in terms of outcome 

quality, as well as cost and time 

savings,” Vida said. “With that, 

Straumann Group has been one of the 

partners of choice that is preferred by 

suppliers, stakeholders and patients 

in the aesthetic dentistry in Malaysia 

since 2004.” 

DRIVING PROGRESS IN THE 

TOOTH REPLACEMENT MARKET 

Dental implants often lead to longlasting 

restorations. In recent years, 

dental practices have adapted to 

new safety standards. Vida stressed 

that Straumann’s strategy is devoted 

to further creating smiles, restoring 

confidence and shaping their future, 

which in return generates value for their 

company, the general public and dental 

practitioners. 

She elaborated: “Many patients search 

the web for healthcare services, 

including dental care, every year. Be it a 

general dentist or a specialist, the vital 

driving force behind implants’ growth 

in dentistry is the value patients place 

on their teeth and smile combined 



with a growing ageing population, 

increasing healthcare awareness, 

and expenditure on dental care. 

Dental implants are also a smart 

choice for adults of all ages, whether 

they were born without a tooth or 

have had to have teeth removed due 

to injury, infection or decay. They can 

also be an option for adolescents, 

once facial growth and development 

has been completed. 

“We know that patients are looking 

for safer and less invasive solutions, 

as well as metal-free alternatives for 

replacement procedures. Hence the 

increased efficiency, effective cost 

control, and time-saving nature of 

digital technologies will propel the 

evolution of the dental healthcare 

industry.” 

Through continuous innovation and 

technological advances, Straumann 

Group has been working towards 

creating reliable implant solutions 

while partnering with dental 

professionals to increase a patient’s 

chances for a healthy recovery and 

comfort. 

only. In countries where dental 

services were continued, patient 

visits dropped, making it a very tough 

time for dental professionals and the 

industry in general. Our key focus was 

on safety first and doing all we can to 

protect people, prevent the disease 

from spreading, and slow the spread 

of COVID-19. Our second priority was 

looking after our businesses so that 

we can offer an even better service 

when normal life returns,” Vida said. 

The Straumann Group has taken 

several initiatives to provide 

additional help and support to 

customers at this time. By ensuring 

that all their services and solutions 

remained available, the group was 

able to provide sufficient stock to 

meet demands. Moreover, their sales 

teams and customer services were 

available online or by phone to help 

with any requirements or concerns. 

“We also took the time to share 

valuable business insights and 

recovery plans to help when things 

return to normal. Many dental 

professionals were using the break 

from normal work to catch up on the 

latest techniques, new treatment 

solutions from remote monitoring, 

intraoral scanning, and implant 

immediacy protocols. Straumann’s 

SMART education platform was 

particularly popular with general 

dentists. Offered free-of-charge, it 

featured a large number of live and 

archived webinars with global key 

opinion leaders. On top of this, our 

academic partner, the ITI, offered 

free access to the online academy,” 

she revealed. DA 

“Our award-winning technologies 

are premium solutions designed to 

improve patient treatment, shorten 

treatment times, and make tooth 

replacement less intrusive all the 

while increasing patient’s chances 

for a healthy recovery and comfort 

with a portfolio of design, materials 

and surfaces, including groundbreaking 

technologies,” she added. 

TRULY LIVING IN 

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES 

The COVID-19 pandemic has 

disrupted business operations 

around the world, and the medical 

realm is no exception. Yet, even in 

times of crisis, Straumann Group 

remained purpose-driven and 

motivated to serve the community. 

“Many dental practises had to either 

shut down completely or were 

restricted to emergency procedures 



Minimally-invasive restoration of an 

incisal edge defect with CAD/CAM 

hybrid ceramic 

With the CAD/CAM hybrid ceramic VITA ENAMIC, dentists can provide a 

minimally-invasive restoration for patients, while also delivering a seamless 

integration into the natural tooth structure. 

By Dr Sheng Fang and dental technician Feng Li 

The computer-aided design (CAD) 

and computer-aided manufacturing 

(CAM) hybrid ceramic VITA ENAMIC 

consists of a porous, pre-sintered, 

fine structure feldspar ceramic that 

is infiltrated with polymer. The dual 

ceramic-polymer network allows for 

very delicate reconstruction with 

wafer-thin, precise marginal areas of up 

to 0.2mm. With its dentin-like elasticity, 

its enamel-like abrasion behaviour and 

its natural light transmission, the CAD/ 

CAM material exhibits functional and 

aesthetic integration into the natural 

tooth structure. In the following case 

study, dentist Dr Sheng Fang and dental 

technician Feng Li demonstrate the 

restoration of an incisal edge defect 

with a minimally-invasively process 

on the central maxillary anterior tooth 

using the hybrid ceramic VITA ENAMIC. 

THE PATIENT’S PROFILE 

A 21-year-old patient presented a 

fracture with the composite filling 

of her distal corner of tooth 21 from 

secondary caries. She wanted a 

long-term, permanent restoration to 

be integrated harmoniously into her 

tooth structure. As this restoration 

was scheduled to be minimally invasive 

and required a reconstruction with 

Fig. 1 

Fig. 1: The initial situation with fractured tooth 21 when the patient first presented 

at the dental practice 

thin walls, the dentist and dental care 

team opted for a CAD/CAM-supported 

reconstruction using the hybrid 

ceramic VITA ENAMIC. 

TOOTH SHADE DETERMINATION 

AND MATERIAL SELECTION 

Precise colour information is essential 

in making the correct choice when 

it comes to shade-matching the 

material blank. To ensure optimal 

shade integration of the existing incisal 

edge defect on the reconstruction, the 

tooth shade was determined using the 

VITA Linearguide 3D-MASTER shade 

guide after applying local anaesthesia. 

Systematic tooth shade determination 

was carried out in two steps: In the 

first step, a brightness level from zero 

to five was determined using the VITA 

Valueguide 3D-MASTER shade guide. 

The colour intensity and shade were 

then determined using the appropriate 

shade guide from the VITA Chroma/ 

Hueguide 3D-MASTER. Tooth shade 

1M2 was then selected. Since this 

primarily involved a restoration of the 

translucent enamel area, a translucent 

HT blank in the colour 1M2 was 

selected for the CAD/CAM-supported 



Fig. 2 

Fig. 3 

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 

Fig. 6 

Fig. 2: Secondary caries had formed under a direct composite 

filling, which led to a filling fracture 

Fig. 3: The tooth shade was systematically determined in two 

steps using the VITA Linearguide 3D-MASTER 

Fig. 4: The caries was removed under local anaesthesia and the 

edge areas in the enamel were slightly tapered 

Fig. 5: The CAD/CAM-supported finished restoration made of 

VITA ENAMIC with wafer-thin edges 

Fig. 6: The final result after the fully adhesive integration of VITA 

ENAMIC using composite cement 

fabrication. To prepare for the 

digital impression, only the caries 

was removed and the enamel edges 

of the defect were slightly tapered. 

CAD/CAM FABRICATION AND 

FINISHING 

An intraoral scan with the CEREC 

Omnicam 4.2 and the virtual design 

of the restoration using the CAD 

software inLab CAD 15.2 was then 

carried out. The order was sent to 

the inLab MC XL milling unit and 

executed. Afterwards, the sprue 

was removed and the restoration 

was finished with fine diamond 

instruments. Lastly, the final 

finishing was done using the VITA 

ENAMIC Polishing Set technical. 

During the try-in, the partial 

restoration was a perfect fit and 

could be etched on the adhesive 

surfaces using hydrofluoric acid and 

then salinised. The tooth substance 

was pre-treated using the acid etching 

technique and then an adhesive was 

applied. This was followed by final 

seating using composite cement. 

FINALISATION AND SUMMARY 

After the cement residues were 

removed, the transition between tooth 

and restoration were evened out using 

the VITA ENAMIC Polishing Set. The 

delicate restoration showed a very 

harmonious integration in the natural 

tooth structure, thanks to its natural 

play of colour and light. Due to the 

comparatively low brittleness of hybrid 

ceramic — even with very thin wall 

thicknesses — and its thinly tapered 

edges, hybrid ceramic can be precisely 

processed and the patient provided 

with minimally invasive treatment. 

Using the digital workflow to create 

an efficient fabrication of the indirect 

restoration, it was possible to treat 

the patient in one session. The 

dental team and the patient were 

completely satisfied with the results 

of the final restoration. DA 

This article was published with 

VITA’s approval. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS 

Dr Sheng Fang 

Feng Li 

Dental technician 



Osteoma of the maxilla 

A rare and benign bony lesion in the oral maxillofacial 

region, osteomas may lead to facial deformity and other 

debilitating issues which cause pain and discomfort to 

individuals. 

By Dr Lordjie Marr O. Morilla 

Fig 1a 

In 1935, Jaffe described osteoma as 

a specific entity. Since then, there 

are hundreds of published cases 

of osteoma. Jaffe has the following 

criteria for osteoma: (1) the lesion is 

a benign neoplasm; (2) forms a large 

amount of osteoid which become 

calcified; (3) has little or no evidence 

that the lesion was an inflammatory 

process; (4) has characteristic 

radiographic changes; and (5) 

presence of pain 5 . 

Osteoma is a benign, osteogenic 

lesion. It can grow to a large mass 

that can cause facial deformity 

or dysfunction. Some authors 

consider it as a true neoplasm, while 

others noted it as a developmental 

anomaly 1,3,8 . Osteomas that occur in 

the oral maxillofacial region, when 

associated with sebaceous cysts, 

multiple supernumerary teeth, and 

colorectal polyposis, can be a sign of 

Gardner’s syndrome. 

The purpose of this report is to 

present a case of an osteoma that 

occurred in the maxilla, which 

includes clinical, radiographical 

descriptions, and treatment. 

CASE REPORT 

A 43-year-old female patient 

consulted for the assessment and 

management of swelling on her 

maxillary right posterior residual 

ridge area. 

The patient had been aware of the 

slow but steady enlargement of the 

mass for 10 months to its current 

size. The lesion was associated with 

pain, but there was no problem with 

the mouth opening. 

She had no previous facial trauma 

nor significant medical, familial, or 

social history related to the lesion. 

The patient had already experienced 

tooth extraction but no adverse 

reaction to local anaesthesia nor 

complications post-extraction. 

Extraoral examination revealed 

neither facial asymmetry nor 

perioral lesions. Lymph node 

examination was insignificant (Figs. 

1a-b). 

Intraoral examination revealed 

swelling on her maxillary right 

posterior residual ridge area that 

extended from her right upper 

premolar area up to the right upper 

molar area (Fig. 2). 

Mucosa overlying the swelling has 

the same colour as the surrounding. 

Torus palatinus and mandibularis 

were also observed on the patient. 

On palpation, swelling is bony-hard, 

Fig 1b 

Fig 2 

Figs. 1a-b: Extraoral photographs show 

no facial deformity nor perioral lesion: 

(a) Facial profile (b) Top view profile 

Fig. 2: Intraoral view of the maxillary 

arch showing the lesion on the right 

posterior area of the patient (yellow 

arrow) and the torus palatinus (blue 

arrow) 



Fig 3b 

Fig 3a 

Fig 3c 

Fig 3d 

Figs. 3a-d: (a) Panoramic radiograph (b) Periapical radiograph (c,d) CBCT radiographs show a radiopacity on the right maxillary area. 

Small pedunculated protuberance can be seen on the palatal side of the right maxillary alveolar ridge (orange circles) 

non-compressible, non-fluctuant 

and non-pulsatile but presents dull 

pain. 

Intraoral and panoramic 

radiographs together with conebeam 

computed tomography (CBCT) 

revealed a diffused radiopacity on 

the area of the patient’s maxillary 

right posterior residual ridge area 

(Figs. 3a-d). Provisional diagnosis 

of osteoma, osteoblastoma, and 

exostosis was made. 

After case presentation and 

discussion, it was decided that 

an incisional biopsy be done first. 

Under local anaesthesia, a flap was 

made crestal to the lesion enough 

to have good access. Upon flap 

opening, several bony protrusions 

from the periosteum were seen 

(Figs. 4a-b). 

These protrusions from the buccal 

and lingual sides of the lesion, which 

are bony hard and round, were 

removed using a chisel and rotary 

instrument. 

The superficial surfaces of the 

specimens appeared pale and 

smooth, whereas the cut surface was 

rough. These specimens were fixed 

in 10% formaldehyde, decalcified, 

and were routinely processed. The 

final histopathological diagnosis 

revealed the lesion to be an 

osteoma. 

Because the lesion was making 

the patient uncomfortable while 

eating, the patient was prepared 

for definitive surgical treatment, 

excisional removal of the lesions, 

bone recontouring, and curettage. 

DISCUSSION 

Osteomas are benign, osteogenic 

lesions characterised by excessive 

and persistent but slow proliferation 

of bone 1,3,9,10 . These lesions may arise 

from the proliferation of cancellous, 

compact, or a combination of both 

types of bone 1,2,5 . 

Three different types are present 

depending on the location. It can be 

central, peripheral, and extraskeletal 

osteoma 1,2,3,5,12,22 . 

Central osteomas arise from the 

endosteum, peripheral osteomas 



Fig 4a 

Fig 4b 

Figs. 4a-b: (a) Flap opening to access the lesion (b) Intraoral appearance of the lesion after flap opening. Small pedunculated 

protuberances can be observed 

from the periosteum, and 

extraskeletal osteomas develop 

within a muscle 1,8,13 . Peripheral 

osteomas clinically appear on 

the surface of the bone as a 

sessile mass, while central and 

extraskeletal osteomas are usually 

asymptomatic 5,14,22 . 

Osteomas occur at any age but 

are found frequently in individuals 

older than 40 years old 1,2,15 . 

Osteomas are more frequent in 

males than in females 1,5,9,11,13 but 

some authors said that it occurs 

more often in women than men, 

and others have reported both 

female and male predilection 

in case series 2,3,16,17 . Children are 

rarely affected unless they have 

Gardner’s syndrome 5,18 . 

In the maxillofacial region, 

osteomas frequently occur in 

sinuses, more commonly in the 

frontal sinus 1,2,3,14 . It commonly 

affects the mandible than the 

maxilla 1,3,4,8,17 . When present in the 

maxilla, it is commonly found in 

the alveolar process 3 . 

In many cases, the diagnosis 

of osteoma is incidental since 

it is commonly asymptomatic 1,2,3 . 

Depending on the size and location, 

it can cause facial deformity, 

local sensitivity, deviation of the 

mandible, headache, bone pain, 

dysphagia, recurrent sinusitis, or 

ophthalmologic complaints 1,3,16,17 . 

The most common symptom when 

present is pain 1,19 . Osteomas are 

commonly solitary unless the patient 

has Gardner’s syndrome 8 . 

Conventional radiographic 

examinations, including panoramic 

and periapical radiographs, are 

generally sufficient to diagnose an 

osteoma. The use of CBCT results in 

better resolution can determine the 

precise localisation and extension of 

the lesion 1,4 . 

Peripheral osteomas appear as 

well-circumscribed, densely 

sclerotic, and radiopaque mass. 

Central and extraskeletal osteomas 

are commonly identified on routine 

radiographic examination, which 

can be seen as dense, circumscribed 

radiopacity 5,8 . 

The radiographic appearance 

with the clinical aspects is usually 

compatible with osteoma. 

However, a conclusive diagnosis 

is determined by microscopic 

histological examination. Routine 

clinical and radiographic follow-up 

should be performed, considering 

that most of the tumours are 

asymptomatic. 

The pathogenesis of osteoma is 

still unclear. Various hypotheses 

consider osteoma a true neoplasm, 

a developmental anomaly, or 

congenital and hereditary 

disorder. The possibility that 

peripheral osteomas may be a 

reactive mechanism triggered by 

trauma or infection, has also been 

suggested 1,2,3,4,5,8 . 

However, we have no information 

about the possible cause in the 

case presented in this report since 

there is no history of trauma or 

infection. 

Osteoma should be differentiated 

from several pathologies, including 

osteochondroma, fibrous 

dysplasia, chondroma, ossifying 

fibroma, condensing osteitis. Bony 

exostoses, except tori, tend to 

appear on buccal or facial aspects 



of alveolar bone and stop growing 

after puberty in contrast to osteoma, 

which generally occurs on lingual or 

palatal aspects that continue to grow 

post-puberty 1,3,4,17,20 . 

Focal sclerosing osteomyelitis, 

osteosarcoma, peripheral ossifying 

fibroma, chondroma, Paget’s disease, 

monostotic fibrous dysplasia, calcified 

meningioma, and odontoma should 

also be considered as differential 

diagnosis 1 . Osteoblastoma and osteoid 

osteoma usually present more pain 

and have a greater growth rate than 

osteomas 1,3,4,17. 

Surgery, which includes excision with 

bone recontouring and curettage, 

is not generally needed unless 

there are symptoms, deformity, has 

active growth, or other secondary 

problems 1,2,3,4,17,21 . Recurrence after 

surgery is rare, and no known reports 

are associated with malignant 

change 1,2,3,16 . 

The presence of osteomas may signify 

Gardner’s syndrome, an autosomaldominant 

disorder characterised by a 

triad of colorectal polyposis, skeletal 

abnormalities, and multiple impacted 

supernumerary teeth 1,2,8,9 . 

Since osteomas develop before 

colorectal polyposis, early detection 

of the syndrome is paramount to the 

prognosis of the disease. Thus, dental 

practitioners should be aware of the 

triad of Gardner’s disease 1,5,6,7 . 

CONCLUSION 

Osteomas are rare, benign, 

slow-growing, bony lesions that 

occur in the oral maxillofacial region. 

It should always be considered a 

differential diagnosis for any bony 

hard, slowly growing, with or without 

pain swelling on the oral maxillofacial 

region. 

Exact aetiology and pathogenesis 

remain unknown, but it is suggested 

that molecular and genetic 

research be done to improve the 

understanding of this lesion. 

Osteomas can cause facial 

deformity, limitation or deviation 

on the movement of the mandible, 

headache, bone pain, dysphagia, 

sinusitis, or ophthalmologic 

complaint; hence, dental 

practitioners should be aware of 

these signs and symptoms during an 

examination. DA 

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study of 14 cases,” Med Oral Pathol Oral Cir 

Bucal 2005;10:E139-42. 

17. NB Sayan, C Ucok, HA Karasu and 

O Gunhau. “Peripheral osteoma of the 

Oral and Maxillofacial region: A study of 

35 new cases,” J Oral Maxillofac Surg 

2002;60:1299-301 

18. RE Marx and D Stern. Oral and 

maxillofacial pathology: 2003: 771-2 

19. M Chaudhary and M Kulkarni. “Osteoid 

osteoma of mandible,” J Oral Maxillofac 

Pathol. 2007;11:52-5 

20. PE Richardson, DM Arendt, JE Fidler 

and CM Webber. “Radiopaque mass in the 

submandibular region,” Journal of Oral 

and Maxillofacial Surgery, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 

709–713, 1999. 

21. N Larrea-Oyarbide and E Valmaseda- 

Castell on, L. Berini-Ayt´es, and C. Gay- 

Escoda, “Osteomas of the craniofacial 

region. Review of 106 cases,” Journal of 

Oral Pathology and Medicine,vol. 37, no. 1, 

pp. 38-42, 2008. 

22. V Nayak, PK Rao, R Kini and U Shetty, 

“Peripheral osteoma of the mandible,” BMJ 

Case Rep 2020;13:e238225. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dr Lordjie Marr 

Morilla received 

his Doctor of 

Dental Medicine 

degree from the 

University of the 

Philippines and 

pursued a Master of Science in 

Dentistry specialising in Oral Diagnostic 

Sciences at Khon Kaen University, 

Thailand. Councillor to the Philippine 

section of the Asian Society of Oral and 

Maxillofacial Pathology, he also gives 

lectures on oral diagnosis and pathology 

and has presented his research 

at various local and international 

conferences. At present, he is a PhD 

student at The Hong Kong Polytechnic 

University and his research area focuses 

on genetics and associated mutations 

of complex diseases. 



Photobiomodulation: An updated 

literature review with a case report 

Garnering positive feedback and support across various literature, 

photobiomodulation can serve as an effective aid to help patients with 

reduced pain and discomfort during treatment. 

By Dr Kevin Ng, Dato’ Dr How Kim Chuan 

Orthodontic tooth movements cause 

pain and discomfort. It also takes a 

long time to complete, the average 

treatment time being usually two to 

three years to achieve satisfactory 

results. These factors hinder patients 

from seeking treatment. To avoid 

long-term suffering and to enhance 

patient co-operation and compliance, 

photobiomodulation (PBM) offers the 

possibility of shortening treatment 

times. Although different clinicians 

hold different views regarding the 

application of PBM to influence 

orthodontics effects and outcomes, 

a case is reported here with 

satisfactory patient feedback and 

acceptable clinical outcome. The 

PBM device was used contained 42 

LED cores that produced 828nm 

wavelength light and stimulate four 

minutes on each arch daily. It was 

found that 50% of the treatment 

time for the entire Invisalign course 

reported improved results with no 

pain. 

THE PBM DEVICE 

The bite plane device consists of 

42 LED cores and a power input of 

2.1V. The current of each LED core 

is 30mA. The LED Cores produced 

855nm wavelengths to stimulate the 

target sites. The energy absorbed 

after four minutes per arch was 249.9 

joules. The manufacturer claimed that 

PBM could enhance the biology of 

the treatment area and improve the 

healing of bone and soft tissues and 

further enhance tooth movement. 

CASE REPORT 

A male patient CST, aged 20, was 

presented with Class I Molars, 

moderate anterior crowding of upper 

and lower arches, and rotation of 

12, 23, 33 and 43. There was a lower 

mid-line shift to the left about 2mm, 

in addition to an overjet of 1mm, and 

an overbite of 3mm. 

The patient did not want an 

extraction and requested the shortest 

possible time to finish the treatment. 

An iTero scanning was performed, 

and arch expansions were designed 

to improve the arches form to create 

spaces for alignments. Forty-five 



sets of aligners were prepared and 

treatment time was to be about a 

year, with one aligner each week. 

PBM lights were prescribed, and two 

aligners were used for each week. 

The 45 aligners should be finished 

wearing by 23 weeks. The PBM device 

was applied for four minutes daily on 

each arch, and the patient was advised 

to return to the clinic monthly to 

check and ensure fittings. The patient 

was to record the degree of pain 

or discomfort monthly in the given 

form during the aligner treatment. 

The feedback pain scores were rated 

two to three for the whole period. 

Orthopantomograms (OPGs) were 

taken before and after treatment and 

no root absorption occurred. 

DISCUSSION 

Surgical corticotomy was used 

to accelerate orthodontic tooth 

movement before the application of 

PBM. However, post-operative pain 

and complications were concerns to 

the patient. 

In 2013, Kau assessed 73 patients and 

17 controls fitted with traditional 

orthodontic brackets and wires and 

treated with 850nm wavelength, 

near-infrared light with a power 

density of 60mW/cm 2 for 20-30 

minutes per day. He observed that 

PBM achieved clinically significant 

accelerated tooth movements 

compared to the control group. 

Lao proposed PBM as a non-invasive 

stimulation of the dentoalveolar 

complex with mitochondrial 

adenosine triphosphate (ATP) 

production at the mitochondrial 

cells. Due to the increased level of 

metabolic activity, ATP is increased at 

a localised level. Infrared light doubles 

cytochrome oxidase levels, mediating 

ATP production. Higher ATP 

availability accelerates cell turnover, 

resulting in a faster remodelling 

process and tooth movement. A 

1.12mm movement per week for the 



P re -t re a tment OPG 

In another study, Ozturk in 2020 found 

PBM applications displayed inhibitory 

and reparative effects on OIIRR by 

modulating the RANKL and COX-2 

expression levels. Resorption lacunae 

volume (p & lt; 0.001), resorption 

lacunae numbers (p & lt; 0.05), and 

percentage of the resorption (PR) 

lacunae (p & lt; 0.001) – these levels 

decreased with PBM applications when 

compared with the positive control 

groups. They also found the effects of 

the different wavelengths were similar 7 . 

Sfondrini et al in 2020 studied the pain 

experience on subjects with banded 

maxillary first molars. Each molar 

received one session of PBM treatment 

on two buccal and two palatal points. 

In the trial group, PBM treatment 

showed decreased pain compared to 

the control group 11 . 

Post-treatment OPG 

PBM group was observed compared to 

0.49mm in the control group 13 . 

The mechanism of PBM is due to certain 

biological wavelengths elicited by the LED 

cores, generating a therapeutic effect at 

the cellular level. The photon source after 

LED produced favourable effects both in 

animal 3 and human clinical studies 12, 14, 15 . 

The early clinical trial started with pain 

control, tooth movement acceleration, and 

increase bone remodelling and quality. 

Recently, this therapeutic technology had 

reported success in the improvement of 

mini-screw stability, temporomandibular 

disorders (TMD) disorders, root resorption, 

bone consolidation during maxillary 

expansion and distraction osteogenesis. As 

it was easy to operate and non-invasive, 

it became widely adopted for clinical use. 

Shan et al in 2021 subsequently found that 

PBM had a promising effect on postorthodontic 

root resorption rehabilitation 1 . 

Brawn et al in 2017 investigated the use 

of Biolux LED phototherapy daily for 

21 days on an extracted socket with 

hydroxyapatite (HA) grafting. They found 

that there were accelerated bone healing 

in the phototherapy-treated HA socket 

graft. This may provide faster implant 

osseointegration and healing compared 

to the control group 17 . 

Ekizer et al in 2016 studies found PBM 

had the potential of accelerating tooth 

movement and had a positive effect on 

mini-screws 4,9 and these results were 

agreed by Al Shahrani et al in 2019. They 

found there was a statistically significant 

difference between PBM therapy 

compared to a non-stimulated group 

with a mean difference of 0.59 8 . It was 

proposed that the action of LPT IL-1B 

attracted leucocytes and stimulated 

fibroblasts, endothelial cells, osteoclasts, 

causing the effects 9 . 

Reis et al in 2021 suggested that 

during orthodontic tooth movement, 

cytokines were released in the gingival 

crevice, affecting bone remodelling. 

PBM stimulations increased the levels 

of IL-1β, IL-8, OPN, and PGE2 LLLT was 

statistically related to an increase of 

IL-1β levels 10 . 

Abellán in 2021 used an intraoral 

scanner and cone-beam computed 

tomography (CBCT) to study molar 

intrusion using a mini screw as 

anchorage. Again, they found the 

technique was effective in accurately 

monitoring the intrusion distance 

(p > 0.05). CBCT records allowed 

volumetric evaluation of the root 

resorption process, and it was found 

to be less in the PBM group. They also 

suggested that the “application 

of PBM may provide better periodontal 

records and lower progression of root 

resorption at the expense of little 

lower intrusion distance and velocity’’ 5 . 

Finally, Caccianiga in 2022 reported 

30 patients treated with rapid palatal 

expansion. The pain was significantly 

lower in the experimental group 16 . PBM 



was used in orthodontics together with 

anchoring TAD micro-screws as stability. 

After 60 days post-treatment, significantly 

higher stability was noted in the PBM 

group, and the authors had concluded 

that application of the 808nm diode laser 

increased micro-implant stability clinically. 

PBM also reduced the pain felt by patients 2 . 

CONCLUSION 

With the updated information suggested 

above, it is possible to apply PBM safely 

to assist the orthodontic patient and even 

to improve treatment time and outcome 

for patients who have received implant 

treatments. The findings here suggest 

that intraoral PBM could be used to 

decrease alignment treatment time and 

pain or discomfort, as well as encourage 

bone formation, promoting bone healings 

and osseointegration of dental implants. 

However, due to research limitations, a 

further extensive study by multi-centred, 

randomised clinical trials is suggested. 

References 

1 

Shan Z., Wong K., McGrath C. et al 

(2021). “Comprehensive Effects of 

Photobiomodulation Therapy as an 

Adjunct to Post-orthodontic Treatment 

Care: A Systematic Review”. Oral Health & 

Preventive Dent 19:203-216. quintpub.com. 

2021 

2 

Matys, J.; Jaszczak, E.; Flieger, R.; 

Kostrzewska-Kaminiarz, K.; Grzech-Leśniak, 

K.; Dominiak, M. “Effect of ozone and diode 

laser (635 nm) in reducing orthodontic pain 

in the maxillary arch—a randomised clinical 

controlled trial”. Lasers Med. Sci. 2020, 35, 

487–496 

3 

Melo Conti C., Suzuki H. et al (2019). “Effect 

of PBM on root resorption induced by 

orthodontic tooth movement and RANKL/ 

OPG expression in rats”. Photochemistry 

and Wiley Online Library 

4 

Atsawasuwan P., Shirazi S. (2018). 

“Advances in orthodontic tooth movement: 

gene therapy and molecular biology aspect”. 

Current approaches in Orthodontics, pp 41- 

68 2018-books.google.com 

5 

Abellan R., Gomez C., Palma J. (2021). 

“Effect of PBM on the Upper first molar 

intrusion movement using mini-screws 

anchorage: A Randomised Controlled Trial” 

Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and 

Laser Surgery vol. 39, No. 8-liebertpub.com 

6 

Kumar A.N., Jadhav V. et al (2021) “Light 

Emitting Diode Mediated PBM Therapy in 

Orthodontics-A Review of Contemporary 

Literature”. Journal of Evolution of Medical 

and Dental Sciences vol. 10, Issue 32) 

7 

Ozturk T., Amuk G.N. (2020). “Effect of PBM 

at different wavelengths on orthodontically 

induced root resorption in orthodontic 

retention period: a micro-CT and RT-PCR 

study”. Lasers Med Sci 2020 35: 1419-29 

8 

Al Shahrani I., Togoo R.A., Hosmani J. 

(2019). “PBM in acceleration of orthodontic 

tooth movement: A systemic review and 

meta analysis”. Complementary Therapies in 

medicine Vol 47 2019 –Elsevier 

9 

Ekizer A., Türker G., Uysal T., Güray E., 

Taşdemir Z. (2016). “Light emitting diode 

mediated photobiomodulation therapy 

improves orthodontic tooth movement 

and mini-screw stability: a randomized 

controlled clinical trial”. Lasers Surg Med 

48(10):936–943 

10 

Reis C., Furtado T., Mendes W. (2021). 

“PBM impacts the levels of inflammatory 

mediators during orthodontic tooth 

movement? A Systemic review with 

meta-analysis”. Lasers in Medical Sc 2021 

Springer 

11 

Sfondrini M.F., Vitale M., Pinheiro A.L.B. 

(2020). “PBM and pain reduction in patients 

requiring orthodontic band application: 

randomized clinical trial”. BioMed research 

international. Article ID 7460938 2020 – 

hindawi.com 

12 

Heravi F., Moradi A., and Ahrari F., (2014). 

“The effect of low level laser therapy on 

the rate of tooth movement and pain 

perception during canine retraction”. 

Oral Health and Dental Management, 

vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 183–188 

13 

Shaughnesy T., Kantarci A. et al 

(2016). “Intraoral photobiomodulationinduced 

orthodontic tooth alignment: 

a preliminary study”. BMC Oral Health, 

Volume 16, Article number: 3 

14 

Kau C.H., Kantarci A., Shaughnessy 

T., et al (2013). “Photobiomodulation 

accelerates orthodontic alignment in 

the early phase of treatment”. Progress 

in Orthodontics, vol. 14, Article number: 

30 

15 

Deana N.F., Zaror C., Sandoval P., 

Alves N. (2017). “Effectiveness of 

Low-Level Laser Therapy in Reducing 

Orthodontic Pain: A Systematic Review 

and Meta-Analysis”. Pain research & 

management vol. 2017 (2017): 8560652. 

doi:10.1155/2017/8560652 

16 

Caccianiga G. et al (2022). 

“Pain Reduction during Rapid 

Palatal Expansion Due to LED 

Photobiomodulation Irradiation: A 

Randomized Clinical Trial”. Life 2022, 

12, 37. 

17 

Brawn P., Kwong A. (2007). “Histologic 

comparison of light emitting diode 

phototherapy-treated hydroxyapatitegrafted 

extraction sockets: a samemouth 

case study”. Implant Dent 2007 

Jun;16(2):204-11 


Dr Kevin Ng is 

a specialist in 

community dentistry. 

He was a visiting 

professor at 

Guangzhou Medical 

University, and a Hon. 

a/Clinical Professor at the University of 

Hong Kong from 2017-2019. 

Dato’ Dr How 

Kim Chuan is the 

president of ICD 

Section XV and the 

Osseointegration 

Society of 

Malaysia. He was 

a visiting professor at Zhejiang Chinese 

Medical University, and a professor at 

both the Air Force University and Hong 

Kong University. 



Class II orthodontic treatment using 

Invisalign treatment with mandibular 

advancement 

Treatment of a moderate Class II, division 1 malocclusion and ectopic permanent 

canines using Invisalign aligners with precision wings and extrusion elastics. 

By Dr Bart Iwasiuk 

The patient was a 13-year-, one-monthold 

male. His parents had noticed that his 

upper teeth, the permanent canines, were 

not coming in correctly. 

A diagnosis revealed that he had permanent 

dentition with a straight facial profile, 

severe Class II relationship on the right and 

left dental, a 5-6mm overbite, constricted 

upper arch with blocked-out upper canines, 

mild lower anterior crowding, hypocalcified 

spots on the permanent upper incisors, and 

agenesis of all third molars. 

TREATMENT GOALS 

The treatment goals were thus to bring the 

permanent upper canines into the arch 

and align all the teeth. The bite was to 

be corrected to Class I molar and canine 

without extractions. In addition, the deep 

bite was to be reduced, the arches widened 

and the smile broaded. Furthermore, the 

patient was to maintain good oral hygiene 

during and after orthodontic treatment. 

The treatment plan consisted of the 

following steps: 

1. First, create proper mesial-distal space 

for the upper permanent canines with 

Invisalign aligners and weekly aligner 

changes, using distalisation mechanics 

supported with Class II elastics. Level the 

lower arch during this time. 

2. Connect Class II elastics to buttons 

CEPHALOMETRIC VALUES 

Measurement Value Norm StDev 

SNA 76.8 82 3 

SNB 75.2 79 3 

ANB 1.6 3 2 

U1-SN 102.4 103 6 

L1-MP 92.9 90 5 

Interincisal angle 134.2 135 11 

FH-MP (FMA) 23.1 24 3 

bonded to the upper canines to help 

them extrude (3/16” 4.5 oz. elastics 

full-time). This step can wait so long as 

the canines continue to erupt while the 

teeth have settled and the occlusion has 

stabilised. Form lingual bite ramps into 

the upper clear retainer if the deep bite 

starts to relapse.* 

space is being generated. 

3. Re-scan the patient and add precision 

wings to the aligners for mandibular 

advancement once the canines have 

erupted into the arch. 

4. Detail and finish the occlusion with 

additional aligners as needed. 

5. Retain the teeth with a bonded lingual 

wire on upper 2-2 and lower 3-3. Add a 

clear retainer to the upper arch up to 45 

days later, for night-time wear, once the 

The following Invisalign aligner features 

were used: 

• Upper canine eruption compensation 

feature for structural integrity of the 

aligner, since the actual canines are 

ectopic. 

• Optimised attachments for various tooth 

movements in the set-up. 

• Upper lingual precision bite ramps to 

help level the lower arch. 



Initial records 

ClinCheck software set-up and staging for 

the initial aligners 

TREATMENT SUMMARY 

• Number of aligners used: 

• Upper: 27 (without precision wings) 

+36 (MA) +12 additional aligners (for 

detailing) 

• Lower: 29 (without precision wings) 

+36 (MA) +12 additional aligners (for 

detailing) 

Aligner change interval was conducted 

on a weekly basis. 

Initial aligners 

• Precision button cut-outs on the lower 

6s for the Class II elastics. 

• Conventional attachments for aligner 

retention. 

• Precision wings for mandibular 

advancement after the permanent 

canines erupt. 

CLINCHECK SOFTWARE SET-UP AND 

STAGING INITIAL ALIGNERS 

To prepare adequate space for the 

permanent upper canines with minimal 

upper incisor flaring, the upper 

posterior teeth were distalised in the 

set-up for the initial Invisalign aligners. 

The ectopic canines were not included 

in the set-up. 

Instead, eruption compensation features 

were used, with buttons for Class II 

elastics bonded to the permanent 

canines as they erupted. 

The total active aligner treatment time 

took 18 months. This time does not 

include a two-month break between 

each aligner series to let the teeth settle 

into occlusion, and four weeks to order 

and deliver the aligners — thus, three 

months total between each aligner 

phase. 

In addition, buttons for Class II/canine 

extrusion elastics were bonded to the 

permanent upper canines after the first 

3 months of aligner wear. The 3/16” 4.5 

oz. Class II elastics were worn full time. 



Mandibular advancement aligners 

Initial aligners with buttons bonded to the upper canines and lower first molars for 3/16” 4.5 oz. extrusion/ 

Class II elastics once adequate space has been re-captured 

ClinCheck software set-up and staging for 

the mandibular advancement aligners, shown 

with precision wings (top row) and without the 

wings (middle row). The overbite is set to an 

overcorrected position of one to 1.5mm open. 

The mandile was positioned 2mm past edge-toedge 

which is slightly Class III with the wings in 

place 

After aligner #27 of 29 of the first series, 

the upper aligners were discontinued, 

without retention, and the remaining 

lower aligners were worn only at 

night for one month each, to allow the 

permanent upper canines to further 

erupt. Afterwards, new intraoral scans of 

the arches were taken for the Invisalign 

treatment with mandibular advancement. 

APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE 

For aligners without the mandibular 

advancement feature, the patient was 

seen every three months. All the initial 

“non-MA” Invisalign aligners were 

delivered to the patient all at once, so that 

they could continue to make progress 

with their treatment even if they missed 

an appointment. 

After the initial aligners were completed (27 upper + 27 lower aligners, no precision wings) 

For aligners with precision wings, the 

patient was seen every eight weeks which 

is before every bite jump increment. This 



was done to ensure that the patient could 

properly engage the precision wings at each 

new jump. This step is a critical checkpoint 

because if not enough growth has occurred 

since the last increment, the precision 

wings might not engage correctly and the 

patient might crush the precision wings 

with their bite, which can lead to unwanted 

torqueing of the teeth around the precision 

wings. Should the patient be unable to 

engage the precision wings of the new 

bite jump increment, they can step back 

one or two aligners and wear them for an 

additional week or two each. This additional 

six to eight weeks in the previous aligner 

stages is usually enough to allow the bite to 

comfortably advance to the next bite-jump 

increment. 

After the mandibular advancement (MA) aligner phase was completed (36 upper + 36 lower aligners with 

precision wings). Notice the normal overbite achieved despite the one to 1.5mm open bite in the anterior 

segment of the ClinCheck software set-up 

CLINICAL DISCUSSION 

The primary goal of the initial aligners 

was to make space for the permanent 

upper canines and capture them into the 

arch. To avoid flaring the upper incisors, 

distalisation mechanics with Class II elastics 

for anchorage was planned. This approach 

cannot be used with the mandibular 

advancement feature in the aligners, so 

this phase was completed first before the 

mandibular advancement phase. Invisalign 

aligners sequential or modified sequential 

distalisation is effective for first molar 

distalisation. Although several distalisation 

staging patterns are available 1 , a standard 

approach of distalising two teeth at any 

given time was utilised in this specific case. 

Since the canines were ectopic, they were 

not included in the ClinCheck software 

set-up. An eruption compensation feature 

for the canines was requested instead, so 

that the aligners would still be structurally 

sound. 

After 12 additional U/L aligners for detailing, a solid Class I bite was achieved, along with ideal overbite 

and overjet. No final radiographs were taken due to a lack of medical justification for these per Canada’s 

guidelines on dental radiographs 

Bonded buttons and Class II elastics were 

used to help guide the canines into place. 

The upper cuspids tipped back and rotated 

during this phase as a result, but the elastic 

side effect was resolved with the second 

set of aligners during the mandibular 

advancement phase, which allowed 

simultaneous Class II correction and full 

control over canine alignment. Once the 



implemented during the post-MA finishing 

phase for any additional A-P correction needed 

on U3 precision-cut hooks to L6 bonded 

buttons. Aside from the overbite correction, an 

overcorrection for individual tooth alignment 

such as rotations, was not built into the 

mandibular advancement aligners, as detailing 

the occlusion with additional aligners was to 

be done after the mandibular advancement 

phase is completed. 

The goal of the detailing aligners after the 

mandibular advancement phase was to improve 

individual tooth positions and the curve of 

Wilson around the bicuspids and the first 

molars. Class II elastics were worn for 10 weeks 

at night only, and then on the right side full time 

during the last two aligners in order to improve 

the midline. Bonded lingual retention was placed 

on upper 2-2 and lower 3-3. A clear upper 

retainer was delivered 1.5 months later, after the 

occlusion had settled. 

Final records post settling taken two months after the completion of treatment. No final radiographs 

were taken due to a lack of medical justification for these per Canada’s guidelines on dental radiographs 

permanent canines were located close to the 

desired position, a settling phase was started 

prior to a new intraoral scan being taken for 

the mandibular advancement phase. 

The goal of the mandibular advancement 

phase was to coordinate the arches and 

remove any anterior dental interferences 

preventing the posterior teeth from 

occluding in a solid Class I relationship. 

The precision wings were used to disclude 

the bite and position the mandible forward 

without needing elastics. Good aligner 

adaptation is especially important during 

this phase, so any added features that will 

reduce the plastic-to-tooth contact area 

such as button cutouts was avoided. Having 

two retentive attachments per quadrant 

was preferred during this phase, and lingual 

attachments** on the permanent first 

molars were used if the location of the 

precision wings prevented the placing of 

retention attachments buccally, which is 

our first choice. For retention, occlusallybeveled 

horizontal attachments which is 3 

or 4mm depending on size of crown, were 

used. Avoid placing these attachments in the 

interproximal zones. 

By intruding the upper and lower incisors 

and using attachments on the canines and 

bicuspids to help anchor the aligners onto the 

teeth, the anterior interferences were 

removed. The arch widths were also optimised 

for a Class I bite during this phase, and 

anterior lingual precision bite ramps in the 

upper aligners helped generate intrusion 

forces in the anterior segments. 

At aligner #31 of 36 (MA phase), the patient 

had difficulty engaging the precision wings on 

the right side, so all the precision wings were 

cut off and the patient wore their aligners 

on 4-4 from stages 32 to 36. This allowed for 

passive eruption of the permanent first molars 

back into occlusion, as a common side effect 

seen with use of the precision wings, as well as 

other appliances with full-crown coverage like 

a Herbst, is disclusion of the posterior teeth. 

Rather than initiate a second mandibular 

advancement phase, Class II elastics were 

* Vivera retainers can be ordered with precision 

bite ramps as a feature. 

** Since this case has been treated, lingual 

attachments have now become available and 

can be requested in special instructions in 

prescription form on molars or premolars 

for Invisalign treatment with mandibular 

advancement. One attachment per quadrant is 

recommended to provide sufficient retention. 

DA 

This article was published with Align 

Technology’s approval. 

References 

1 

Data on file at Align Technology, as of July 16, 2019. 


Dr Bart Iwasiuk has been in 

private practice since 2002 

and has treated patients with 

Invisalign aligners since his 

orthodontic residency training. 

He achieved Elite Provider 

status in 2012, and continues 

to push the limits of what can be accomplished 

with clear aligners. He received his DDS from 

the University of Toronto and his orthodontic 

certificate from the University of Rochester. 


USER REPORT 

Correcting a single midline diastema 

An ethical treatment plan; an impressive aesthetic result. 

By Dr Minesh Patel 

INITIAL PRESENTATION 

Mr MB is a long-standing patient with 

excellent oral health and a proven history 

of six-monthly examination and hygiene 

appointments with low caries, periodontal 

and tooth wear risk. After engaging in a 

discussion regarding the patient’s tooth 

position, he was delighted to hear that 

modern dentistry would allow closure of the 

gap between his front teeth (Fig. 1), without 

tooth damage and the need for orthodontics, 

which for him was too involved and 

time-consuming. 

Fig. 1 

After discussing alternative options, including 

ceramic veneers, composite bonding was 

the most ethical option for this patient. 

When treating anterior teeth with any form 

of restorative dentistry, it is important to 

discuss tooth whitening to ensure the patient 

is aware that restorative materials, once 

selected, will match the existing tooth shade 

and cannot be altered in the future. 

Fig. 2 Fig. 3 

ACTIVE CONCERNS 

Long-standing midline diastema, with scope 

for visual aesthetic improvement (Fig. 2). 

TREATMENT OBJECTIVE 

Minimally invasive aesthetic enhancement 

using home tooth whitening and correction 

of a single midline diastema using direct 

composite bonding with Coltene Brilliant 

EverGlow. 

TREATMENT PLAN 

1. Four weeks of home tooth whitening 

using custom trays: 

• Two weeks 10% carbamide peroxide 

overnight use 

• Two weeks 16% carbamide peroxide 

overnight use 

2. One week use of 6% hydrogen peroxide, 

for optional one-hour boosts 

3. Fig. Two-week 3 review to allow for rebound 

and composite try-in 

4. Freehand partial coverage, bonding UR1 

molar and UL1 molar 

5. Replacement upper “top up” whitening 

tray 

TREATMENT PROTOCOL 

To maximise the aesthetic gain planned 

Fig. 5 

with composite bonding, it was agreed to 

complete a period of home tooth whitening 

to lift the base shade of all teeth which was 

currently close to an A2 (Fig. 3). 

Upper and lower good-quality alginates 

were taken and a period of four weeks’ 

home tooth whitening was performed, 

according to the aforementioned 

protocol. It is important to allow two 

weeks of no whitening, for the shade 

to settle and allow bond strengths to 

return to normal. 

At the review appointment, the 

patient and I were satisfied with the 

whitening progress. Shade BL was 

selected as the new and improved 

tooth colour, which was verified 

and accepted by the patient. A quick 

unbounded composite try-in was 

performed, using Coltene Brilliant 

EverGlow shade BL, while the teeth 

were at normal hydration to confirm 

the material selection. 


USER REPORT 

On the day of treatment, 

complete anterior isolation was 

then performed using a heavy 

gauge latex rubber dam, with 

W2A clamps attached to the 

premolars to secure the dam. 

Floss ligatures were placed and 

tightened around both central 

incisors to further retract the 

dam into the gingival sulcus 

with the benefit of suppressing 

the papilla, which is extremely 

useful when closing diastemas 

with direct composite bonding 

(Fig. 4). 

Fig. 4 

Fig. 6 

Fig. 5 

Fig. 7 

The teeth were cleaned with 

an Enhance polishing cone, 

followed by air abrasion using 

a Rønvig sandblaster with 

30-micron aluminium oxide 

particles. The teeth were then 

etched, followed by thorough 

rinsing, drying and application 

of a bonding agent that was 

carefully air dispersed. 

Fig. 8 

Fig. 9 

A pre-rolled composite 

increment was first applied to 

the UR1 and adapted freehand 

from all directions to achieve the 

ideal initial starting proportions. 

Care was taken to adapt the 

gingival portion to avoid gross 

overhangs. Good isolation made 

this much easier (Fig. 5). 

This increment was then cured 

and refined using interproximal 

strips to remove gingival excess 

(Fig. 6) and a Sof-Lex disc to 

gently contour the contact point 

to a smooth convex profile (Fig. 

7). 

Polytetrafluoroethylene 

(PTFE) tape was then placed 

over the UR1 and the process 

was repeated on the UL1. For 

optimal adaption of composite 

placement and smooth 

transitional junctions from 

composite to the tooth, a GC 

Fig. 10 

Fig. 12 

sculpting brush (Fig. 8) and 

Optrasculpt (Fig. 9) modelling 

instruments were employed to 

eliminate instrument indentations 

from being introduced into the 

composite increments (Fig. 10). 

Following final curing, the palatal 

aspect was re-checked (Fig. 

11) and a small overhang was 

removed by using an ultra-thin 

metal polishing strip passed 

under the interproximal contact 

(Fig. 12). 

Fig. 11 

Fig. 13 

Once again, effective isolation 

made this possible and is almost 

mandatory when attempting 

such cases freehand. Following 

rubber dam removal, the primary 

form was lightly adjusted using a 

coarse Sof-Lex disc. An Enhance 

polishing cone was used to 

reductively polish the marginal 

junctions. A medium grit flame bur 

was used in an electric handpiece 

in a light feathering motion to 

introduce tertiary anatomy into 

the restorations (Fig. 13). 


USER REPORT 

Fig. 14 

Fig. 15 

Fig. 16 

Fig. 17 

Fig. 18 


Fig. 19 

The two-step Diatech polishing 

wheels from Coltene (Fig. 14) 

were then used on all surfaces of 

the restorations until a final high 

lustre was established (Fig. 15). 

Occlusal checks were performed 

as standard, to ensure the new 

restorations conformed to the 

existing occlusion. The close 

palatal inspection was performed 

under high magnification to 

ensure a smooth, ledge-free 

transition of restorative material 

towards the gingiva to respect the 

soft tissues (Fig. 16). 

FINAL APPRAISAL 

Following two-and-a-half weeks 

of healing, the patient was 

reviewed and the papilla had reestablished 

to confirm a hygienic 

result that blended well with the 

existing anatomy and soft tissues. 

The patient has since been 

seen for a one-year recall visit 

where the restorations have 

demonstrated excellent retention 

of polish (Fig. 17) and an extremely 

healthy soft tissue outcome 

(Figs. 18-19). 

TOP TIPS 

1. Use a mock-up. Place 

composite without etch and bond, 

and shape roughly to determine 

the outcome and ensure it fits 

within the natural envelope of 

function. Check excursions and 

guidance at this stage. This is 

increasingly important when 

lengthening teeth or broadening 

and elongating lateral incisors 

which may incur a lateral 

interference in some cases, 

causing early failure. A mock-up 

also allows clinicians to assess 

and control patient expectations 

and is an excellent tool to choose 

the final restorative method 

and shade, and aid in informed 

consent. 

2. Isolate like a pro. For diastema 

closures, use a medium or heavy 

dam secured with self-tightening 

floss ligatures. This will ensure 

the dam is retracted to the soft 

tissue junction and suppress the 

papilla, which is useful for median 

diastemas. Expect the papilla to 

rebound within a few weeks. 

3. Sculpt like an artist. Use the 

correct instruments for labial 

increments. The final appearance 

and polish are determined earlier 

on during placement and a good 

polish is an outcome of great 

finishing. Use a broad, softer 

instrument to adapt the final 

labial increment to the tooth to 

ensure seamless margination and 

a final layer free of instrument 

indentations and irregularities. 

4. Use the light. Following initial 

placement and gross finishing, 

take a photo of the direct anterior 

restorations. Schedule a second 

appointment for final refinements 

and high-gloss polishing two weeks 

later. Assess this photo in the 

meantime and the way the light 

hits the line angles of the 

restorations, as well as the axial 

inclination of the restorations. 

Aim to see even, straight-line 

light reflections on the mesial 

and distal line angles, as well 

as an axial inclination pointing 

down and towards the naval. 

Plan the refinements to achieve 

these optical properties at the 

next visit. A twin flash system is 

recommended for anterior work. 

DA 



USER REPORT 

Rehabilitation of an edentulous lower jaw 

presenting reduced residual bone crest 

with Anthogyr Mini Implant System 

Designed to deliver retentive connection, reliability and efficacy, mini implants 

are an alternative solutions who are unable to receive conventional implants. 

By Dr Sergio Salina 

Fig. 1 

Fig. 2 

Fig. 3 

Fig. 4 

Fig. 5 

Fig. 6 

Fig. 7 Fig. 8 

Fig. 9 

Fig. 1: Initial situation 

Fig. 2: Pre-operative view of the edentulous mandibular crest 

Fig. 3. Pre-operative panoramic x-ray 

Fig. 4: Use of the depth and alignment gauge to check the correct placement of the drilling and alignment for the two first implant sites 

Fig. 5: Post-operative picture following placement of four mini implants 

Fig. 6: Post-operative panoramic x-ray 

Figs. 7-8: Immediate post-operative situation following surgery: existing denture adaptation with soft relining material 

Fig. 9: Mini implants follow-up at 30 days following surgery 


USER REPORT 

A non-smoker and -diabetic 74-year-old 

female patient presented with a severe 

grade of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid 

arthritis. The patient was cared for in her 

wheelchair. Over the last 30 years, she lost a 

great part of her lower dentition, except the 

third molar. The upper jaw consisted of an 

old bridge and a removable overdenture. 

Fig. 10 Fig. 11 

The project, taking into account the critical 

economic condition of the patient, was to 

extract the root 43 and insert four mini 

implants in the lower jaw, in accordance with 

digital planning based on her cone-beam 

computed tomography (CBCT) scan. 

CONCLUSION 

The Anthogyr Mini Implants System was 

optimised for rehabilitating this patient with 

disability problems in a simple and effective 

way. 

It is an affordable, less invasive, user-friendly 

solution for all patients who are unable 

to receive rehabilitations supported by 

conventional implants, for anatomical or 

economic reasons, or poor general health 

conditions. The main indication is elderly 

and special patients who need to anchor 

their removable prostheses and have 

sufficient residual bone crest to receive a 

minimum implant size of 10mm in length and 

Ø2.6mm in width. 

Anthogyr Mini Implant System offers new 

treatment possibilities for edentulous 

patients as it is much more solid and reliable 

than the old and conventional mini implants 

which have been used so far. The Optiloc 

retentive connection is also very compact 

and performant. 

The surgical protocol for these implants is 

easy and less invasive: in most patients, the 

procedure involves a flapless surgery, with 

short surgical times and with no or very 

little post-operative discomfort. 

With regards to the Optiloc prosthetic 

system, it is worth noting that a good 

impression was made despite not having 

a long follow-up. The Optiloc retentive 

attachment performed much better 

Fig. 12a 

Fig. 12b 

Fig. 14 

Fig. 15 

than conventional ball attachment and it 

required a minimum amount of space in the 

prosthesis when compared to these systems. 

Hence, the Anthogyr Mini Implant System 

has been adopted as a key alternative 

treatment solution within the treatment 

panel for all patients who need to support 

a removable denture and who cannot 

receive “conventional” implants. Overall, this 

system is easy to use, fast, with excellent 

retentive connection, and in many cases 

also convenient, because it allows the 

maintenance of the patient’s prosthesis 

with small and easy adaptations. DA 

Fig. 13 

Fig. 10: Checking of the Optiloc retention 

components and denture adaptation. Red and 

extra-light retention inserts will be placed initially 

Fig. 11: For the preparation of mini implants 

for definitive denture relining and installation, 

mounting collars were placed on each Optiloc 

connection to protect the implant neck from 

any resin or adhesive residue. Matrix housings 

including retention inserts were then placed to 

exert a slight compression between the mounting 

collar and the matrix housing 

Fig. 12a: The base of the existing denture is 

excavated in the areas where the Optiloc matrix 

housings will be located, using a contra-angle 

and a resin bur 

Fig. 12b: A silicone impression is taken to confirm 

that there is sufficient space between the matrix 

housings and the base of the prosthesis 

Fig. 13: Denture prepared with cavities, using a 

Fig. 15 

monomer, for placement on the matrix housings 

Fig. 14: After final positioning and occlusion check, 

the denture, with settled matrix housings, is ready 

for mounting collars removal and finishing 

Fig. 15: Final clinical situation with the removable 

denture successfully stabilised by Optiloc system 

on Anthogyr Mini Implants 


Dr Sergio Salina 

graduated with a degree 

in dentistry in 1995 and 

a specialisation in oral 

surgery with honours in 

2007 at the University 

of Milan; he subsequent 

took an advanced in periodontology 

at the University of Verona. A teacher 

and coordinator of EMDOLA Master at 

University of Parma, he is currently an 

active member of the Italian Academy of 

Osseointegration (IAO). 


USER REPORT 

Simultaneous GBR and GTR in 

the posterior mandible area 

By Dr Cheng-Hsiang Hsu 

EXAMINATION 

A 58-year-old male patient had lost his 

lower-right first molar one month ago. 

It was extracted due to severe mobile 

and discomfort. He was told that a 

second premolar was to be taken to 

restore the posterior dentition with 

dental implants. He came to my clinic for 

a second opinion. 

The probing depths from mesial to distal 

were 3,2,3mm on the buccal surface and 

3,3,5mm on the lingual surface of the 

second premolar. A probing depth of 

7mm at the middle site of the posterior 

surface was also found. No mobility of 

teeth was found at this area although 

the attrition of the buccal cusp of the 

second premolar was found. No other 

symptoms and signs of inflammation 

were noted. 

Fig. 1 

The periapical films show the severe 

destruction of the supporting bone at 

the distal side of the second premolar. 

The intact mesial bony support of this 

tooth was also found (Fig. 1). 

According to the clinical information list, 

the destruction of the alveolar process 

should be associated with the missing 

first molar, and the prognosis of the 

second premolar would be fair. 

SURGICAL PROCEDURES 

The upper-left corner of Fig. 2 shows 

the intact buccal wall and the destructed 

bone of the distal side of the second 

premolar. 

After implant placement, some rough 

surfaces and threads were exposed 

without bony support, as shown in the 

Fig. 2 


USER REPORT 

upper-right corner of Fig. 2. The most 

apical level of the bony destruction was 

about apical third-deep from the second 

premolar. 

From the occlusal view, in the lower left 

corner of Fig. 2, the lingual bony wall was 

not totally damaged, resulting in the twowall 

defect within the bony architecture. 

This was a good environment for the guided 

bone regeneration of the newly placed 

implant and guided tissue regeneration of 

the second premolar. 

Fig. 3 

The buccal and lingual surface of the 

bony support of the Second premolar 

were not damaged, as observed in the 

lower right corner of Fig. 2, but the root 

surface was exposed in the middle of the 

distal side, creating the V-shape of the 

periodontal destruction. 

The defect was filled with 100% Puros ® 

allograft and completely covered with a 

Biomend collagen membrane. The 

membrane was shaped like a saddle for 

complete coverage and fully seated over 

the ridge. Guided bone regeneration and 

guided tissue regeneration were 

performed at the same surgery, the wound 

was closed by 4-0 Vicryl sutures (Fig. 3). 

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 

FINAL RESULTS 

The six-month healing process went 

smoothly and no other symptoms were 

noted. The periapical films showed the 

radio-opaque area between the second 

premolar and the dental implant (Fig. 4). 

After six months, healing the regenerated 

bone filled the defect between the 

second premolar and dental implant. 

No remaining bone particles were seen. 

All rough surface was fully covered by the 

alveolar bone without exposed threads. 

The clinical photos and periapical films 

(Figs. 4-7) showed the differences before 

and after the treatment. The alveolar 

bone was regenerated. The patient 

accepted another implant and the 

regenerated bone was still in good 

condition five years after the treatment. DA 

Fig. 6 Fig. 7 


Dr Hsu received his B.D.S degree from 

the Taipei Medical University (TMU) 

in Taiwan in 2000 and MS degree 

from the National Defense Medical 

College in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2004. He 

currently teaches periodontology and 

implant dentistry in the undergraduate 

and graduate programme at National 

Defense Medical College, and was 

appointed head of dental department 

at E.C.K. Hospital from 2010-2012 

and Taiwan Adventist’s Hospital from 

2014-2017. Dr Hsu was the president of 

Taiwan Academy of Osseointegration 

from 2016-2018 and the president of 

TMU Dental Taipei Alumni Association 

from 2018-2020. He is also the director 

of Taipei dental associates from 2018 

to now. He has had his own private 

practice since 2018 in Taipei, Taiwan. 



Combining digital and conventional 

denture workflows: An immediate 

denture case report 

By Wendy Auclair Clark, DDS, MS; Ibrahim Duqum DDS, MS; with Chris Love, laboratory technician, CDT; at Absolute Dental Lab, Durham NC 

Emerging technologies and 

developing workflows have completely 

changed the way many clinicians 

and dental laboratory technicians 

approach complete dentures in 

the last decade. It is important 

to remember, however, that 

fundamental prosthodontic concepts 

have not changed. One of the most 

exciting things about digital dentures 

is the flexibility of the workflows; once 

you grasp both the conventional and 

digital complete denture concepts, 

your toolbox becomes vast. This 

immediate denture case exemplifies 

the integration of conventional and 

digital complete denture concepts. 

A 75-year-old patient presented with 

a maxillary partial denture. It had 

been repaired many times, and his 

chief concern was replacement due 

to a fractured tooth of the maxillary 

left canine (Fig. 1a-c). After clinical 

evaluation, it was determined that the 

remaining maxillary teeth were not 

sufficient to predictably support a 

removable partial denture long term. 

After discussion, the treatment plan 

was formed: immediate complete 

maxillary denture and mandibular 

immediate acrylic partial denture. 

Both will be replaced with definitive 

prostheses after healing. The patient 

had a deep, V-shaped palate – a 

possible challenge to process and 

maintain even thickness and patient 

comfort. A digital denture was 

selected for the final product to 

increase the predictability of the fit of 

the base. 

While we often begin our removable 

cases with an intraoral scan, capturing 

the anatomy in the mandibular space, 

with its long span distal extensions, 

tends to present a clinical challenge. 

As such, we began this case with 

conventional impressions and utilised 

a record base and contoured occlusal 

rim to establish ideal tooth position, 

soft tissue support, the vertical 

dimension of occlusion and centric 

relation (Fig. 2). 

The case was then digitised by our 

laboratory partner, Chris Love, CDT. 

Using the wax rim in the occlusion 

scan allows the transfer of clinical data 

for tooth position. A proposed tooth 

arrangement was completed using 

3Shape Dental System with Full 

Denture Design Module. 

Digital communication allowed the 

clinician to view the setup before 

the monolithic try-in was printed 

on the Carbon printer with Lucitone 

Digital Try-In 3D Trial Placement 

Resin, shade A2. A window was open 

with an e-cutter in the areas where 

teeth remained (Fig. 4a). This allowed 

the patient and clinician to approve 

aesthetics, speech, occlusion, and 

border extension before finalising 

(Fig. 4b). 

Fig. 1a 

Fig. 1b 

Fig. 1c 

Fig. 1d 

Fig. 1a: Pre-treatment presentation panoramic radiograph 

Fig. 1b: High smile with existing prostheses 

Fig. 1c: Image without prostheses 

Fig. 2: A conventional record base and the occlusal wax rim was utilised 

to record vertical dimension of occlusion, centric relation, incisal edge 

and midline position. 



prosthesis to allow for prosthetically guided 

treatment. 

Of all the digital denture workflows we have 

integrated into our practice, the immediate 

denture workflow is one of our favourites. 

The fit, aesthetics, and patient acceptance 

of immediate dentures are unpredictable at 

Fig. 4a 

the time of extraction and placement. The 

preservation and overlay of pre-extraction 

records and the enhanced communication 

between the clinician and dental laboratory 

technician have drastically improved our 

experience and allowed us to provide higher 

quality, more patient-centred care. DA 

Fig. 3 

Fig. 4b 


Dr Wendy AuClair Clark is 

full-time prosthodontic faculty 

at the University of North 

Carolina Chapel Hill. She 

earned her doctoral degree 

from the Marquette University 

in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a Master’s 

degree and certificate in prosthodontics from 

the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She 

Fig. 6a 

Fig. 5 

Fig. 6b 

is currently pursuing certification from the 

American Board of Prosthodontics. Dr Clark 

practised prosthodontics for seven years with 

Team Atlanta (Goldstein, Garber & Salama). 

She lectures nationally on a variety of topics, 

has co-authored several articles in numerous 

peer-reviewed journals, and was named a 

Leader in Continuing Education by Dentistry 

Today in 2017. 

Fig. 3: Proposed design, overlaid with existing dentition 

Fig. 4a: Monolithic printed try-in, with windows open to allow clinical try-in 

Fig. 4b: Clinical monolithic try-in 

Fig. 5: Immediate denture design – note extension of deep, V-shaped palate 

Fig. 6a, b: Immediate prostheses, one-week post-insertion 

Requested changes were communicated 

with digital photographs to the technician 

and incorporated in the final design (Fig. 5). 

The denture base was printed on the 

Carbon printer with Lucitone Digital Print 

3D Denture Base with fused IPN 3D Digital 

Denture Teeth. The immediate prostheses 

were inserted at the time of extractions, 

with no necessary reline (Fig. 6). 

Since the patient is pleased with the 

aesthetics and function, a reline impression 

will be made inside the denture six to nine 

months post-extraction to fabricate a 

conventional denture. Moreover, the patient 

is now considering a maxillary implant 

overdenture; the current denture design 

can be used for implant planning, guided 

surgery and fabrication of a new definitive 

Dr Ibrahim Duqum is 

a clinical associate 

professor at the University 

of North Carolina’s Adams 

School of Dentistry. He is a 

Fellow of the International 

College of Dentists and a 

member of numerous dental organisations. 

A recipient of the 2014 Richard Hunt 

Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence 

and the 2015 UNC-Chapel Hill nominee for 

the OKU Charles Craig National Award for 

the best innovative dental educator, Duqum 

serves as an editorial board member and 

reviewer for multiple dental journals. 



exocad: comprehensive implant 

libraries in exoplan 3.0 Galway 

In the exoplan 3.0 Galway* implant libraries, users can now find 

more than 10,000 implants from approximately 100 manufacturers. 

Moreover, the comprehensive libraries contain more validated 

information that enables exoplan users to benefit from a seamless 

digital workflow. Akira Schüttler, system integration manager at 

exocad, explains the details. 

How comprehensive is the implant 

library for exoplan? 

Akira Schüttler: With exoplan, we 

currently support approximately 

600 implant systems with 

over 10,000 implants from 

approximately 100 implant 

manufacturers worldwide** (Fig. 

1). This means that exocad offers 

a leading selection of implant 

systems that are available for 

implant planning all around the 

world, where an implant system 

can be incorporated regardless of 

the treatment planning location, 

even when the system is not sold 

locally. Therefore, implantology 

teams comprised of dentists, dental 

technicians and surgeons can work 

together on a case regardless of 

their physical location – even if 

they are in different countries or 

continents. 

What information is available to 

exoplan users about the implants? 

Schüttler: Our goal is to include 

all information from the official 

manufacturer documentation 

in the libraries where possible. 

Numerous parameters are 

Fig. 1 

stored for every implant, ranging 

from the manufacturer’s article 

number, through the interface and 

platform type, all the way up to the 

manufacturer-dependent features of 

each specific implant. If an implant 

system is available with two different 

surfaces, for example, both implant 

types are listed. We validate this 

information to offer exoplan users 

a seamless workflow with all the 

freedom of an open system. 

For Guide Creator, the software 

module for designing surgical 

guides, there are three further 


ChairsideCAD 

Single-visit restoration design 


Painting brings me peace 

of mind. So does designing 

in-house crowns in just a few 

clicks with ChairsideCAD. 

Dr. Fariba Zolfaghari 

Dentist and landscape painter 

PASSION 

IS WHAT DRIVES US 

Imagine the CADABILITIES 

ChairsideCAD lets me give my 

patients their beautiful smiles 

back in a single visit. The open 

software integrates with my 

in-office hardware seamlessly. 

exocad.com/chairsidecad 



Fig. 2 

comprehensive library types 

for drill kits, sleeves and 

anchor pins. Here the goal 

is also to support as many 

different options as possible. 

The workflows specified by the 

implant manufacturers, from 

guided pilot drilling to the fully 

guided insertion of implants, 

are available for different bone 

densities (Fig. 2). Innovative, 

manufacturer-specific solutions, 

such as multi-guide workflows, 

are also included. In Guide 

Creator, users can select the drill 

protocol and the type of guided 

surgery even when designing the 

surgical guide, while taking the 

bone density into account. 

How are users guided through 

these complex libraries? 

Schüttler: The wizard workflow 

guides users through the 

selection process step by step. 

The software automatically 

suggests the drills, sleeves, drill 

protocols and other components 

to match the chosen implant, 

facilitating the selection process. 

How are the prosthetic 

components integrated? 

Schüttler: Users can select and 

place the matching prosthetic 

components directly in the exoplan 

software, and then send the 

saved situation to the laboratory. 

Comprehensive prosthetics 

libraries, including libraries from 

compatible third-party providers, 

are available in the download 

portal “Implant libraries for CAD” 

on the exocad website. To enable 

the software to automatically 

display the matching components 

in each case, exocad validates 

prosthetic components in relation 

to the implant interface. The 

result is a seamless transition 

from exoplan to the DentalCAD 

software. Users can then continue 

with the design of the prosthetics 

directly in DentalCAD. DA 

* exoplan 3.0 Galway is available in 

the EU and other selected markets 

** numbers are subject to change 

on a daily basis 


As the system 

integration manager 

at exocad, Akira 

Schüttler has 

overseen technical 

system integration 

at exocad since 

2015. In this role, he focuses on the 

integration of hardware components 

from exocad’s technological partners in 

the areas of dental materials, prosthetic 

components, implants, implantological 

instruments, tooth models, 3D printers, 

scanners and milling machines. His team 

is the link between the technological 

partners, who supply the hardware, 

production systems and components, 

and other exocad departments. 


IN DEPTH WITH 

Achieve gentle and effective treatment 

of periodontitis and periimplantitis 

with the Vector system 

General ailments of the parodontium 

and in particular therapeutic 

indications of periimplantitis present 

modern dentistry with challenging 

tasks. The number of patients with 

implant-supported dentures is on 

the increase. Prolonged times in 

situ and older patients also make for 

more problems, which are often not 

discovered until the clinical five-year 

mark has been passed. According to 

experts, almost one in two implants 

is at risk of periimplantitis in the long 

term. 

The Vector system from DÜRR 

DENTAL is an effective and very 

low-aerosol treatment method, 

making it suited for systematic 

periodontitis and periimplantitis 

treatments that are customised to 

meet the needs of individual patients. 

The primary objective of systematic 

periodontitis and periimplantitis 

treatments is to prevent infections 

caused by bacteria and their 

associated attachment loss. 

First-line treatment thus includes 

a thorough removal of subgingival 

and supragingival plaque. The gentle 

piezo-electric Vector ultrasound 

system has proven its worth in this 

context in practice. 

In particular, the metal surfaces of the 

implants must not be damaged during 

plaque removal. Rough surfaces could 

facilitate renewed accretion of plaque 

and lead to further periimplantitis 

infection. A minimally invasive 

procedure is essential. 

By redirecting vibration, the Vector 

Paro handpiece delivers an oscillating, 

vertical motion along the tooth 

centre line and thus does not strike 

the implant. Non-metal instrument 

attachments made of fibre composites 

are also gentle on the implant surface. 

The probe-shaped, delicate and semiflexible 

instrument attachments are 

suitable for administering thorough 

treatments without irritating the 

mucosa. The Vector Fluid Polish 

hydroxylapatite suspension aids 

effective and gentle plaque removal 

from all subgingival and supragingival 

implant surfaces. Compared to 

conventional treatment methods, the 

Vector system delivers almost painless 

treatment so that local anaesthetics 

usually need not be applied. 

Another diagnostic assessment after 

the initial non-surgical treatment period 

provides the basis for planning further 

treatment. Once the infection has 

subsided, a supporting periimplantitis 

treatment is indicated for the removal 

of potentially pathogenic plaques. 

Depending on clinical requirements, 

recall intervals will be harmonised 

with the risk profile and the individual 

requirements of the patient. 

According to many dentists, timely 

and needs-based application of 

periimplantitis treatment with the 

Vector system has contributed to the 

long-term success rate of 

implant-borne restorations. DA 


IN DEPTH WITH 

Digital solutions lead the way 

into the dental practice 

Amann Girrbach’s Ceramill Direct Restoration Solution (DRS) displays 

interdisciplinary, future-oriented collaboration and speedy production. 

With its new Ceramill Direct Restoration 

Solution (DRS), Amann Girrbach has extended 

its integrated digital workflow to the 

dentist, closing the existing communication 

gap between the dental practice and the 

laboratory. In this process, both partners 

contribute their core competencies 

to provide patients with definitive and 

functional dentures even more quickly with 

less complications; smaller units are also 

possible on the same day, depending on the 

local distance between the two partners. 

Depending on the type of collaboration 

desired, three-team workflows are available 

in combination with the corresponding 

Ceramill DRS Kits. The central basis of 

these workflows is the new AG.Live digital 

platform, which offers both an infrastructure 

and patient case management consistently 

and efficiently. It enhances both the flow of 

information and work between the practice 

and the laboratory. 

MORE EFFICIENT PROCESSES AND 

GREATER CUSTOMER PROXIMITY 

With AG.Live, Amann Girrbach has a webbased 

portal for collaboration between 

laboratories and dentists that offers digital 

services at all levels. For example, AG.Live 

can be used as a central tool for digital case 

management, networking, infrastructure 

and material management, support and 

knowledge database will gradually replace the 

previous C3 customer portal. 

The platform connects machines and 

materials in the laboratory, simplifying 

processes and increasing quality and 

reproducibility. It also connects the growing 

global network of digitally operating 

dental professionals. This bridges the 

interdisciplinary gap between dentists and 

dental technicians and facilitates futureoriented 

cooperation. 

EXTENDING THE DIGITAL CERAMILL 

CAD/CAM WORKFLOW TO THE DENTIST 

The Ceramill DRS Connection Kit acts as the 

basic and entry-level variant where dentists 

and laboratories can take full advantage 

of its digitised process. It consists of the 

intraoral scanner, the Ceramill Map DRS, the 

associated scan software and the connection 

to AG.Live. Any order data including all 

the required information can therefore be 

shared seamlessly and in real-time with 

the laboratory, minimising the need for 

handwritten job sheets and conventional 

impressions. All that is needed is a single 

physical transport: getting the restoration 

to the practice for insertion in the patient’s 

mouth, even on the same day in case of simple 

restorations. Altogether, the patient has a 

better dental experience, improving pracitce 

and laboratory operations. 

If the preferred material is zirconia, the 

High-Speed Zirconia Kit, consisting of the 

Zolid DRS high-speed sintering zirconia, 

and a corresponding Ceramill Therm DRS 

sintering furnace can support the laboratory 

here in fabricating straightforward zirconia 

restorations on the same day. 

To provide patients with dentures even more 

quickly in a further step, the system can be 

expanded in the dental practice with the 

Ceramill DRS Production Kit at a later stage. 

Simple restorations can thus be fabricated 

in the practice and placed in the patient’s 

mouth in a single session. DA 

Fig 1 

Fig 2 

Fig 3 

Fig. 1: Ceramill DRS 

Fig. 2: Amann Girrbach introduces the new DRS 

product series and the AG.Live digital platform 

Fig. 3: The Ceramill DRS joins dental technicians and 

practitioners together in an interdisciplinary and 

future-oriented team, enabling easy entry into 

same-day denture fabrication 


IN DEPTH WITH 

Rolence Dental introduces latest digital 

image system and dental equipment 

The newest product launches from Rolence Dental enable practices to carry out 

stable and efficient x-ray imaging, curing and scaling. 

PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM 

Compact and lightweight, the Portable X-Ray 

XR-01 is designed with a hand strap allowing 

dentists to easily operate the unit on one 

hand. The user may use hands for holding 

the x-ray, or the other holder for positioning 

to control the position. The ergonomic design 

reduces risk and protects the user to stay 

with the patient during the x-ray procedure. 

XR-01 is ensured with safety standards owing 

to its minimum exposure time with low 

radiation environment and high efficiency 

for shot radiography that yields high-quality 

images. Display image is compatible with 

photostimulable phosphor (PSP), sensor 

and film, leading to the convenience of 

operations. Furthermore, the unit is equipped 

with a 2,900mAh rechargeable lithium 

battery, enabling easy shooting at the user’s 

convenience. 

LAB CURING BOX SERIES 

The LQ-Box from Rolence is a lab light curing 

unit intended for polymerization of dental 

resin-based composite, applied in the field of 

light-cured impression tray, crown and bridge 

glazing or coating, denture cosmetic finishing, 

dental artificial gingival customizing, and more. 

The unit provides a wide wavelength 

from 370-480nm, and is also available 

for any component in dentistry or 3D 

printing requirements. It also features a 

digital display control panel to provide 

user-friendly operation and the rotating turn 

table ensures uniform polymerisation results. 

ULTRASONIC MAGNETO SCALERS 

Dual-frequency scaling system that is 

compatible with both 25Khz and 30Khz 

inserts and features automatic upscaling. 

To achieve higher clinic infection control 

and avoid crossing infection, an ultrasonic 

scaling system that can handle all kinds of 

periodontal disease, root canal cleaning 

irrigation and implant cleaning, should be 

chosen. DA 

DENTAL ASIA JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 63

IN DEPTH WITH 

The two sides of the W&H Lina steriliser 

Usability on the outside, technology on the inside. When combined, it presents 

a comprehensive package for reprocessing dental instruments by using a B type 

steriliser, which is what the Lina sterilisers have to offer. 

Steam sterilisation plays a significant role 

in the reprocessing of dental instruments to 

prevent the transmission of infections. With 

the W&H Lina steriliser, the user interface and 

menu structure are simplified to streamline 

daily routine in practice. Upgrades to 

sterilisation cycles and functions are available 

to ensure optimal results and an efficient 

practice workflow. Lina also features an 

ergonomic and functional design. 

IMPROVED USABILITY 

Integrated with a funnel to enhance filling 

operations, Lina is equipped with a removable 

cover so that water tanks can be accessed 

without tools. The steriliser also features a 

3.5-inch touchscreen display for the user to 

navigate the appropriate sterilisation cycle 

and reprocesses loads of up to 6kg. For 

instance, the ECO B sterilisation programme 

reprocesses loads up to 0.5kg in 25 minutes. 

Furthermore, the B Universal 121 o C cycle 

even enables the reprocessing of sensitive 

items, including porous ones such as surgical 

clothing. 

Usability on the outside: The improved handling, 

alongside ergonomic and functional design, 

ensure an efficient practice workflow 

Sterilisation performance: B type steriliser with 

the best cycle times in its category 

The technology inside the Lina is a technical 

concept that offers future-oriented possibilities 

Ease of use: The 3.5-inch touchscreen display 

ensures a smooth user experience 

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 

The Lina steriliser is based on a technical 

concept with future-oriented possibilities 

such as upgradeability, advanced connectivity 

and enhanced traceability. Cycle information 

is saved automatically on a USB stick, barcode 

label printer and cycle report printer provide 

additional documentation opportunities. 

The ioDent system offers advanced dental 

solutions with service and support, and the 

W&H Steri app allows control and remote 

monitoring of the steriliser. Moreover, an 

additional layer of security is ensured as 

the cycle history backup is saved onto the 

smartphone. 

Connectivity: ioDent system offers dental solutions 

with service and support. W&H Steri App allows 

controlling and remote monitoring of the steriliser 

UPGRADEABILITY 

Activation Codes offer opportunities to enhance 

additional features that meet practice needs 

and comply with future requirements. The 

“S naked” cycle feature ensures maximum 

speed for reprocessing unwrapped instruments, 

including handpieces. “Remote data storage” 

logs the cycle history directly on the PC. With 

Enhance additional features that meet practice 

needs and comply with future requirements 

“Traceability”, the user can be identified, or the 

load released directly via a PIN. The “All in One” 

function combines all three codes at once. 

In all, the Lina steriliser can be upgraded in just 

six steps, and is designed for a future-oriented 

sterilisation process and thus ensure an 

efficient workflow in the practice. DA 


IN DEPTH WITH 

BUSCH develops enhanced 

systems and tools 

Polishing system for zirconia 

1SXM carbide bur from BUSCH 

DIAMOND INTERSPERSED 

POLISHERS FOR ZIRCONIA IN 

DENTAL TECHNOLOGY 

The disadvantage of zirconia is 

that it is difficult to process. For 

polishing after final corrections, 

it is necessary to use suitable 

diamond interspersed polishers to 

achieve satisfactory consolidation 

of the zirconia surface that can 

replace additional glaze firing. 

BUSCH, a manufacturer of dental 

tools including burs, cutters, and 

polishers, among others, has a 

two-stage polishing system 

tailored specifically for zirconia 

for polishing in the dental lab. 

Five different shapes are available 

to users depending on the 

requirements. 

The desired high shine polish can be 

achieved in two steps: the 

turquoise-yellow polishers are for 

pre-polish and the pink-yellow 

polishers are for high-shine polish. 

The final polish is equivalent to glaze 

firing, making an additional, timeconsuming 

firing process unnecessary. 

Minor corrections when inserting 

the restoration in the patient can 

thus be made quickly under optimal 

conditions in the practice lab in the 

same session. 

A CLEAR VIEW OF EVERYTHING 

Preserving as much healthy tooth 

substance as possible when repairing 

minor carious defects is one of 

the most important objectives in 

modern dental care. As such, BUSCH 

developed the 1SXM carbide bur 

that allows a gentle mode of operation 

without causing discomfort to the 

patient. 

The bur features a cutting geometry 

that allows the user to work in the 

cavity with low vibrations. Also, its 

slender neck permits a clearer view of 

the work area. 

In this way, carious can be removed 

specifically without damaging the tooth 

substance, while minimising the cavity 

opening and at the same time allowing a 

clear view of the excavation. 

In addition to the clear view, the slim 

neck enables a rapid outflow of chips. 

Besides the standard RA version, an 

RA-long version is also available to 

provide clear access to deeper areas. DA 


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS 

Amann Girrbach 

Amann Girrbach’s new milling unit to improve the digitisation of dentures 

Amann Girrbach has released the 

new Ceramill Motion 3, an intelligent 

hybrid machine designed to make 

fabricating dentures more convenient 

and digital. At the same time, users can 

benefit from a variety of materials and 

indications as well as the company’s 

high fabrication quality. 

The Ceramill Motion 3 is designed for 

wet and dry operation. The five-axis 

milling machine operates autonomously 

and can therefore manufacture 

unsupervised during night-time or 

on weekends when connected to the 

AG-Live platform. Users can access the 

intelligent hybrid machine remotely 

to receive orders safely and quickly, 

as well as monitor everything related 

to production and customer service. 

Additionally, the integrated analysis 

functions allow workflows in the 

laboratory to be analysed and optimised 

on an ongoing basis. 

Guided computer-aided design (CAD)/ 

computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) 

production and maintenance, an 

intuitive human machine interface 

(HMI), as well as integrated radio 

frequency identification (RFID) tools 

and holders ensure process reliability 

and facilitate the handling of tools and 

consumables. Innovative sculpturing 

technologies, such as C-Clamp, allow 

fissures to be milled into the front 

surface of the restoration with the 

Ceramill Motion 3. 

“The machine thus meets the needs 

of both the dental technician as well 

as the laboratory manager and marks 

a milestone in the digitisation of 

dentures,” said Nikolaus Johannson, 

head of the global business unit lab 

CAD/CAM at Amann Girrbach. ■ 

Oral-B 

Oral-B introduces new AI-integrated electronic toothbrush 

Oral-B has announced its latest 

technological innovation, the Oral-B 

iO10 with iOSense, an artificial 

intelligence (AI)-integrated device at the 

Mobile World Congress Barcelona. 

The new iO10 is accompanied by a smart 

device called iOSense, which offers realtime 

guidance with the aid of AI and a 

personalised brushing experience that 

ensures healthier gums and teeth. 

In the press release by Oral-B, the new 

iOSense will guide users in when, where 

and how to brush their teeth. It also 

comes with a magnetic charger that 

charges the brush in about three hours. 

For users on-the-go, it comes with the 

Power2Go charging travel case. 

The Oral-B iO provides a deeper 

clean of teeth and gums, allowing 

users to maintain oral health easily 

and effectively. Compared to manual 

toothbrushes, the Oral-B iO helps users 

to get six times more plaque removal 

along the gumline, and healthier gums and 

whiter teeth in one week. 

Benjamin Binot, senior vice-president 

of P&G Europe Oral Care, said: “The 

innovation represents a new era of 

brushing that is more than just an electric 

toothbrush – it’s a fusion of groundbreaking 

technology, desirable design and 

amazing performance. iO10 with iOSense 

is our latest commitment to building 

a digital health ecosystem that leads 

with advanced technologies, accessible 

solutions and more effective educational 

tools to improve oral care and health for 

all.” 

Maike Siemons, Europe R&D Oral Care 

leader, also commented: “Our clinical 

tests show that Oral-B iO delivers a 

deeper clean of teeth and gums 

versus a manual toothbrush, 

but now with iOSense, the 

personalised brushing experience 

will revolutionise our entire 

relationship with our oral 

health.” 

According to Oral-B, in a sixmonth 

clinical study, 96% 

of patients using Oral-B iO 

moved from non-healthy to 

healthy gums, users have 14.5 

times higher odds of moving 

from non-healthy gums to 

healthy gums compared to a 

regular manual toothbrush, 

and Oral-B iO removes 62% 

more plaque than Sonicare 

DiamondClean SMART 

along the gumline and 

26% more plaque in hardto-reach 

areas. ■ 

The new Oral-B iO10 

with iOSense 



Align Technology 

Align Technology announces Invisalign system innovations for Align Dental Platform 

Align Technology’s Align Dental Platform 

will receive Invisalign system upgrades 

and innovations. The Align Dental 

Platform combines software, systems 

and services designed to improve dental 

experience and workflow. 

The new innovations include Invisalign 

Practice App, Invisalign Personalised Plan 

(IPP), Invisalign Smile Architect, and 

ClinCheck Live Update for 3D controls. 

Particulary, the ClinCheck Live Update 

is a new feature in ClinCheck Pro that 

enables doctors to generate modified 

Invisalign patient treatment plans. 

With this feature, doctors can use 3D 

controls to make changes to a ClinCheck 

plan and see these changes in a revised 

treatment plan in about two minutes. 

This eliminates “weeks of back-and-forth 

interactions” between doctors and Align 

computer-aided design (CAD) designers, 

and also communicates the doctor’s 

clinical intent more accurately. 

The Invisalign Practice App is a new mobile 

companion to the Invisalign Doctor Site that 

streamlines practice workflow by putting 

many of the Invisalign treatment features 

that doctors use daily, such as photo capture, 

Invisalign Virtual Care, Invisalign Virtual 

Appointment and Invisalign SmileView 

simulation into one app. 

IPP is a new technology feature in ClinCheck 

Pro software designed to streamline the 

treatment planning process and help doctors 

achieve their desired treatment plans more 

consistently and efficiently. It combines 

automated and near real-time ClinCheck 

treatment planning software with the creation 

and management of doctor-specific treatment 

preferences, such as doctor’s prescription 

choices, clinical preferences, among others. 

Invisalign Smile Architect delivers orthorestorative 

treatment planning with a 

facially-driven treatment planning approach. 

It combines iTero intraoral scans, facial 

photos, and ClinCheck software to help 

doctors create treatment plans that integrate 

orthodontics and restorative treatments for 

their patients. With the ClinCheck In-Face 

Visualisation tool, doctors receive a facial 

rendering that they can use for treatment 

planning and help patients visualise their smile 

after both Invisalign treatment and restorative 

dental treatment. 

Each of these innovations is designed to 

enhance Invisalign treatment planning 

quality, efficiency, and scale, and contribute 

to a better doctor-patient engagement and 

treatment outcomes. ■ 

VOCO 

VOCO Profluorid Varnish – now in pina colada flavour 

VOCO Profluorid Varnish (VPV), dental 

desensitising varnish with fluoride, is 

now available in pina colada flavour. 

The pineapple-coconut flavouring has 

augmented the existing portfolio to 

seven flavours: melon, mint, cherry, 

caramel, bubble gum, cola lime and pina 

colada. The varnish dries in seconds – at 

the same time it feels natural and has 

a pleasant taste so that it can be left 

on the teeth for continuous fluoride 

release. 

VPV is ideally suited for the treatment of 

hypersensitive teeth as well as sensitive 

root surfaces. Treatment with VPV is 

also a sensible precaution following 

professional cleaning and polishing, in 

order to replenish any depleted calcium 

fluoride depots. The fluoride content 

is 22,600ppm fluoride (≙5% sodium 

fluoride). A good cariostatic effect can 

be ascribed to the xylitol that is also 

included. 

In addition, the transparent white 

varnish convinces with its high level 

of moisture tolerance and excellent 

adhesion to dental hard tissue. Thus, 

VPV promotes a confident, fresh smile — 

even directly after application. 

HYGIENIC SINGLEDOSE 

Like all the other members of the VPV 

family, VPV pina colada is available in the 

hygienic SingleDose and the 10ml tube. 

The SingleDose is designed for 

a single use only — each patient 

receives their very own product. This 

is an easy way to avoid the risk of 

cross-contamination 

as well as other 

potential for 

contamination. 

Furthermore, the 

material can be 

applied quickly and 

easily from the 

handy packaging 

— ideally by using 

the enclosed 

brush. ■ 



Glidewell 

Glidewell offering new BruxZir Aesthetic Zirconia Milling Blanks 

Glidewell has launched the BruxZir Aesthetic 

Zirconia Milling Blanks, a new BruxZir family 

product. 

Produced in California by Prismatik 

Dentalcraft, a subsidiary of Glidewell, the 

aesthetic zirconia formulation is designed 

for dental technicians seeking a restorative 

solution that delivers beautiful results for 

any clinical situation. It will be introduced to 

dental laboratories in the US during LMT Lab 

Day Chicago. 

Over a decade ago, Glidewell unveiled 

BruxZir Zirconia, a monolithic ceramic 

material formulated to deliver hammerresistant 

strength and gentle opposing wear. 

The high demand and continued research 

and development led Glidewell to create the 

BruxZir Aesthetic formulation, which offers 

greater translucency to address anterior 

indications. 

Engineered specifically for the anterior, the 

new milling blanks offer an ideal combination 

of strength and translucency required to 

satisfy a range of clinical indications, from 

single-unit crowns to veneers, bridges, 

screw-retained restorations and even fullarch 

implant prostheses. 

"The introduction of BruxZir Zirconia spurred 

a change in dentistry that is still reverberating 

more than a decade later," said Jim Glidewell, 

founder and president of Glidewell. "Today, 

we think BruxZir Aesthetic is the best dental 

restorative material ever produced. With 

BruxZir Aesthetic, we're building the digital 

laboratory of the future." 

With an average flexural strength of 980MPa, 

BruxZir Aesthetic Milling Blanks meet the 

Class 5 requirement for dental ceramics. 

According to Glidewell, blanks are available 

in multiple thicknesses: 14, 16, 20 and 25mm. 

They can also be purchased in preshaded 

formulations equivalent to the 

16 shades from the VITA shade system, 

complemented by Glidewell's bleach 

shades. ■ 

The new BruxZir exhibits high translucency 

while meeting ISO strength requirement for 

dental restorations 

Myerson 

Myerson announces successful validation of Trusana Premium 3D Printing Resin 

on Asiga Printers 

Myerson, a manufacturer of digital dental 

materials, announced that it has successfully 

completed its validation of its Trusana 

Premium 3D Printing Resin to print premium 

denture teeth using Asiga 3D Printers. 

Jim Swartout, president and CEO of 

Myerson, expressed the company’s 

enthusiasm at partnering with 

Asiga, who specialises in digital 

manufacturing: “Our material 

science team has been super 

impressed with the intelligent 

design of the Asiga printers. 

The accuracy of the Asiga 

printers is critical in ensuring 

Trusana’s ideal physical and 

optical properties.” 

Trusana Premium 3D Printing Resin by 

Myerson (Image: Myerson, via Zahn Dental) 

Myerson’s Trusana 3D printing resin 

recently won RadTech/UVA’s “Emerging 

Technology” award for additive 

manufacturing. Trusana’s chemistry 

delivers an aesthetic unfilled polymer 

with high strength, fracture toughness 

and wear resistance, beyond that of 

conventional filled 3D dental polymers. 

Trusana also mirrors the beauty and 

translucency of a natural smile. 

Stephanie Benight, Myerson’s director of 

3D Printing Projects, said, “As a scientist, 

I have spent my career characterising 

the properties of polymers, including 

photopolymers. Creating a 3D printing 

material that not only has toughness, but 

maintains that toughness in the presence 

of water, has been difficult to achieve, but 

Myerson’s Trusana does it. Materials that 

harness new chemistries are the future 

of photopolymer 3D printing, and 

Trusana represents the cutting-edge.” 

Zahn Dental, the US dental laboratory 

business of Henry Schein, is the 

exclusive distributor of Trusana. 

“Zahn’s dental laboratory customers 

rely on us to serve as their total 

solutions partner,” said Rita 

Acquafredda, president, Global 

Laboratory Business, Zahn Lab 

Group. “By offering Trusana — a 

game-changing material that can 

help advance the digitalisation of 

dentures — we can continue to deliver 

on our commitment of helping dental 

laboratories stay on the forefront of 

digital dentistry.” ■ 


ad_ct_dental_asia_95x250_en_211214.indd 1 14.12.21 15:35 


Zimmer Biomet 

Zimmer Biomet Dental launches new 

overdenture attachment system for 

Zimmer Biomet Dental Implants 

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, a global medical technology 

provider, has announced the North American and 

European launch of OverdenSURE, a new overdenture 

attachment system for Zimmer Biomet dental 

implants. 

The OverdenSURE product portfolio comprises 

abutments, restorative components and tooling, 

providing customers with everything needed to 

upgrade denture-wearing patients to implantretained 

overdentures. This new product line features 

a zirconium nitride abutment coating for aesthetics 

and function, and a wider range of abutment sizes 

for increased restorative flexibility — all wrapped in a 

classic system design that is intuitive to the user. 

→ DISCOVER PERFECTION 

IN PROPHYLAXIS - 

THE NEW COMBI touch 

→ ultra-gentle prophylaxis 

→ ergonomic handling 

→ made in Italy 

→ 40 years experience 

With an estimated 10% of the world’s population 

being partially edentulous or edentulous, softtissue-supported 

dentures continue to be a source 

of chronic residual ridge resorption, phonetic 

challenges, a loose or poor fit, decreased masticatory 

function, or facial collapse in spite of advances in 

denture prosthodontics. 

Together with Zimmer Biomet’s dental implant 

solutions, OverdenSURE abutments are an option 

for overdenture restorations, providing increased 

prosthetic stability and retention for patients wearing 

conventional dentures. 

“We’re excited to introduce our newest line of 

product solutions to clinicians and patients as part 

of our already broad dental portfolio,” said Indraneel 

Kanaglekar, president, Zimmer Biomet Dental. “This 

offering will allow us to better serve our patients’ 

needs, providing them with a comprehensive and 

affordable product line that allows them to upgrade 

their traditional dentures to implant-retained 

overdentures — significantly improving their quality 

of life.” ■ 

→ www.mectron.com 



Bien-Air 

Bien-Air Dental’s Nova electric handpiece made its debut at Chicago Dental Society 

Midwinter Meeting 

A new contra-angle engineered for practical 

innovation and optimal ergonomics has made 

its debut for Bien Air Dental at the 2022 

Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting in 

February. 

The Nova electric handpiece is designed 

to overcome the challenges of a traditional 

handpiece, offering more vision and 

improved accessibility. 

Some of the highlights of the new product 

include: a small and slim handle that 

enhances the dentist’s field of vision and 

ensure easier access in the back of the 

mouth; a stainless-steel construction and 

lightweight design for optimal ergonomics 

and reducing wrist fatigue, as well as to 

reduce wear on the handpiece and make 

it “4 times” more resistant to shocks, 

according to Bien-Air; reduced risks of cross 

contamination with the non-return valve and 

the Sealed Head protection; among others. 

“At Bien-Air, we approach our design and 

engineering problems from a holistic 

perspective to balance each point of strength 

— we don’t want to reduce the weight if it 

means we increase noise, or we don’t want 

to reduce the head size if it means you 

cannot use a standard-length bur,” said Edgar 

Schönbächler, CEO of Bien-Air. 

“The Nova is our greatest achievement in 

making a handpiece that is smaller, quieter, 

and will last longer than any previous version. 

We were able to substantially reduce the 

size of the areas that come in contact with 

the fingertips of the user, without increasing 

vibration or reducing power. This makes the 

Nova a truly versatile tool — the ‘Swiss army 

knife’ of dental handpieces.” ■ 

Nova by Bien-Air 

vhf 

Proto3000 to expand dental milling portfolio with vhf 

equipment 

vhf, a developer and manufacturer of dental 

milling machines, tools and computer-aided 

manufacturing (CAM) software, has 

announced a new partnership with 

Proto3000, a specialist in digital dental 

workflow products and services. 

Proto3000 will rely on vhf to enable labs 

to rapidly turn digital scans into dental 

restorations with high precision and 

efficiency. 

“As a one-stop shop for dental labs, 

Proto3000 offers a full suite of digital dental 

workflow products that allow labs to 

transform scans into dental restorations and 

virtual models for milling and 3D printing,” 

said Mohamed Soliman, CEO of vhf. “Our 

machines complement this portfolio very 

well and we look forward to working together 

to support customers on their journey and 

provide real value.” 

“We are very excited to add the vhf Z4, N4+, 

R5 and S5 to our product range,” said Eyal 

Geiger, president and co-founder of Proto3000. 

“These beautifully designed high-performance 

systems enable dental technicians to take their 

processes to the next level. With just a few 

clicks of the mouse, they can deliver perfectly 

fitting restorations to their dentists and 

patients that will serve them reliably for many 

years to come.” 

The vhf Z4 is an Ultra HD milling and grinding 

machine designed for same-day dentistry 

applications, whereas the N4+ is a wet milling 

and grinding machine which is ideal for 

The N4+ by vhf, a wet milling and 

grinding machine ideal for laboratories 

laboratories. The R5 is the next big step towards 

automation for labs or clinics; with a 10-fold 

blank changer and DIRECTCLEAN Technology 

for wet and dry machining it is capable of 

handling even tough material with high 

precision. Finally, the S5 is a five-axis machine 

with material compatibility for high throughput 

applications in dental labs. All milling and 

grinding machines from vhf are supplied with 

a suite of CAM software and tools. ■ 





SCANLAB 

SCANLAB integrates polygon scanner business from Belgium 

TecInvest Holding, the parent company of 

SCANLAB and Next Scan Technology (NST), 

has realigned its organisation in the polygon 

scanner segment. NST will be integrated 

into the Puchheim-based scan system 

experts at the beginning of 2022. SCANLAB’s 

sales team will handle product marketing 

and customer service. Operating under the 

name SCANLAB BV, the team of developers 

in Belgium will now be able to focus on 

further evolution of the polygon scanners. 

Polygon scan systems are known for their 

high scan speeds, and are particularly well 

suited to line-by-line, flat laser processing 

of diverse materials. By using polygon 

scanners, industrial productivity can be 

sped up in applications such as microstructuring 

of touchscreens and solar cells, 

or processing of electronic components. 

The polygon scanner segment is a futureoriented 

field which, due to its technological 

complexity, places high demands on sales 

and development. In order to bundle 

resources and better meet individual 

customer needs in the future, TecInvest 

Holding has chosen to consolidate its 

capabilities in this segment. The former 

NST polygon competence centre will be 

integrated into the SCANLAB Group. 

Operating under the new name SCANLAB 

BV and as part of the SCANLAB development 

division, NST’s Belgium-based R&D team will 

focus on the further development of polygon 

scan systems, while SCANLAB will takes over 

marketing, sales and support activities. 

“I can see only advantages in the 

reorganisation of the polygon scanner 

business. We can now process specific 

customer inquiries more quickly and 

effectively, and our technology experts are 

free to concentrate fully on the technical 

side of things,” explained Dr Holger Schlüter, 

head of business development at SCANLAB 

and the new contact for polygon scanners. ■ 

Colgate 

Colgate-Palmolive partners with 3Shape to deliver improved tooth whitening experience 

Colgate-Palmolive and 3Shape are partnering 

to introduce the Colgate Illuminator, a tailoredto-patient 

teeth whitening tool to dental 

clinics across the US, with the new 3Shape 

Unite platform. The new tools will enable more 

accurate consultations and deliver an improved 

patient experience. 

The Colgate Illuminator is an in-clinic 

predictive tool that shows results for 

consumers after using Colgate’s teeth 

whitening product, Colgate Optic White 

Professional. Thus, it illustrates the potential 

results for the patient and help them visualise 

what they may achieve. The Colgate Optic 

White Professional is a whitening treatment 

that is designed for “no tooth sensitivity, no 

gum irritation, and no mess”, offering whiter 

teeth in “just five days” when used as directed, 

according to 3Shape. 

Dentists can access the new Colgate 

Illuminator software via the new 3Shape Unite 

digital dentistry platform. From there, dentists 

can provide each patient with a scan that 

conveys a simulation of the predicted outcome 

from the whitening treatment. 

3Shape’s new software, available to dentists as 

an in-clinic app, employs an evidence-based 

algorithm to display an interactive before and 

after patient photo. According to 3Shape, the 

process takes “just seconds” and, based on a 

patient’s age and teeth shade, the software 

provides a predictive preview of how the teeth 

will look following the treatment process. 

This collaboration aims to help remove the 

guesswork and alleviate the apprehension 

patients often feel when they visit a dentist to 

discuss tooth whitening treatments. 

Maria Ryan, chief clinical offer for Colgate- 

Palmolive said: “We’re proud that the 

Colgate Illuminator improves the whitening 

experience for both dentists and patients. 

With this predictive, innovative tool, dentists 

can personalise the whitening experience by 

showing patients how their teeth could whiten 

when using Optic White Professional highimpact 

tooth whitening products based on 

results achieved in clinical studies.” 

Jakob Just-Bomholt, CEO of 3Shape, concluded: 

“Colgate’s incredible whitening solution is now 

paired with 3Shape’s market-leading software 

and integrated into the ground-breaking 

3Shape Unite platform. We’ve created a smile 

whitening simulation tool that has the potential 

to really help ease patients’ aesthetic concerns: 

it’s fast and powerful. Colgate customers 

can now have quick and simple dentist 

consultations that model realistic predicted 

whitening transformations as part of a tailormade 

experience. We couldn’t be prouder to 

partner with Colgate to deliver this innovative 

new solution.” ■ 





Ultradent 

Ultradent introduces new bioceramic root canal sealer 

Ultradent Products, a developer and 

manufacturer of high-tech dental materials 

and equipment, will be launching its new 

endodontic product, the MTApex bioceramic 

root canal sealer. 

For clinicians performing root canal 

treatments requirement obturation, MTApex 

bioceramic root canal sealer provides a sealer 

that is bioceramic and can be used with any 

endodontic obturation method. 

It features a smooth consistency that, when 

mixed, is designed to be delivered through 

Ultradent’s 29ga Single Sideport NaviTip tip. 

The proprietary gel and tricalcium silicate 

powder mixture releases calcium ions, 

stimulating bone repair and increasing the pH 

of the canal. This helps avoid post-procedure 

bacterial growth and root resorption. 

According to the Ultradent, each kit of 

MTApex bioceramic root canal sealer 

contains enough powder and gel to seal 

approximately twenty canals. ■ 

The new MTApex 

by Ultradent 

Dentsply Sirona 

Strong, fast and aesthetic: Dentsply Sirona launches new CAD/CAM-fabricated restorations 

Dentsply Sirona has announced the 

introduction of CEREC Tessera Advanced 

Lithium Disilicate computer-aided design 

(CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing 

(CAM) blocks, a new material for CAD/ 

CAM-fabricated restorations for anterior and 

posterior regions. 

On top of meeting aesthetic demands, the 

new CEREC Tessera blocks can accelerate 

the entire manufacturing process within 

the chairside workflow by shortening the 

glaze firing time. According to the dental 

products manufacturer, a crown can be fired 

in the CEREC SpeedFire in “4 minutes and 30 

seconds”. Compared to other glass ceramics, 

this represents a time saving across the entire 

manufacturing process of about 44%. Before 

firing, the application of a glaze is necessary 

to achieve the final properties, such as the 

high biaxial flexural strength of over 700MPa. 

The fast-firing time is mainly made possible 

by the special and new composition of 

the ceramic made of lithium disilicate and 

virgilite, a lithium aluminium silicate. The 

microcrystalline composition with the 

material virgilite is patent pending in both 

the US and the EU. The advanced lithium 

disilicate (ALD) ceramic is characterised 

primarily by its robust strength and high 

aesthetics. 

During the firing process, new virgilite 

crystals are formed and embedded in a 

zirconia enriched glass matrix. Together, 

these material constituents combine to 

create a reinforced, high-density restorative 

material. The dense interwoven crystal 

composition of CEREC Tessera blocks is key 

to their strength and helps suppress the 

presence of microcracks and subsequent 

crack propagation. 

In the CEREC Tessera blocks, the lithium 

disilicate provides the high tensile strength, 

while the newly formed virgilite increases 

the precompression stress. The same 

microcrystalline composition also contributes 

to the aesthetic and dynamic light refraction, 

transmission and absorptive properties that 

mimic the visual vitality of a natural dentition 

and enables the aesthetics. 

Additionally, all CEREC Tessera restorations 

can be grinded to a fine finish and then 

be fixed adhesively, for example, with 

Prime&Bond active and Calibra Ceram. From 

a wall thickness of 1.5mm, restorations with 

CEREC Tessera can also be cemented with a 

resin modified glass ionomer cement. 

First users are enthusiastic about CEREC 

Tessera blocks. Dr Stephanie Holländer, 

dentist from Frechen, a town in Germany, 

CEREC Tessera is an advanced lithium disilicate 

ceramic for the CEREC workflow that can be 

processed in the CEREC Primemill. (Image: Dentsply 

Sirona) 

stated that the short time for glaze firing was 

a real “game changer”. She was also taken with 

the simplicity of the whole process. 

CEREC Tessera blocks are available as of now 

on the European market, and are indicated for 

fully anatomical single-tooth restorations in 

the anterior and posterior regions, including 

crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. 

CELTRA CERAM 

In cases where aesthetics is top priority, Celtra 

Ceram has now been validated for combined 

use with CEREC Tessera in the cutback 

technique. It offers more options, particularly 

when it comes to highlight subtleties in the 

translucency and opalescence of the tooth, to 

create mamelon structures or to achieve an 

aesthetic match with the adjacent teeth. ■ 


SHOW PREVIEW 

IDEM returns for its 12th edition 

with new panels and conferences 

The 12th edition of the International Dental 

Exhibition and Meeting (IDEM) will take 

place between 7-9 Oct 2022 at the Marina 

Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre 

in Singapore. With the conference theme, 

“Building Resilience in Dentistry”, attendees 

can look forward to a platform curated for an 

exchange of ideas to navigate new challenges 

and explore the latest dentistry market trends. 

IDEM is a biennial, three-day, B2B trade fair 

and convention for the dental industry in the 

Asia-Pacific region, with conferences bringing 

in speakers in general dentistry. Riding on its 

continuous success since 2000, IDEM will 

enter its 12th edition in 2022, maintaining its 

position as a trade and continuing education 

platform in Asia-Pacific. 

Three days of scientific conferences, handson 

workshops, interactive sessions and more 

will see the likes of Maurizio Tonetti, Ioannis 

Vergoullis, Nikos Mattheos and many more 

professionals gracing the IDEM Stage. 

The conference sessions will cover an array of 

topics for the general practitioner, such as the 

strategies for long-lasting peri-implant tissue 

health, cone-beam computed tomography 

(CBCT) imaging in clinical practice, aesthetic 

rehabilitation, treating ameloblastomas, 

the digital orthodontic ecosystem, and 

more. IDEM 2022 will also be featuring a 

new Singapore Speaker Series under the 

theme of “Comprehensive, Conservative 

Approaches: How I do it”, which will feature 

specialists from Singapore sharing their 

approaches to treatment in-person on the 

IDEM Stage. 

“With the ever-evolving climate, especially 

since our last physical edition of IDEM, we 

believe that exploring the theme ‘Building 

Resilience in Dentistry’ is most appropriate 

for the 12th edition of IDEM. By visiting 

IDEM, you will have an opportunity to 

experience the latest advancements in 

dental technology from around the world. 

You will also be able to see what’s trending 

and gain valuable insight into the future oral 

healthcare needs specific to the Asia-Pacific 

region. We are committed to bringing our 

participants the best experience for their 

professional development, to meet the 

needs and challenges for the next decade 

and beyond,” said Dr Goh Siew Hor, president 

of the Singapore Dental Association. 

Alongside the scientific conference, the 

IDEM Exhibition will feature international and 

local presence with several country pavilions 

across the world. Visitors can look forward 

to having access to global developments 

within an exhibition hall located on one 

single level, creating an event experience 

reconnecting with business partners and 

peers. 

All IDEM 2022 participants will also receive 

access to the digital platform that is 

specifically made for the dental community 

by IDEM to amplify and intensify business 

and networking goals. Participants of IDEM 

can look forward to hybrid elements within 

the entire event, offering delegates more 

opportunities to extend their learning and 

increase networking options beyond the actual 

event days. 

Online registration for the trade show is now 

open, and more information can be found on 

IDEM Singapore’s website. DA 


SHOW PREVIEW 

Sino-Dental continues to be wonderful 

Sino-Dental will return this June with both a physical and online 

presence. Particularly for the physical exhibition, the show floor will 

house five national pavilions and over 900 exhibitors, connecting 

visitors with industry professionals with the latest developments in 

the industry. 

Held from 9-12 Jun 2022 at the China 

National Convention Centre (CNCC), 

Beijing, China, Sino-Dental will feature a 

total exhibition area of over 50,000sqm 

and more than 2,000 booths, of which 

900 exhibitors and 140,000 visitors are 

expected. The five national pavilions will 

showcase the latest dental technology 

and scientific advances, alongside 

Chinese products at competitive prices 

and services as a one-stop solution 

for product purchasing. In addition, 

Sino-Dental will include an Innovation 

Exhibition Zone and academic seminars 

and workshops. 

AN ALL-IN-ONE PLATFORM 

As the flagship dental event in the 

Asia-Pacific region that presents 

one of the largest and fastestgrowing 

dental markets in the world, 

Sino-Dental enables its visitors to 

establish business cooperation, 

expand potential markets and seek 

partners in the dental market and 

explore the Chinese products at 

competitive price and quality. 

The show also promotes 

the exchange of technology 

advances, latest research, and 

market information, and allows 

participants to experience cuttingedge 

technology at its innovation 

exhibition zone. In addition, visitors 

are encouraged to engage with 

peers, KOLs, leaders from home 

and abroad, public and private, and 

enhance professional skills via 

academic seminars and workshops 

FACTS AND FIGURES 

Nearly 900 exhibitors are expected 

to participate in Sino-Dental in 2022, 

with over 100 new products making 

their debut in the Chinese market. 


SHOW PREVIEW 

VISITATION 

As one of the most popular dental 

exhibitions in Asia-Pacific, 

Sino-Dental is expecting more than 

140,000 visits in 2022. 

CONGRESS AND SEMINAR 

Besides the showcase of products 

and technology presented by the 

exhibitors, over 100 academic 

seminars and workshops covering 

more than 400 topics will also be 

held during the exhibition period 

to introduce the latest academic 

and technology development in the 

dental field. 

Sino-Dental will feature five 

national pavilions 

VIRTUAL SINO-DENTAL 

In addition to a live venue, 

Sino-Dental will go virtual in 2022 

with over 900 virtual booths and 

300 online meetings. Online visitors 

can also access more than 100 live 

streams of on-site tours and events, 

and experience a more accurate 

online matchmaking service. 

Visitor’s statistics 

INTERNATIONAL DEALERS 

International dealers can enjoy 

complimentary access to a lounge, 

where privacy and complimentary 

food and drinks are provided. 

Interpretation service is also 

available upon appointment request. 

Complimentary accommodation 

during the exhibition period is also 

extended to dealers who invite 10 

or more dealers to Sino-Dental. 

Information release service to 

facilitate matchmaking with local 

partners and suppliers will also be 

provided. 

The purpose of visit 

across Sino-Dental’s 

participants 

VISITOR ONLINE PRE- 

REGISTRATION 

Visitors can pre-register for the 

show online. They will be able to 

enjoy an on-site quick pass counter 

for badge claiming, and receive a 

complimentary catalogue, drinking 

water, and gift. DA 


GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY 

American Dental Association celebrates 20th anniversary of Give Kids 

A Smile programme 

The American Dental Association (ADA) 

celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Give Kids 

A Smile (GKAS) programme which has provided 

oral healthcare education and services to more 

than seven million underserved children in the 

US, the agency revealed. 

In 2022, nearly 1,000 GKAS events are 

scheduled to take place throughout the US, 

and it is estimated that 300,000 underserved 

children will receive oral health education and 

preventive and restorative services, such as 

cleanings and fillings. These services will be 

provided by more than 20,000 dental team 

volunteers, including approximately 5,000 

dentists, using supplies from 3,200 kits of 

essential oral healthcare products donated 

by Henry Schein, Colgate-Palmolive, and its 

supplier partners. 

Henry Schein has served as the professional 

product sponsor since the programme’s 

inception. Their support has included 

donations from its supplier partners, which 

have contributed to the US$20 million in oral 

healthcare products made available to the 

programme, and hours preparing and sending 

more than 40,000 dental kits. 

Colgate-Palmolive has served as the sponsor 

of health and hygiene consumer products 

since 2007. Their support of GKAS has helped 

build proper oral care habits and reflects the 

company’s mission to reimagine a healthier 

future for all. In addition to supporting GKAS, 

Colgate-Palmolive promotes health equity 

and optimal health and well-being among 

underserved children and their families through 

its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative. 

“What began as a grassroots effort has 

become a national movement to ensure 

access to quality health care for all children,” 

said Cesar R. Sabates, president of the ADA. 

“The success of GKAS would not be possible 

without the nearly 37,000 dental professionals 

who volunteer at local events each year, in 

addition to national sponsors, Henry Schein 

and Colgate, and long-time supporters like the 

ADA Foundation. My sincere appreciation and 

thanks to all of you who have been a part of the 

programme, some from the very first day. We 

are all involved for the right reason – to Give 

Kids A Smile and help children in need.” 

Supplier partners that are supporting the 

2022 Give Kids A Smile programme through 

product donations also include 3M, Centrix, 

DASH Medical, Dentsply Sirona, DMG America, 

Dukal Corporation, Medicom, PacDent, Premier, 

Richmond, Sempermed USA, Sunstar, TIDI 

Products, and WaterPik. ■ 

An honorary OBE for 20 years of Mouth Cancer Foundation service 

Dr Vinod Joshi, founder of the Mouth 

Cancer Foundation, has been awarded 

the Office of the Most Excellent Order of 

the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of 

services to fighting cancer. 

His journey began 20 years ago with a 

mission to save and improve lives and 

drove the creation of the charity’s first 

website. Dedicated to raising awareness, 

educating and promoting the early 

detection of mouth cancer as well as 

supporting those affected by it, Dr Joshi 

set up the Restorative Dentistry Oncology 

Clinics’ mouth cancer awareness website 

to complement the work he was doing at 

the clinics he ran at St Luke’s Hospital, 

Bradford and Pinderfields Hospital in 

Wakefield. The forum in the early days 

created a network of support for head 

and neck cancer patients going through 

treatment. 

The website experienced growth, with the 

message board facility becoming an online 

support group. This convinced the National 

Health Service (NHS) consultant to establish 

the Mouth Cancer Foundation in June 2004, 

a not-for-profit organisation with the intention 

of becoming a registered charity, which 

happened in May 2005. 

Dr Joshi said: “My work as an NHS 

consultant in restorative dentistry included 

maxillofacial prosthodontics which is the 

rehabilitation of head and neck cancer 

patients using prostheses and providing the 

supportive care needed following their sideeffects 

from their treatments. 

“I created a support network for these 

patients from my hospital work and it 

evolved into the Mouth Cancer Foundation 

charity, which provides support for mouth 

cancer patients, their carers and information 

for dentists and the public to facilitate early 

diagnosis of these cancers and save lives. 

“The charity also organises the annual Mouth 

Cancer 10km Awareness Walk in Hyde Park, 

London, the only charity walk for mouth cancer 

awareness and support, as a memorial for lost 

loved ones and a tribute to patients and their 

carers.” 

The charity continues to 

grow from strength to 

strength with patients, 

carers and survivors at 

the heart of all activities. 

A large part of the 

charity’s remit today is 

also educating dental and 

medical professionals on 

the early detection 

of head and neck 

cancers. ■ 

78 


EVENTS CALENDAR 

MARCH 

2 – 5 Dental South China 2022 

Guangzhou, China 

Venue: Area C, China Import and Export 

Fair Pazhou Complex 

https://www.dentalsouthchina.com/?_l=en 

14/3 – Pacific Dental Conference (Virtual) 

12/4 

https://www.pdconf.com/ncs2022 

17 – 19 ICOI Winter Implant Symposium 

Atlanta, Georgia, the US 

Venue: Atlanta Marriott Marquis 

https://www.icoi.org/events 

24 – 26 Expodental 2022 

Madrid, Spain 

Venue: IFEMA - Feria de Madrid 

https://www.ifema.es/en/expodental 

25 – 26 BDIA Dental Showcase 

London, UK 

Venue: London ExCel 

https://dentalshowcase.com 

29 – 31 APAC Oral Care International 

Exchange Summit (Virtual) 

APRIL 

https://globaloralcaresummits.com 

16 – 17 The 5th International Dental Symposium 

Tokyo, Japan 

Venue: Tokyo International Forum 

https://www.gcdental.co.jp/100thsymposium 

20 – 23 Dental Show West China 2022 

Chengdu, China 

Venue: Chengdu Century City New 

International Convention and Exhibition Centre 

www.wcise.com/en 

25 – 28 Dental Salon 2022 

MAY 

Moscow, Russia 

Venue: Crocus Expo 

https://en.dental-expo.com/dental-salon-en 

6 – 7 Mectron Spring Meeting 

Venice, Italy 

Venue: Palazzo Franchetti 

https://www.springmeeting2022.com 

19 – 21 Expodental Meeting 2022 

Rimini, Italy 

Venue: Fiera, Rimini 

https://www.expodental.it/en/expodental-meeting 

26 – 29 IDEX Istanbul Fair 2022 

Istanbul, Turkey 

Venue: Istanbul Expo Centre 

https://cnridex.com 

27 – 29 SIDEX 2022 – Seoul International Dental 

Exhibition and Scientific Congress 

Seoul, South Korea 

Venue: COEX 

https://eng.sidex.or.kr 

31/5 – KAZDENTEXPO 2022 

2/6 Almaty, Kazakistan 

Venue: EC “Atakent” 

https://en.dental-expo.com/kazdentexpo-en 

TBA Dental Expo 2022 

Auckland, New Zealand 

Venue: ASB Showgrounds Greenlane 

https://dentalexpo.co.nz 

With the evolving COVID-19 situation, kindly check with 

organisers for updates on the related events. Please refer to the 

local airports’ websites for the latest travel advisories too. 


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80 


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82 DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021 

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