Dental Asia July/August 2022

DENTAL PROFILE
With ZimVie Dental, traditionally our
focus is on a very specific application
– implants. But our company as well
as our competitors are shifting from
being a medical parts manufacturer
to an integrated total solutions
provider. My background in a broader
scope of dental products provides
me with a holistic view of customer
needs and enables me to put implant
treatment in the bigger picture of oral
healthcare. With my knowledge and
experience, I am confident in leading
ZimVie Asia-Pacific to become the
next leader in integrated solutions.
Can you elaborate more on the debut
of ZimVie, and how can this spinoff
better serve the dental industry?
Walther: With the spinoff, there is the
opportunity for us to combine the
best of two worlds. Number one, with
our background and history where
we are coming from out of Zimmer
Biomet, we have a strong history of
innovation and providing best-in-class
patient outcomes. We have products
which are proven with clinical studies,
clinical outcomes, and more. We
also have built a loyal customer base
and a strong footprint in the implant
industry globally, including Asia-
Pacific.
Number two is that with that spinoff,
we are a large part of a smaller
company, similar to a start-up
but with established brands and
products. We will be able to use our
entrepreneurial spirit to advance
what we are doing and be able to
focus on our core business, to create
resources by growing our business
so that we can have innovations to
support our dental professionals, our
customers, and ultimately the patient.
We will also be able to think outside
the box, be curious and authentic,
and eventually be accountable for
our outcome with a strong growth
mindset.
spinoff, we will focus on patient
outcomes and provide solutions
that dental professionals are looking
for. We will be able to tap into that
growth in the area here in Asia-Pacific
and deliver what the community is
expecting from us, which are new
products, new technologies, new
integrated workflow solutions for the
best possible clinical outcomes and
of course, patient satisfaction.
I think with a focus on speed,
connectivity and reducing complexity,
we can be more focused on
employees and our customers – two
of our most important assets.
How will digital dentistry transform
the dental landscape, and more
crucially, how can embracing this
concept ultimately benefit both
dental practitioners and their
patients?
Walther: Digital dentistry is
transforming the dental landscape.
This is correct, but I would again see
it more holistically.
The world is already digital. The
key is how can we embed digital
technologies into current workflows
to improve patient outcomes, as well
as the needs and expectations of
dental professionals. Those needs
and expectations can be several:
reduced chair time, fewer patient
visits and reduced margins of
error resulting from the process of
software data capturing to design to
production. The more you can bring
this together, the better.
A smoother workflow not only
improves outcomes and reduces
stress, but also improves staff
retention and satisfaction at the
clinic. To achieve this, the new
technologies need to be validated,
easy to use, integrated and serviced –
ideally out of one provider.
is up to the dental professionals to
decide whether they want to still have
a manual workflow, a fully digital
workflow, or a hybrid of both. And
many parties need to collaborate to
make this happen.
Thus, the better, we as the industry
can help and support the integration
of workflows, new materials and
software with training, education, and
service into the needs of the specific
environment of the healthcare
professionals, the more satisfied our
customers and the patients will be.
This is our purpose, a job we do
because ultimately, we want to enable
our customers to have the benefits
and outcomes they expect. With that,
the dental professionals provide the
patients with what they ultimately
want – a happy and healthy smile.
This is what I believe makes a spinoff
like this exciting and also beneficial
for the dental community. With the
Therefore, I believe that the focus
needs to be on the integration of
automated workflows. Of course, it
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