Dental Asia November/December 2022

www.dentalasia.net 

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022 

Dental Profile: 

Advancing osseous surgery 

Clinical Feature: 

Augmented aesthetics in direct 

composite layering 

Behind the Scenes: 

Attractive and with character

ANCHORING THE PRESENT, 

ALIGNING FOR THE FUTURE 

17-19 FEBRUARY 2023 

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 

www.aoscongress.com 

EARLY BIRD EXPIRES ON 

30 NOVEMBER 2022! 

SCAN TO 

REGISTER 

Organised By: 

Held In: 

Supported By: 

Managed By:

Being 100% member owned means we put you first. We’re always working 

to enhance your support – protecting you for life, not for profit. 

• A wide range of protection beyond claims 

• Advice for any eventuality your career may face 

• Fast to respond to unexpected situations 

• Support today, tomorrow and yesterday 

Always there for you 

dentalprotection.org 

Dental Protection Limited is registered in England (No. 2374160) and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”) which is registered in England (No. 00036142). 

Both companies use ‘Dental Protection’ as a trading name and have their registered office at Level 19, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG. Dental Protection Limited serves and 

supports the dental members of MPS with access to the full range of benefits of membership, which are all discretionary, and set out in MPS’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. MPS is not 

an insurance company. Dental Protection® is a registered trademark of MPS. 

2207044050 07/22

TRENDS 

14 Top seven trends outlining the market growth of 

dental practice management software 

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT 

16 Encouraging, challenging and celebrating oral tissue 

regeneration 

18 Father and daughter, mentor and trainee — 

two generations of dental expertise 

20 Strength in unity 

14 

DENTAL PROFILE 

24 Advancing osseous surgery 

26 VITA Zahnfabrik: Quality that exceeds the norm 

CLINICAL FEATURE 

28 Augmented aesthetics in direct composite layering 

34 Elevate patient experience with proactive dentistry 

USER REPORT 

38 All-ceramic restoration on discoloured teeth 

40 GBR around implant using porcine-derived carbonate 

apatite xenograft to optimise pink aesthetics 

42 Morphology-focused direct composite restoration 

BEHIND THE SCENES 

44 Attractive and with character 

48 Scanning spray for digital production 

18 

26 

38 

IN DEPTH WITH 

50 Primescan Connect: Easy scan, seamless collaboration 

51 Implant planning module from Carestream Dental 

now accepts open files from intraoral scanners 

52 Exceptional performance in a compact body 

CONTENTS 

SHOW PREVIEW 

60 CDS 2022 and 24th CSA Annual Congress: The return 

of much-awaited dental events in China 

SHOW REVIEW 

61 exocad Insights 2022: A highly anticipated digital 

dentistry event 

64 IDEM 2022 celebrates another great milestone 

achieved 

REGULARS 

4 Editor’s note 

6 Dental Updates 

53 Product Highlights 

67 Events Calendar 

68 Advertisers’ Index 

61 

64 

2 

DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

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EDITOR’S NOTE 

Save the best 

for last 

The success of the recently concluded 

International Dental Exhibition and Meeting 

(IDEM) signals that the dental field is on 

its way to pre-pandemic normalcy (p.64). 

Our team is ecstatic to be part of this event 

and interact with exhibitors from different 

parts of the world showcasing their 

product portfolios. 

It was a great and truly memorable 

experience to meet colleagues in person 

after a long time. In fact, we had an 

opportunity to speak with Kelvin Liang, 

sales area manager of Mectron in APAC, 

to discuss their latest product launches 

and strategies specific to the APAC 

market as what he described as “very 

versatile” (p.24). 

We also met Emiliano Bini, regional 

business manager of VITA, Australasia, 

to learn more about how VITA Zahnfabrik 

remained at the forefront of progress for 

laboratory and practice since 1924, and 

what more can the dental professionals 

anticipate from the company in the next 

five to 10 years (p.26). 

And, of course, we did not miss the 

opportunity to meet Dr Lawrence Yong, 

president of the Singapore Dental 

Association, to ask about his takeaways 

from the pandemic, his thoughts on today’s 

dental landscape, and what he thinks the 

future holds for the industry (p.20). 

Moreover, we witnessed the latest 

innovations launched at IDEM — such 

as the TRIOS 5 intraoral scanner from 

3Shape, featuring a compact body 

redesigned for ergonomics, effortless 

scanning, and improved hygiene (p.52); as 

well as dental scanning spray for digital 

production from Scantist 3D that forms a 

fine, homogeneous matte coating on shiny, 

reflective dental objects (p.48). 

Though the road to recovery was bumpy, 

the industry embodied resilience and 

proved its commitment to uplifting patient 

experience. Indeed, dental professionals 

can look forward to faster, more efficient 

workflows in the future that will redefine the 

standard of today’s dental care. 

LET’S CONNECT! 

Czarmaine Masigla 

Assistant Editor 

@dentalasia 

PABLO SINGAPORE 

Publisher 

Assistant Editor 

Graphic Designer 

Circulation Manager 

Media Representative 

PABLO BEIJING 

General Manager 

PABLO SHANGHAI 

Senior Editor 

Cover credit 

William Pang 

williampang@pabloasia.com 

Czarmaine Masigla 

czarmaine@pabloasia.com 

Cayla Ong 

cayla@pabloasia.com 

Shu Ai Ling 

circulation@pabloasia.com 

Jamie Tan 

jamietan@pabloasia.com 

Ellen Gao 

pablobeijing@163.com 

Daisy Wang 

pabloshanghai@163.net 

Amann Girrbach 

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 

Company Registration No.: 200001473N 

Singapore MICA (P) No. 104/12/2021 

Malaysia KDN: PPS1528/07/2013 (022978) 

REGIONAL OFFICES 

PABLO BEIJING 

Tel: +86-10-6509-7728 

Email: pablobeijing@163.com 

PABLO SHANGHAI 

Tel: +86-21-52389737 

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 

Dr Wong Li Beng 

Dr Adrian U J Yap 

Dr Christopher Ho 

Dr How Kim Chuan 

Dr Derek Mahony 

Prof Alex Mersel

DENTAL UPDATES 

New sustainable company headquarters for Amann Girrbach in Mäder, Austria 

With its new, sustainability-oriented building, 

which is to be constructed in just 15 months, 

Amann Girrbach will be consolidating its sites 

in Vorarlberg, Austria. All 350 employees 

will be located in Mäder in the future, and 

a further increase in personnel is planned 

medium term. The intention of the new 

building is to create a working environment 

with added value for all employees and, at the 

same time, to optimise all procedures and 

processes. The investment costs amount to 

€47m. 

The new company headquarters in Mäder 

are scheduled to be ready for occupancy at 

the end of 2023. All Austrian facilities, from 

manufacturing and warehousing to research 

and development, administration and training, 

will in future be located in the premises and 

halls, covering a total of around 20,000sqm. 

“With the new building in Mäder, we will be 

implementing our own high standards when 

it comes to creating an atmosphere for 

our employees in which everyone can feel 

comfortable and work productively. We are 

pleased that in future we will be able to offer 

a canteen as well as various recreational 

lounges and green areas that meet the most 

up-to-date and well-thought-out requirements,” 

said Dr Wolfgang Reim, CEO of Amann 

Girrbach, underlining the company’s intention. 

The rapid growth of Amann Girrbach has also 

prompted the need to merge the individual 

sites while expanding them at the same time. 

“There has been an increasing lack of space 

in recent years due to our very satisfying 

corporate development, and we have had 

to resort to external premises on several 

occasions. At the new, central location, it will 

now also be possible to optimise cooperation 

between the individual departments, resulting 

in improved processes and workflows, and 

the entire logistic chains between the present 

locations will be eliminated,” added Dr Reim. 

Another key brief in the planning of the 

new headquarters was the commitment to 

sustainably reduce the company’s carbon 

footprint. The building will be fitted with 

one of Vorarlberg’s largest photovoltaic 

systems, with an output of up to 1.15MWp. 

Amann Girrbach utilises heat from the 

sintering furnaces to heat the building, and 

the heat pumps operate with groundwater. 

The planned green roof is also designed 

to promote biodiversity. The cooperation 

partner Garbe is a technical and structural 

co-developer as well as being the owner of 

the new building. DA 

Carestream Dental partners with Overjet 

Carestream Dental has partnered with 

Overjet, the industry leader in dental 

artificial intelligence. The partnership gives 

Carestream Dental’s customers access to 

Overjet’s AI-powered X-ray analysis tool that 

detects decay, quantifies bone loss and 

highlights other areas of concern. 

Overjet’s FDA-approved technology can also 

analyse 18 months of prior radiographs and 

cross-reference them with an office’s practice 

management system to identify potential 

decay and periodontal disease that has not 

been diagnosed. 

Research shows that diseased teeth are 

misdiagnosed nearly a quarter of the time 

when using traditional methods*. However, 

the AI technology eases the workload and 

streamlines the diagnostic process for 

practitioners, while building greater trust with 

their patients. 

“We’re seeing an increase in AI in every part of 

the industry, which is giving clinicians greater 

confidence in their diagnosis and treatment 

planning,” said Jeremy Thomas, general 

manager of the Americas for Carestream 

Dental. “Now, Carestream Dental imaging 

customers will experience a new level of 

confidence and quantification with access to 

Overjet’s AI analysis tool.” 

“With this partnership, thousands of 

more dentists will have AI technology at 

their fingertips to help improve patient 

care,” said Wardah Inam, co-founder and 

CEO of Overjet. “Overjet is committed to 

improving oral health by creating a future 

that is clinically-precise, efficient and patient 

centric.” 

Carestream Dental is a catalyst for 

technological innovation and continues 

to expand its portfolio with ongoing 

investments in solutions that drive practice 

and partner value and differentiation. DA 

*Ekert T, Krois J, Meinhold L, Elhennawy K, Emara 

R, Golla T, Schwendicke F (2019) Deep Learning 

for the Radiographic Detection of Apical Lesions. 

J Endod. 2019 Jul;45(7):917-922.e5. doi: 10.1016/j. 

joen.2019.03.016. Epub 2019 Jun 1. 

6 DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022


Oracare Group-backed MOS Dental 

unveils 28th clinic 

PERFECTION IN 

BONE SURGERY 

MOS Dental, the market-leading chain of dental clinics in Thailand 

under Oracare Group, has opened its 28th clinic in Bangkok. The new 

clinic is strategically located in the residential district of Prawet, and 

will unlock avenues for more dental patients to access quality dental 

care backed by international dentistry standards, at accessible prices. 

The launch is the latest addition to the MOS Dental network, furthering 

the brand’s 22-year commitment to bringing smiles to its customers. 

It also confirms the dental group as one of the fastest growing in 

Bangkok, expanding from 14 to 28 clinics since joining forces with 

the Oracare Group. The newest location meets a growing demand for 

dental care by volumes of satisfied patients, allowing more people to 

gain access to certified dental professionals and specialists. 

→ YOUR SURGICAL 

APPROACH WILL CHANGE - 

THE PIEZOSURGERY® touch 

→ best cutting efficiency 

→ optimal intraoperative control 

→ perfect ergonomics 

→ made in Italy 

“MOS Dental and Oracare Group share the same belief that embracing 

technology is key to enhancing the customer journey and experience. 

I am proud to have partnered with Oracare Group to take MOS’s 

expansion to the next level whilst embracing digital technology and 

dentistry, to make the ‘Miracle of Smile’ a reality for more patients 

across Bangkok,” said Dr Adisorn Hanworawong, founder and CEO 

of MOS Dental Clinic. Dr Hanworawong brings over 21 years of 

experience as a seasoned dental practitioner, dedicating his career to 

building the MOS Dental brand shortly after graduating from dental 

school in 1999. 

The integration of Oracare Group’s management systems and 

standards into MOS Dental’s workflows and processes have placed 

the dental chain at the forefront of quality dental care. With access to 

Oracare Group’s hygiene standards and safety protocols, MOS Dental 

was able to go above and beyond industry protocols for infection 

control at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. MOS 

Dental was recognised as a leader in implementing best practices for 

infection control across their clinics and were subsequently invited to 

support the formulation of industry-wide infection control policies for 

private dental clinics across the country. 

“Oracare Group is always looking for new ways to help our partners 

grow in the industry, so we can better achieve shared goals and break 

through glass ceilings to scale greater heights within the dentistry 

space. MOS Dental’s newest expansion is testament to the strength 

of the strategy and support that we provide to our partners. We are 

excited to continue this journey with MOS Dental to collectively bring 

the next level of dental care to South East Asia,” said Leon Luai, CEO of 

Oracare Group. DA 

→ www.mectron.com 

DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2022 7 

ad_PStouch_dental_asia_95x250_en_211214.indd 1 14.12.21 15:38


Neocis secures US$40m in additional funding to continue transforming dental 

surgery with robotics 

Neocis, manufacturer of Yomi and the global 

leader in robot-assisted dental implant surgery, 

has completed its latest round of financing. 

The oversubscribed US$40m round was led by 

one of the dental industry’s largest specialist 

investors. They were joined by Intuitive 

Ventures, the independent VC arm of Intuitive 

Surgical that is accelerating the future of 

minimally invasive care. These new investors 

were joined by Neocis’ existing partners, 

bringing total investment in the Miami-based 

business to more than $160m since its 

founding in 2009. 

Started by Alon Mozes and Juan Salcedo, 

Neocis manufactures and markets Yomi, 

dentistry’s first and only FDA-cleared robotic 

surgical system. The innovative platform 

assists clinicians during all phases of implant 

placement via streamlined digital planning and 

haptic guidance of surgical instrumentation 

— so they can place implants with accuracy, 

efficiency, and confidence. The Yomi system 

is often used to perform flapless procedures, 

a less invasive surgical approach with proven 

patient benefits. 

“Neocis shares Intuitive Ventures’ commitment 

to advancing positive patient outcomes in 

minimally invasive care through innovative 

technology and solutions,” said Oliver Keown, 

MD, managing director at Intuitive Ventures. 

“We believe Neocis’ deep commitment to 

addressing customer and patient need through 

a broadening robotic ecosystem and their 

impressive technology platform that expands 

access to high-quality dental care, makes them 

a transformative force in this rapidly evolving 

market.” 

This latest infusion of capital will allow Neocis, 

which the South Florida Business Journal 

recently named one of the fastest growing 

companies in South Florida, to advance its 

mission of transforming dental surgery through 

advanced robotics. The company will use 

these funds to continue accelerating research 

and development efforts, bolstering marketing 

and educational initiatives, and expanding 

the footprint of its sales, clinical support, and 

business optimisation teams. 

“We are thrilled to be joined by discerning 

investors aligned with Neocis’ mission to 

advance precision dentistry,” said Ajay Royan, 

managing general partner and founder of 

Mithril Capital Management, an early investor 

in Neocis. “The future of dental robotics is 

limitless, and this latest round of capital will 

help the Neocis team continue innovating at 

the highest level.” 

“For a company in the dental robotics space, 

I couldn’t dream up a better syndicate 

of investors than this,” said Alon Mozes, 

co-founder and CEO of Neocis. “This new 

backing underscores Neocis’ strong position 

in a growing market and will help us further 

our product development and commercial 

efforts.” DA 

Planmeca launches new CAD/CAM module 

Planmeca has introduced a new software 

module for Planmeca Romexis, which makes 

working with digital impressions easier 

and faster than ever before. The Planmeca 

Romexis CAD/CAM module streamlines 

the scan-and-send workflow for capturing, 

analysing and exporting digital impressions 

and offers new intraoral scanner users a 

smooth entry in the world of CAD/CAM 

dentistry. 

to enter the world of digital dentistry,” 

explained Helianna Puhlin-Nurminen, 

vice-president of Digital Imaging and 

Applications at Planmeca. “Since intraoral 

scans are stored and available in Romexis 

along with patient photos as well as 2D 

and 3D X-ray images, users can also 

easily complete digital smile designs, plan 

implant treatments and design surgical 

guides in the same software. Romexis 

simply makes your work flow.” 

Planmeca Romexis CAD/CAM software 

module has been designed to make capturing 

and working with digital impressions easier 

than ever. The module is part of the Planmeca 

Romexis all-in-one software, which ensures 

seamless daily workflows at a dental practice 

with all clinical patient data available in a 

single system. 

“With the new Romexis CAD/CAM module, 

intraoral scanning is exceptionally easy for new 

and more experienced users alike. We have 

paid special attention to usability and made 

collaborating with external partners extremely 

simple. The new module is thus a great tool 

for working with digital impressions and an 

excellent choice for dental practices looking 

The new Romexis CAD/CAM module is 

currently available for scanning only, i.e., for 

Planmeca Emerald intraoral scanner users 

who do not design or mill restorations 

in house. For now, the entire restorative 

workflow from scanning to design and 

manufacturing can be carried out using the 

Planmeca PlanCAD Easy software. DA 


simply.TRIOS 5 

Intraoral scanning that simply makes sense 

Hygienic by design for minimal risk of 

cross-contamination. Smaller and lighter 

than ever for next-level ergonomics. And 

a ScanAssist engine with intelligent-alignment 

technology that makes precision scanning 

effortless, every time.


Dentsply Sirona will continue to support World Oral Health Day in 2023 

Dentsply Sirona was the award sponsor for 

this year’s World Oral Health Day (WOHD) “Best 

Branded Photo” award and has congratulated 

the winners of the award — the Dental 

Students Association from Etugen University in 

Mongolia. The winning photo features teachers 

and students posing with the WOHD 2022 

#MouthProud frame and personalised posters 

created by the group to teach kindergarten 

children how to keep their teeth healthy. 

“We have seen some great initiatives come 

out of the 2022 campaign and we commend 

the Etugen Dental Students Association for 

their efforts to instill good oral health practices 

in the next generation,” said Erania Brackett, 

senior vice-president and chief marketing 

officer at Dentsply Sirona. “Oral health is such 

a central part of a person’s overall health and 

wellbeing, and we are proud to once again 

support World Oral Health Day in 2023.” 

The award-giving ceremony took place 

during the FDI General Assembly in Geneva, 

Switzerland, on 22 Sep 2022. At the same 

event, key results from WOHD 2022 were 

presented and the 2023 campaign’s theme and 

concept were disclosed. The 2023 campaign 

focuses on the importance of maintaining lifelong 

good oral health with its motto: “Be proud 

of your mouth for a lifetime of smiles”. 

Dentsply Sirona partners with FDI World 

Dental Federation for WOHD 2022 as part 

of its sustainability strategy “Beyond: Taking 

action for a brighter world”. At its core is the 

ambition to lead the transformation towards 

a sustainable dentistry, increase quality of 

and access to oral care globally and create 25 

million smiles by 2025. 

Brackett presented Dentsply Sirona’s ongoing 

activities in which the company partnered 

with dental professionals to promote the 

importance of oral health for overall health to 

their patients at the event at the FDI General 

Assembly. To continue the momentum of WOHD 

throughout the year, Dentsply Sirona recently 

ran a social media campaign that promoted 

the WOHD themes of emotional, social and 

physical wellbeing, with a mixture of culture and 

information posts to highlight oral health issues 

and ways to create healthy smiles. Meanwhile, 

DS Women, an employee resource group at 

Dentsply Sirona, organised an employee-led 

initiative to further oral health by collecting and 

donating more than 4000 toothbrushes and 

oral hygiene products for community-based 

organisations serving families and individuals in 

need in the US and Canada. DA 

Ivoclar and exocad extend the options for digital 

dentures with integration in DentalCAD 

By integrating the Ivotion Denture add-on 

module in the DentalCAD software solution 

from exocad, Ivoclar has expanded its 

partnership with exocad in the area of digital 

dental workflows. 

As one of the manufacturers of dental 

CAD/CAM software in the dental industry, 

exocad has a large customer base as 

well as comprehensive experience in 

dental software products. Thanks to this 

collaboration, customers of both companies 

can now enjoy a seamless workflow for 

rapid digital fabrication of removeable 

dentures. 

As part of this cooperation, the Ivotion 

Denture add-on module will be integrated 

with the exocad DentalCAD system so that 

users of the software can design their digital 

dentures in the environment to which they 

are accustomed. The optimised workflow 

enables custom fabrication and a result that 

is adapted to the needs of the patient. 

Moreover, the integration also provides users 

with access to the popular Ivoclar tooth libraries 

with full-arch setups, morphing tools, and setup 

features. For even better offer customisation, 

the third gingival shade that was introduced for 

the first time last year can also be used. 

The Ivotion Denture add-on module from 

Ivoclar also contains all the features of 

the oversize workflow in combination with 

the proven Ivotion Base, Ivotion Dent, and 

Ivotion Dent Multi discs. To round off the 

range of applications, the features of the 

monolithic workflow with Ivotion and Shell 

Geometry are also on board. DA 



W&H receives Environmental Management Award 2022 from BMK 

W&H is pushing ahead with its environmental 

management in all projects with full vigour 

to achieve the company’s ecological and 

sustainable goals. This dedication has now 

been recognised by the Federal Ministry for 

Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, 

Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK) 

with the Environmental Management Award in 

the category “Best Measure — Environmental 

and Climate Protection”. 

As an international manufacturer of medical 

technology products, W&H has major 

responsibility for a healthy society and a 

healthy environment. With the expansion of 

Plant II, the company actively promotes climate 

and environmental protection through state-ofthe-art 

processes, as well as resource-saving 

production and manufacturing procedures. 

“As a sustainable family business, W&H relies on 

durable and environmentally friendly solutions 

in order to make a positive contribution,” said 

Herbert Traschwandtner, managing director of 

Operations. 

Hundred percent of the metal shavings 

produced at W&H are recycled after being 

separated by type using an intelligent 

collection system. The regenerative 

system extends the resources’ life cycle, 

thus minimising waste. On the roof of 

the production plant, more than 1800PV 

modules with an output of 536kWp generate 

climate-neutral electricity. In addition, 

environmentally friendly temperature control 

is ensured by establishing particularly 

efficient heat/cold controls systems that 

operate via heat pumps. Rejected thermal 

energy is used to heat the production 

and manufacturing halls. Cooling is 

provided by concrete core activation. 

Furthermore, shortened transport routes in 

logistics ensure reduced energy and fuel 

consumption. 

“We are very pleased that our expansion 

and the measures implemented by W&H 

have been honoured and handed over 

the Environmental Management Award. 

This strengthens our efforts and gives 

us momentum for future projects,” said 

Pamela Polanetz, sustainability manager, 

on behalf of the entire W&H environmental 

management team. DA 

Zenyum expands oral care line with Invisible Whitening Strips 

their application. This latest addition to the 

Zenyum family aims to make teeth whitening 

accessible for all, following through on the 

brand’s mission to make Asia smile more. 

Zenyum continues its next phase of oral care 

innovation with the launch of ZenyumBright 

Invisible Whitening Strips — an on-the-go, 

fast-dissolving whitening strip now available in 

Singapore and Hong Kong. The new convenient 

strips are a discreet whitening option for those 

with demanding schedules, dissolving in just 

15-20 minutes. The no-rinse formula allows 

users to reduce teeth stains on-the-go. 

Available in packs of 14 and 28, customers 

can use the strips twice daily throughout 

“Since the successful launch of the 

ZenyumSonic Toothbrush in 2020, Zenyum 

has continuously expanded its market share in 

the fast-growing consumer dental segment in 

South East Asia. Our range of innovative smile 

cosmetics ranks from invisible braces that 

straighten your teeth to all-natural ingredients 

toothpastes and water flossers. Within the 

last three months alone, we released three 

new product lines, which will be available in 

our retail partner stores as well as our digital 

distribution channels across our nine markets 

in Asia,’’ said Julian Artopé, founder and CEO 

of Zenyum. DA 


Torq Control® 

Universal Torque 

Wrench 

Torq Control® is the Anthogyr universal 

torque wrench offering the guarantee of 

tightening precision, whatever the type 

of implant connection or the difficulties of 

access. 

Precise tightening is a key factor to secure 

implant treatment success. Torq Control® 

has been specially designed by Anthogyr 

to meet these requirements for all 

prosthetic manipulations, in all safety 

thanks to automatic declutching. 

A must-have, especially for full-arch 

restorations.

TRENDS 

Top seven trends outlining 

the market growth of dental 

practice management software 

This has paved the way for several 

technological advancements across 

the regional industry, which may further 

stimulate the industry forecast. 

According to a recent study from market 

research firm Graphical Research, the global 

dental practice management software 

market size is set to register significant 

growth during the forecast period due to 

rising disposable incomes and growing 

awareness about maintaining good oral 

hygiene. 

The trend can be observed across both 

emerging and prosperous regions. Explained 

below are some notable factors likely to 

redefine the market growth between 2022 

and 2030. 

Trend #1: Patient communication 

components to drive lucrative gains in 

North America 

The patient communication segment could 

exceed US$456m by 2030 in North America. 

Patient communication software offers a 

plethora of benefits ranging from the proper 

execution of regular repetitive tasks like 

appointment reminders to driving better 

patient outcomes and online engagement 

and reviews. 

Leading tech players have been focusing 

on developing integrated dental practice 

management software with phone system 

connectivity. Such innovations may 

significantly increase the productivity and 

efficiency of front desk attendants, which, 

in effect, may fuel patient communication 

software adoption in the forthcoming years. 

Trend #2: Rising prevalence of dental 

disorders in the US 

US dental practice management software 

market share was worth more than 

US$628m in 2021, attributed to the rapidly 

growing geriatric population and supportive 

government policies pertaining to patient 

care. Ageing people are more prone to 

periodontal disorders, requiring proper patient 

care and medical attention. 

According to the US Center for Disease 

Control and Prevention, about 47.2% of the 

adult population in the country equivalent to 

or above 30 years of age, and nearly 70.1% 

of adults aged 65 years and older have some 

form of periodontal disease. 

Trend #3: Surging demand for 

invoice/billing components across 

APAC 

Asia-Pacific (APAC) dental practice 

management software market share from 

the invoice/billing component accounted 

for US$52m in 2021. Concerning invoice/ 

billing, dental practice management 

software offers a range of benefits in 

dental clinics. The software utilises proper 

integration and standardisation to manage 

end-to-end billing comprising transactions 

made through cards, cash payments, 

online wallets, bank payments, etc. 

There has been a considerable rise 

in efforts to enhance this software to 

increase the number of patient footfalls 

and optimise the revenue streams. 

Besides, their ability to support distinct 

taxes and payment modes like cash, card, 

and cheque will augment the market share. 

Trend #4: Growing popularity of webbased 

software 

The web-based segment may exhibit 

a CAGR of around 16% through the 

assessment timeframe across the 

APAC. Usually comprising features like 

billing, appointment management, and 

electronic health records, web-based 

software facilitates the workflow in a 

clinic. This is achieved by making errorfree 

documentation, storing patients’ 

complete medical history, and efficiently 

managing appointments. These 

remarkable attributes, coupled with 

recent advancements and improvements, 


TRENDS 

have helped web-based dental practice 

management software gain a strong foothold 

in the APAC market. 

Trend #5: Positive industry outlook in 

Japan 

Japan's dental practice management 

software market is anticipated to emerge as 

a prominent revenue pocket and will hold a 

valuation worth more than US$315m by 2030. 

The growing prominence of dental disorders 

and the presence of robust healthcare 

infrastructure are among the primary factors 

leading to regional expansion. 

The country is equipped with an optimum 

dental workforce and several governmentbacked 

reimbursement and healthcare 

policies enabling low-cost dental treatment. In 

addition, the increased penetration of several 

health insurance providers will positively 

impact the regional market. 

Trend #6: Cloud-based software to 

create new growth prospects across 

Europe 

The cloud-based model accounted for 

over 32% of the Europe dental practice 

management software market share in 2021. 

The amalgamation of cloud-based components 

with this software help provide a seamless, 

cohesive, comprehensive, and engaging patient 

experience in a relatively lesser time. 

These attributes make them apt for delivering 

everything ranging from imaging, charting, 

and group practices to administrative duties, 

which is likely to help them gain substantial 

impetus in the years ahead. 

Trend #7: UK to account for a 

significant market share 

UK dental practice management software 

market is expected to grow at an annual growth 

rate of about 14.3% through 2030. The country 

has witnessed a prominent rise in dental 

disease over recent years. 

According to a recent University of Birminghamled 

research, patients with GP-inputted medical 

history of gum disease have an increased risk 

of developing mental illness, ill health, and heart 

conditions. Such studies have raised concerns 

regarding better oral health and treatment 

and encouraged the government to roll out 

supportive initiatives focusing on spreading 

awareness of oral hygiene. More policy rollouts 

like these may transform the dental practice 

management software market dynamics. 

Dental practice management software has 

significantly improved workplace efficiency, 

which passively reduces clinical fees and 

related costs and charges. This has, in turn, 

resulted in increasing patient footfalls and 

growing expenditure on dental services, 

further supporting the market growth. DA 

DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2022 15


Encouraging, 

challenging and 

celebrating oral tissue 

regeneration 

“We Are Re:Generation” is the motto of the next 

International Osteology Symposium in Barcelona, Spain, 

reflecting not only the focus of the Osteology Foundation 

on oral regeneration but also their mission to link science 

with practice by gathering all the globally available 

knowledge in one place, at the same time. 

In past years, the International Osteology 

Symposia were considered by many in 

dentistry to be the most successful and 

prestigious event held on oral tissue 

regeneration. This is set to continue with 

the 2023 Jubilee Edition to celebrate 

the 20th anniversary of the Osteology 

Foundation, a global organisation that 

supports science, research training, 

and education in the field of oral tissue 

regeneration. 

Happening on 27-29 Apr 2023, the 

educational programme promise 

to attract up to 3000 motivated 

participants from all over the world. Dr 

Pamela McClain and Dr Istvan Urban, 

the 2023 symposium’s scientific chairs, 

share more about their role leading up 

to this high-level scientific programme 

and what participants can expect. 



What was the idea behind the 

programme of the symposium? 

Dr McClain: The focus of the Osteology 

Foundation is on oral regeneration. 

As a result, the programme for the 

symposium will fully cover this field 

which allows a more in-depth look at all 

aspects involved with oral regeneration. 

This all-around coverage is unique 

and unlike other programmes. We are 

looking at unique areas of regeneration, 

for example, endodontic concerns, 

orthodontic opportunities and aesthetic 

surgical aspects. 

Dr Urban: In addition to the clinical 

aspects of oral regeneration, the 

Osteology Foundation places equal 

emphasis on education and research. 

The programme perfectly reflects this 

dual focus: we will see many exciting 

contributions with high practical 

relevance as presentations on the very 

latest research. 

In which way does the programme 

attract both young, less experienced 

clinicians and established oral 

surgeons? 

Dr Urban: Since its beginnings 20 

years ago, the Osteology Foundation 

has placed great emphasis not only 

on working with well-known experts in 

our field but also on being very active 

in promoting young talents. This is still 

very much the case today and therefore 

we are in the fortunate position at the 

International Osteology Symposium to 

also offer young speakers from our own 

training and research programmes the 

opportunity to appear on the big stage. 

Dr McClain: Incorporating these young 

stars has always been a priority of 

the foundation and allows them to 

showcase their research and cases in 

a world-class environment. To present 

with individuals they have looked up to 

is both exciting and motivating. This 

headlining of young talent is also of 

great interest to their peers as well as 

their more experienced colleagues. 

In which teaching formats do the 

participants get to experience the 

educational content? 

Dr McClain: We are fortunate to offer 

a wide range of formats from classic 

lectures, numerous specific workshops, 

moderated live surgeries, to the 

interactive round table room, or the 

new research networking day. There is 

simply something for everyone. 

Dr Urban: Therefore, the congress 

participants actually have a luxury 

problem. Their biggest challenge will 

be to decide what they want to attend 

from the whole programme and in what 

order. But just as we offer both younger 

and experienced participants content 

tailored to them, everyone will find 

their favourite learning format at this 

symposium. 

Do you have a personal programme 

highlight? 

Dr McClain: My personal highlight 

is not a single programme item 

— there are too many highly 

attractive contributions — but the 

list of speakers. Take a look at the 

programme and see the global 

scope of exceptional clinicians and 

researchers presenting. With this 

international gathering, it is impossible 

to highlight a single course. 

Dr Urban: Assuming an active interest 

in the field of oral regeneration of the 

participant, I would almost want to ask 

the question the other way around: 

How can one in good conscience 

miss this truly unique concentration of 

expertise and learning opportunities? 

We will see an impressive density of 

relevant information and a great quality 

of human exchange in Barcelona, I’m 

convinced, also from the experience 

gained at previous IOS editions. 

Final words: Why not miss the 

International Osteology Symposium? 

Dr Urban: I'm afraid I have to resort 

to a commonplace argument — the 

International Osteology Symposium 

is simply the place to be in the field 

of oral regeneration. Where else is 

it possible to interact with so many 

peers, meet world-renowned experts 

face-to-face and be updated on the 

latest knowledge in just three days? 

And of course, the fact that this 

symposium is taking place in one 

of the most attractive cities is not a 

disadvantage either. 

Dr McClain: The value and rich depth 

of the programme is not something 

that you will find anywhere else, I 

can’t think of a better programme 

in regeneration. This symposium is 

the go-to place for education in oral 

regeneration. DA 



Father and 

daughter, 

mentor 

and trainee 

— two 

generations 

of dental 

expertise 

French dental surgeon 

Dr Guillaume Reys knows 

that dental professionals 

need to constantly upskill 

themselves to keep up with 

the pace of change. But to 

embrace new technologies, 

they must be able to master 

traditional skills first — and 

that’s precisely what he has 

encouraged his daughter 

Dr Rebecca Reys who works 

alongside him to do. 

Dental surgeon Guillaume Reys opened his practice in 

Sélestat, France, in 2002. Besides running his clinic, he 

teaches surgery to dental students at the Faculty of Dental 

Surgery, University of Strasbourg. 

As the son of a surgery professor, Dr Reys knew early on that 

he would end up following the same path. 



In addition to the dental units, the clinic is 

equipped with a Planmeca ProMax 3D Classic 

imaging unit, two Planmeca ProX intraoral X-ray 

units, a Planmeca Emerald S intraoral scanner, 

and a Planmeca PlanMill 40 milling unit which 

Dr Reys uses for making chairside crowns. 

Moreover, Dr Reys performs all implant 

planning with the Planmeca Romexis software. 

He said: “I think it works very well. I can easily 

merge a CBCT image, my implant plan and an 

intraoral scan, and it’s all just so easy. I use the 

software every day.” 

“As a child, I had the chance to observe closely 

what my father was doing. Growing up I knew 

that surgery would be my choice too, but in 

France, once you start studying medicine, you 

don’t necessarily know which speciality you’ll 

end up practising after finishing your studies 

and internship. You don’t always get to work in 

the field of your choice, and I wanted to make 

sure that I could do what I wanted, which is 

to practice surgery. That’s why I chose dental 

surgery, and it has been exactly what I hoped 

for,” said Dr Reys. 

The clinic employs two other dentists and five 

dental assistants. One of the dentists is his 

daughter Dr Rebecca Reys, who just graduated 

from dental school last summer. 

“I did not choose dentistry because my father 

is a dentist, but because I knew the profession 

thoroughly, I thought it might be a good choice 

for me as well,” explained Dr Rebecca. “I’m also 

very interested in forensic medicine, and when I 

learned that after dental school, it is possible to 

pursue post-graduate training that could bring 

me into the field, it sealed the deal for me.” 

She shared that working with her dad is like 

having a mentor around all the time. 

“When I was still a student, I used to work at 

another clinic once a week and I was all alone 

there. There were plenty of situations where I 

would have liked to ask questions, but it wasn’t 

possible. In the beginning, you’re not sure of 

yourself and you need a lot of reassurance. 

My dad lets me do my job freely, but it’s 

comfortable knowing that he is around should I 

have any questions.” 

Dr Reys is happy to have his daughter around 

too. The clinic has recently seen a marked 

increase in the number of patients, and 

without the help of his colleagues, he would 

not have been able to welcome any new 

patients. 

A PLANMECA CUSTOMER SINCE 1995 

Dr Reys is a long-time user of Planmeca 

dental units — he has been using them since 

1995 — and his clinic is currently equipped 

with three of them. When he first discovered 

the company’s dental care units, he was 

immediately impressed by their side-lifting 

mechanism which provides plenty of 

legroom. 

“From an aesthetic point of view, their airy and 

lightweight design appealed to me — they’re 

not heavy-looking at all. The assistant’s side 

is also very practical with easy access to all 

essential functions, and of course, the units 

are very comfortable. My patients always say 

how they would love to have one at home. I 

wouldn’t mind having one either. 

“I also discovered that the technology was 

relatively simple. I like to do as much as 

possible myself, so if something needs to 

be repaired, I often just call my distributor 

and ask him what to do. Us dentists are 

sometimes like spoiled children, we want 

everything to be fixed immediately — even half 

an hour is too long a wait,” he said laughing. 

As for his daughter, Dr Rebecca had been 

using Planmeca dental units already as a 

dental student at the University of Strasbourg, 

so she was well familiar with them. 

Dr Rebecca is also planning to start using the 

intraoral scanner and milling unit, but first, she 

wants to master taking traditional impressions. 

She shared: “My father encouraged me to learn 

traditional working methods before moving to 

digital ones. You must be able to do both since 

you can’t always rely on technology. I feel like 

I’m learning new things every day and can’t wait 

to experience all the digital tools we have in our 

clinic.” 

LOOKING FORWARD TO A DIGITAL 

FUTURE 

According to Dr Reys, patients today are looking 

for a dentist for life, someone they can trust. 

“It’s not always easy to trust someone with your 

teeth but once you find the right person, they 

easily become your family dentist in a way.” 

The world of dentistry has already become 

digital, but Dr Reys believes there is much more 

to come. 

He concluded: “I’m sure that we will continue 

to be blown away by new innovations — we 

can’t even imagine all the things that will be 

technologically possible in the years to come. 

We can’t rest on our laurels and stay content 

with what we have learned so far — we have to 

keep training, learning new skills and acquiring 

new knowledge. We have to stay curious and 

keep up with the pace of change. DA 


Strength in unity 

As the president of Singapore Dental 

Association, Dr Lawrence Yong aims 

to continue the successes of their 

organisation. But how will he make that 

possible in today’s dental landscape? 

Dental Asia finds out. 

By Czarmaine Masigla 

Founder of PKWY Dental Specialist Practice, 

Dr Lawrence Yong is an orthodontist with 27 

years of clinical experience under his belt. 

With his success in practice, it became clearer 

to him that as a member of the profession, it 

is important for them to volunteer their time to 

the association at some point in their career to 

inject new ideas and direction. By doing so, he 

emphasised, the Singapore Dental Association 

(SDA) can continue to grow and be more 

relevant over time. 

Under his leadership, SDA is focused on 

supporting the dental community in facing 

the challenges of today’s practice and 

empowering the next generation of dentists. 

Read on as Dr Yong shares more.


What are your takeaways from the 

pandemic and how do they affect your 

vision for SDA? 

Dr Yong: I think the main takeaway from 

the pandemic is that the profession is 

intrinsically and extremely strong and 

resilient. Mr Ong Ye Kung, the Minister 

of Health, actually mentioned during the 

opening ceremony of the International 

Dental Exhibition and Meeting (IDEM) 

that he was surprised that although 

dentists were operating at a lower level, 

the reality is that we still have to treat 

patients without their masks on. And 

despite those challenges, the profession 

lived up to its name in terms of infection 

control. There were no surprises. I think 

that it is a collective responsibility that 

has been shown by every member of the 

profession. It is definitely not just 1% or 

2%. It is a collective effort. 

Can you enumerate and briefly discuss 

some of SDA’s ongoing projects? 

Dr Yong: We are focusing on three 

main areas in the near future in 

concert with the government. The first 

area would be in terms of how are 

we going to support members during 

the transition process of onboarding 

clinics onto the national electronic 

health records. The second one would 

be in terms of the implementation 

of the Health Care and Services Act 

recently passed by the parliament. 

These areas involve support in terms 

of communicating with doctors to 

ensure that they understand how 

this new licensing affects them and 

what they need to do. We are also 

working with the Ministry of Health in 

promoting public awareness about the 

ills of illegal dentistry. 

On the association's front, there is 

a strong need to support the newly 

registered doctors. This could be in 

terms of providing relevant courses or 

workshops, so that they can continue 

to advance their learning, especially 

in areas which are not covered 

during their undergraduate days. The 

second one is in terms of developing 

the top and idea leaders of the next 

generation. This will involve training 

local speakers so that they feel 

comfortable to sharing their thoughts 

on the regional as well as on a global 

platform. 

Regarding the IDEM in-person 

meeting, what is the significance of its 

return for dentists in the APAC region? 

Dr Yong: I think we have to look at 

IDEM from two angles. The first is 

from the angle of the organisers. The 

in-person meeting is an extremely 

important message to all our trade 

partners — that IDEM will continue 

to be the frontrunner in terms of 

international dental exhibitions, at 

least in this region, if not greater. 

The second one would be from 

the angle of the participants or the 

attendees for the trade exhibition or 

the scientific conferences. We want 

them to feel that besides the trade 

exhibition, we continue to have novel 

ideas shared by people from different 

parts of the world, and we hope 

that this will actually inspire them 

to continue to come to Singapore in 

person simply for the fact that we offer 

a superior range of topics or ideas. 

How has digital dentistry impacted the 

behaviour of patients regarding dental 

care? 

Dr Yong: From the patient's point 

of view, I can tell you that patients 

are extremely receptive to digital 

dentistry. And the main reason is that 

the patient of today is educated. They 

understand that there is a science 

behind everything that we do, and then 

they can see it visually as we present 

an image or analysis to them. This 

helps doctors to create awareness on 

behavioural changes that they need to 

do for them to get a better outcome. It 

also adds value in terms of presenting 

treatment options and monitoring the 

progress of the case. 

What are your thoughts on dental 

tourism? 

Dr Yong: Dental tourism will always 

be around and the main reason is that 

patients would like to get the best 

value for money. The issue with dental 

tourism is probably in the types of 

procedures which are suitable for such 

approach. So, for example, it is unlikely 

that we will go to a foreign country 

for an invasive procedure, because 

usually these procedures need a lot 

of aftercare. We have to note that the 

quality of care is not only in the ability 

to do a particular procedure but also 

in how well the patient is taken care 

of and supported during the recovery 

period. 

Of course, there are non-invasive 

procedures such as teeth whitening 

that some people would like to do as 

they are vacationing. I think those are 

probably less scary, and something 

that we should not think too much 

about. But what we do not want is 

to create the impression that dental 

tourism is all about getting it cheap or 

about convenience. It should not be 

that. Dental tourism, just like normal 

dental care, should always have a high 

standard of care. That's the important 

thing. Anything else is just value 

added. 



How do you envision the future of 

dentistry? 

Dr Yong: In the future, patients will 

continue to demand more evidence in 

terms of how the treatment should be. 

And the main reason is because they 

would want to exercise autonomy on 

how their care should be. Patients have 

move away from paternalistic medicine 

whereby the doctor decides on what 

should be done. Because why? They feel 

that they are knowledgeable enough to 

make that decision. So, patients need 

evidence. And that actually strongly 

supports the cause of digital dentistry. 

The second one would be in terms of 

the doctors that we have. In fact, they 

are probably the most intelligent group 

we have seen since the profession has 

started. The main reason is because 

we are very successful in education. 

The new generation is extremely noble 

hearted too. They feel a strong need to 

make the world a better place. Yet, the 

number of resources that is needed 

to help them pursue their profession 

or their education has also gotten to 

be more expensive over time. And this 

creates a slight tug-of-war whereby 

doctors have to decide how they can 

achieve the right work life balance. So, 

I think the new doctors definitely face a 

harder career scape compared to when 

I started 27 years ago. Nonetheless, 

young doctors themselves need to be 

resilient enough in order to navigate this 

so-called new landscape. 

And the third one would be, in terms 

of our collective responsibility 

together with the Ministry of Health. 

In Singapore itself, we have gotten 

so good at treating patients that it 

is no debate that the level of care 

is extremely high. But the reality is 

that it has also gotten extremely 

expensive. There is no way we can 

maintain this type of spending 

pattern or treatment fee pattern. This 

has to be looked at. And of course, 

we are definitely supportive of 

Singapore's Healthcare SG initiative 

whereby we will start to shift our 

focus to preventive care. I think that 

dentistry have a head start on this 

area but we need to continue to build 

on that. DA 


REGISTER 

NOW! 

HIGHLIGHTS 

Latest developments in 

rege nerative therapies 

Live surgeries 

Hands-on workshops 

Case session 

Morning with master clinicians 

Clinical round tables 

Poster exhibition 

Research networking day 

Joint sessions with AAP and SEPA 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE 

Pamela K. McClain, USA (Chair) 

Istvan Urban, Hungary (Chair) 

William V. Giannobile, USA 

Franck Renouard, France 

Frank Schwarz, Germany 

Anton Sculean, Switzerland 

osteology–barcelona.org 

be part of #OsteologyBarcelona


Advancing osseous 

surgery 

An Italian company established in 1979, Mectron is committed 

to providing dental and medical professionals with innovative 

clinical solutions. With the recent launch of Rex PiezoImplant, 

the company is poised to remain the market leader of 

Piezosurgery in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. 


Mectron Medical Technologies, based 

on the Ligurian Coast in Italy, was 

founded over four decades ago by two 

engineers, who today are still active 

company owners. 

With their dedication to product 

development and innovation, Mectron 

now has a sales network in over 80 

countries offering products for preventive 

and restorative dentistry, as well as for 

oral surgery. These different treatment 

fields are covered with the following 

product ranges: the Piezosurgery line, 

ultrasonic scalers, air polishers and 

curing lights. 

Mectron prides itself on introducing the 

patented ultrasonic micro-vibrations of 

the original PIEZOSURGERY ® technique 

in the market. Providing micrometric 

cuts for minimally invasive surgeries with 

surgical precision and intra-operative 

tactile sensation, it also selectively cuts 

and protects any kind of soft tissue — 

nerves, vessels and membranes will not 

be injured while cutting bone. 

Kelvin Liang, sales area manager of 

Mectron in Asia-Pacific (APAC), is elated 

to bring this Mectron’s expertise to the 

region, which enables surgeons to work 

with more precision while at the same 

time reducing postoperative discomfort 

for the patients. 



However, he noted that the APAC market 

is very versatile and given its unique 

demographics and socioeconomic 

differences, the maturity of products 

and technology highly differ from each 

country. 

EVOLVING DENTAL LANDSCAPE 

As a company, Mectron has continuously 

grown despite the challenges of COVID-19. 

Liang shared that during this period, 

Mectron focused on converting their license 

to comply with European registration. 

“In some countries, they’ve accepted 

Piezosurgery many years ago; but some 

of the countries here are still trying to 

accept the concept. It is a good thing 

that I am based in Singapore, hence, 

I am able to travel across the region 

without much hindrance and reach out 

to our customers,” he explained. 

As a customer-centric company, Liang 

added, it is vital for Mectron to attend 

congresses like the recently concluded 

International Dental Exhibition and 

Meeting to connect and educate more 

practitioners on the clinical advantages 

of Piezosurgery. They also conduct 

seminars with hands-on sessions to 

help their clients to further leverage their 

product solutions. 

Liang elaborated: “We invite our key 

opinion leaders from Europe to come 

to APAC to give lessons. We are also 

collaborating with countries like South 

Korea to send their key opinion leaders 

to give lectures in Europe. We do this to 

have some sort of connection between 

the lecturers in Europe and APAC. This 

is something that we do to add value to 

our customers and their patients.” 

“This saves time for both patients and 

doctors because if they use bone 

substitutes like in GBR, for example, they 

will require a year before they place the 

implant. So, with this, you can reduce it 

by six months,” explained Liang. 

Rex PiezoImplants are designed for a 

minimally invasive surgical treatment 

on the patient. And to optimise every 

clinical benefit of Piezosurgery, a 

personalised range of specific inserts 

for specific procedures was also 

created. 

Liang shared his excitement for this 

line, as there is a pipeline of solutions 

awaiting to be launched in the market in 

the next years to come. 

“This is what the rest of the European 

countries are doing currently and we are 

already 90% done with this,” he shared. 

To support their clients in these trying 

times, Mectron pivoted to conducting online 

seminars to continue to provide a learning 

platform for practitioners. Liang said that 

they liaised with their key opinion leaders to 

plan out relevant topics to tackle. 

As the dental industry embarks on the 

recovery road from the pandemic, Liang 

foresees that the dental trend will move 

into preventive care in the next three to 

five years. 

Rest assured, he said, that Mectron will 

continue to support dental professionals 

in providing the best possible clinical 

technology ranging from their ultrasonic 

and prophylaxis range to conservative, 

minimally invasive surgical solutions. DA 

NARROW RIDGE? PROBLEM 

SOLVED 

Innovation never stops at Mectron 

with the addition of Rex PiezoImplant 

to their dental portfolio. Launched this 

year and is now undergoing registration 

in different countries, Liang highlighted 

that this tissue-level implant offers a 

revolutionary solution in the market. 

“Rex PiezoImplant is our new 

Piezosurgery implant that is used 

with our Piezosurgery device. This 

is a useful solution for our APAC 

customers because this solves a very 

interesting problem — which is the 

narrow ridge. 



VITA Zahnfabrik: Quality 

that exceeds the norm 

From life-like denture teeth and 

precise shade determination to a wide 

range of CAD/CAM and veneering 

materials — dental professionals 

from over 150 countries benefit from 

VITA Zahnfabrik’s products and 

technologies. 


Driven by an innovative mindset, VITA 

Zahnfabrik continues to thrive in the everevolving 

field of dentistry. To learn more 

about their success and strategies specific 

to the Asia-Pacific region, Dental Asia 

speaks with Emiliano Bini, VITA’s regional 

business manager, Australasia. 

VITA Zahnfabrik has been at the forefront 

of progress for laboratory and practice 

since its establishment in 1924. What is 

the recipe for this success? 

Bini: “VITA — perfect match” is the tangible 

benefit we offer our users and customers 

for unrivalled patient treatment. Qualified 

employees committed to the company 

and the consistent expansion of core 

competencies within the framework of 

clearly defined business areas are part 

of the secret to success. The perfect 

combination of tradition and experience 

with forward-looking vision and inspiring 

dynamism forms the foundation of the 

internationally active VITA Zahnfabrik. 

In recent years, can you enumerate VITA’s 

top three best-selling products in the 

Asia-Pacific (APAC) market and briefly 

discuss the factors that swayed these 

demands? 

Bini: These reside within our veneering 

materials, CAD/CAM and denture teeth 

portfolio — although we had an important 

spike in demand within our shade 

guide range. Thanks to strong and 

long-lasting relationships with our local 

distribution network, we are sure to 

deliver our products to local users in 

the area. 

Together with our internal training 

team and leveraging our recently 

build VITA Hybrid Studio, we 

ensure to provide constant learning 

opportunities. Partnering with VITAcertified 

labs and milling centres, put 

us in the position to provide the VITA 

offering to local communities, yielding 

particular success within the 

veneering material range. 

What is unique about 

the APAC market, 

and how does it 

affect VITA’s sales 

and marketing 

strategies? 

Bini: Today, 

dentists 

and dental 

technicians 

in more 

than 150 

countries 

work with 

VITA’s quality 



products and restoration solutions. 

The APAC market is a very important 

one in the dental industry and for 

VITA — although it needs special 

catering due to its vastity, diversity 

and dynamicity. An important shift 

noticed is an exponential increase in 

E-commerce environments, and we 

will need to increase our investment 

in social media platforms to expand 

our audience on digital channels and 

leverage new marketing tools such as 

retargeting ads to convert the already 

engaged customers. 

“ The perfect combination of tradition 

and experience with forward-looking 

vision and inspiring dynamism forms 

the foundation of the internationally 

active VITA Zahnfabrik.” 

How does VITA ensure that dental 

practitioners can keep up with the 

advancement of the field, and how do 

you support your customers to further 

leverage on VITA’s product solutions? 

Bini: Firstly, “VITA is characterised 

by its closeness to the user”. Being 

closer to the user than anyone else is 

the company’s vision and therewith 

a key element to support users 

and customers worldwide. Shade 

systems, CAD/CAM materials, press 

and veneering materials as well as 

ready-made teeth and materials for 

the digital fabrication of dentures are 

offered through an international sales 

network that is very close to the users 

and customers. 

Secondly, “VITA is pioneering”. Better 

and better solutions for perfect 

prosthetics, that is the “VITA — perfect 

match” our qualified employees are 

working for day by day. Moreover, 

VITA can rely on its own very strong 

research and development team, 

based in the headquarter in Bad 

Säckingen, Germany, with a clear focus 

on the innovation fields of the future. 

And for VITA, being close to the user 

also means imparting knowledge. 

The VITA Academy lives and breathes 

advanced training and as a competent 

knowledge partner for dental 

laboratories and practices, offers 

comprehensive, customised advanced 

and further training formats. 

Sustainability in dentistry has been a 

hot topic recently — what are the steps 

VITA has taken to support this cause? 

Bini: VITA considers sustainability 

as a top priority. Now more than 

ever, manufacturers must consider 

the sustainability of production 

processes to guarantee that levels of 

emissions, energy consumption and 

waste be kept at a reasonable level. 

We are undergoing a process of lean 

transformation, intending to improve 

our manufacturing processes, but also 

the transactional everyday business 

way of things. We are constantly 

working to eliminate paper printouts, 

these being in the financial sector, but 

also in the commercial one. Drastic 

reductions in brochure printing and the 

introduction of QR codes support us 

in this mission. Everything that can be 

saved in the elimination of wastes and 

inefficiencies, can and will be reinvested 

in R&D and marketing activities to 

support our customers. 

What other developments from Vita 

should the industry look forward to, 

and how do you envision the company 

in the next 5–10 years? 

Bini: Our goal is to develop and 

continuously improve our solutions 

for ideal aesthetic and functional 

restorations. By delivering continuous 

improvements in safety, quality, 

innovation, and manufacturing processes, 

we hope to offer a key element for the 

quality of life to people throughout the 

world. Stay tuned for exciting news in the 

digital denture offering! DA 



Augmented aesthetics in direct 

composite layering 

Presenting a tedious but effective technique, Dr John Rundell Paredes details the 

use of modifying stains in conjunction with a mono-shade composite system to 

fabricate natural-looking restorations. 

Translucency in composites and other 

dental restoratives are ever present. The 

effects of translucency largely affects the 

final restoration, the thickness and type of 

this layer will dictate corresponding optical 

effects, especially on composites (Fig. 1). 

Thickness of the translucency layer reduces 

the chroma or the intensity of the shade (Figs. 

2-3). It also reduces the value, or the overall 

brightness of the shade. Differences in the 

type of translucency layers is also important, 

as higher value translucencies, in which being 

a brighter, milky-white layer, increases the 

value of the restoration while also decreasing 

chroma in increasing its thickness (Fig. 4). 

Lower value translucency layers in contrast, 

darkens the restoration and produces an 

amber shade to the restoration. 

It is worth noting that some types of 

translucencies vary in its translucency 

itself. Translucency in general lessens 

the definition of the layers and colours 

underneath it, like stains for example, but 

highly translucent, almost transparent/ 

achromatic composite variants also exist, 

for those cases in which patterns and 

shades on the underlying layer should be 

better observed. 

The knowledgeable use of these types 

of layers can be an indispensable tool in 

creating high level aesthetics in anterior 

restorations. Typically found in multi shade 

system composites, mono shade systems 

can also have a translucency layer available 

to it, typically labelled as Incisal. 

CASE STUDY 

A 30-year-old female patient has undergone 

a class III non-extraction, compensated 

orthodontic treatment; the previous situation 

was a severe crowding on the anterior teeth with 

crossbite. The orthodontic treatment was done 

in the concept of using an accentuated curve 

of Spee to accommodate the spacing needed 

for the anterior teeth, without extraction of the 

lower premolar teeth to avoid resulting in an 

excessive retraction of the mandibular teeth. 

A disadvantage of this technique is the overinclination 

of the anterior teeth facially, but 

with the advantage of being less invasive due 

avoidance of extraction (Figs. 5-7) 

The patient wanted a better smile, but is 

not amenable to indirect restorations due 

Fig. 1: One type of translucency layer; TN- 

Translucent Neutral, Amaris, Voco 

Figs. 2-3: Note the thickness differences and its 

effect on the underlying layer 

Fig. 4: TL-Translucent Light; Amaris, Voco 

Figs. 5-7: Pre-operative pictures 



Figs. 8-9 

Fig. 10 

Figs. 11-12 

Fig. 13 

Figs. 14-15 

Figs. 16-17 

to the preference of minimising tooth 

reduction. So, the treatment plan was 

to first lengthen the anterior teeth in an 

attempt to “test out” the function and 

phonetics of the proposed new length 

of the anterior teeth, keeping in mind 

minimising or possibly avoiding tooth 

reduction as per patient’s request. The 

patient also wanted to try out a brighter 

shade during this phase. Harmony is not 

yet a concern initially because of the 

prevailing COVID-19 restrictions of using a 

mask, the patient was more than willing to 

do this phase. 

Subsequent proposed procedures would 

be an in-office bleaching appointment, 

then a minimally invasive direct veneering 

or bonding smile makeover to recreate 

the smile with the least tooth reduction 

possible. Direct composite restorations 

also have the advantage of easy 

adjustments, considering that the patient 

had a crossbite and may not adjust to 

the new anterior design easily, while also 

enabling the us to layer a more natural 

looking restoration, as compared to a 

monolithic composite injection technique. 

A final, more durable, indirect restoration 

was also proposed, after a three-month 

period following the final direct restoration, 

if the patient would want to change it and 

would be amenable to tooth reduction. 

PRE-PROCEDURAL PREPARATION 

Direct addition of composite material was 

added to the tooth to simulate the new 

length of the anterior teeth, using a direct 

ormocer composite, Admira Fusion from 

VOCO; shade B1 and Incisal are layered in 

using a freehand technique. This phase 

was supposedly only for two-three weeks, 

but the patient wanted to delay the final 

treatment (Figs. 8-9). 

Patient came back for the definitive 

treatment citing the different adjustments 

she wanted for the teeth. The planned inoffice 

bleaching was done after reduction of 

the existing layered composite. Initial shade 

was at VITA Classical A4 (Fig. 10), noting the 

strong chroma and low value of the existing 

natural teeth, the patient was made to 

understand that a high value and target 

shade of B1 may not be achieved. This was 

understood and accepted by the patient 

before we continued with our bleaching 

procedure after impression and removal of 

the existing composite material (Figs. 11-12). 

A request of bonded temporaries was 

made by the patient during this time, as 

she is already accustomed to the new 

shape of her teeth. It was planned that 

we will be fabricating a direct temporary 

and mock up of the planned makeover 

for her to wear after a week from the 

bleaching procedure, to minimise possible 

discolouration of the natural teeth due to 

the possible effects of the bonding agent. 

A combination of A1 and B2 shades were 

achieved after the bleaching procedure 

(Figs.13-15), the patient was appointed a 

week after for her bonded temporaries. An 

appointment after two weeks was also set 

for the definitive composite restorations. 

The shade is still consistent after a week 

the bleaching procedure (Figs. 16-17). 



MOCK UP TRY-IN/TRANSFER 

The mock up was done using the impression 

from the first composite bonding. Specific 

parts were built up by wax, but reductions 

were also done for the planned smile. The 

proclination of the anterior teeth were 

considered and were mocked up with less 

material on the facial side and more towards 

the palatal area. The facial-incisal plane of 

the mock up is now slightly accentuated 

to give the effect of retroclination and to 

approximate the overjet of the anterior teeth 

to facilitate proper phonetics. A silicone 

stent was prepared using putty-wash 

technique, and then trimmed to the shape of 

the cervical scalloping of the teeth (Fig. 18). 

Transfer of the mock up was done by line 

etching the teeth with 37% phosphoric acid 

(Fig. 19), and then application of a bonding 

agent (Futurabond U, VOCO: Fig. 20) to all 

labial surfaces was done and cured after 

evaporation of the solvent; this is to facilitate 

good bonding to withstand some function for 

a week, but reassuring the removal process 

during the preparation phase will be easier as 

compared to a fully etched tooth. 

A self-curing, injectable temporisation material 

(Structur 3, VOCO) was injected into the 

silicone stent (Fig. 21) and then placed on 

top of the natural dentition, excess removed 

from the cervical area before removal of the 

silicone stent after four minutes (Fig. 22), 

then light-cured for bonding assurance. The 

surface oxygen inhibited layer was wiped 

off with alcohol and then the temporaries 

were adjusted as per the patient’s request. 

Final minimal polishing for gloss was done 

with a single-step polisher (Dimanto, VOCO) 

with smooth strokes under low speed with 

water cooling. Impression was taken after the 

final polishing procedure for the basis of the 

definitive composite restorations (Figs. 23-27). 

GUIDED PREPARATION THROUGH THE 

MOCK UP 

Preparation of the teeth were done after 

a week from temporisation. The plan was 

for a minimally invasive reduction as per 

patient’s request, and the target shade 

that the patient wanted was still B1 despite 

final shade matching being stable at B2. A 

reduction through the mock up was done at 

1mm on the incisal and 0.5mm on the incisal 

and middle facial thirds (Figs. 28-29), no 

reduction was done on the cervical third. 

Fig. 18 

Fig. 19 

Fig. 20 

Fig. 21 

Fig. 22 Fig. 23 

Fig. 24 

Fig. 25 Fig. 26 

Fig. 27 

Fig. 28 Fig. 29 



Fig. 30 Fig. 31 

Fig. 32 

Fig. 33 

Fig. 34 

Fig. 35 

Fig. 36 

Fig. 37 

Fig. 38 

Fig. 39 Fig. 40 Fig. 41 

Reduction through the mock ups showed 

that minimal to no reduction was done 

on the natural teeth (Figs. 30-31), so the 

surface enamel was only roughened with 

fine grit diamonds and abrasive disks. 

COMPOSITE BONDING TECHNIQUE 

Rubberdam isolation was done for optimum 

moisture control and bonding, the teeth 

surfaces to be layered upon were fully 

etched with 37% phosphoric acid (Fig. 32), 

then bonding agent applied on all etched 

areas (Futurabond U, VOCO) (Fig. 33). A 

palatal stent that was fabricated from 

the adjusted mock up impression used to 

facilitate the buildup of the palatal shell 

using a nano-hybrid pure-silicate based 

direct composite, incisal translucent 

shade (Admira Fusion, VOCO) (Fig. 34), 

interproximal shells were also built up using 

the same shade and material (Fig. 35), this 

is to facilitate an easier layering of the body 

shades. 

Layering of the body shade was done using 

B1 (Admira Fusion, VOCO) (Fig. 36), the 

blending of the layered body shade to B2 

shade tooth structure is crucial, the B1 body 

shade should be tapered off properly and 

equally on contralateral teeth for proper 

cervical gradience and blending, the use 

of a nylon brush (Anterior Composite 

Brush, Smile Line) was used with a minimal 

amount of modelling liquid (Ceramage 

Modelling Liquid, Shofu), taking care not to 

use an excessive amount of modelling liquid 

as this can potentially create voids and 

therefore compromise the strength of the 

composite buildup. 

The incisal internal mamelons were shaped, 

leaving space for translucency and other 

incisal effects for optimal aesthetics. A thin 

layer of B1 shade was layered on the incisal 

edge to imitate the incisal halo, small incisal 

detailing was also layered using A2 shade 

(Admira Fusion, VOCO), this will render 

vertical lines inside the incisal translucency 

(Figs. 37-38). Multiple stains were applied 

to the various areas of the layered 

restoration; Blue on incisal areas to simulate 

incisal depth and translucency, blue on 

developmental grooves/fossa to increase 

the effect of depth in between the layered 

lobes, a combination of yellow and white on 

the mesial and distal lobes to increase value 

on those areas, and a combination of yellow 

and brown on some selected areas in the 

incisal to simulate chromatic irregularities, 

typically found on natural teeth (Final 

Touch Stains, VOCO) (Fig. 39 and 40), a 

cross-polarised photo shows the subtle 

effects that the stains (Fig. 41). 



Fig. 42 Fig. 43 Fig. 44 

Fig. 45 

Fig. 46 

Fig. 47a 

Fig. 47b 

Fig. 48 Fig. 49 

All layered and painted stains are overlaid 

upon by a final Incisal shade, this will 

guarantee that the painted stains will 

not be erased due to abrasions of 

normal wear and tear. The incisal shade 

composite also tapers off to blend in with 

the body shade on the middle third, this 

will decrease the chroma of the layers on 

the incisal area and gradually increasing 

towards the middle to cervical (Fig 42). A 

final curing of the composites was done 

under block-out gel to cure any oxygeninhibited 

layer present (Fig. 43). 

Sculpting was commenced using as 

low speed red band long flame bur, 

minimal reduction is needed due to the 

anatomical layering technique, thus 

saving time (Figs. 44-45). Finishing and 

polishing done with a combination 

of abrasive discs (Soflex Discs, 3M), 

finishing spirals (Soflex Spirals, 3M), 

Silicone Polishers with different 

pressures to achieve different results 

(Dimanto Polishers, VOCO), and final 

buffing of a fine aluminium oxide wax 

(Ceramage Dura Dia, Shofu) using a 

goat’s hair brush at low speed under 

isolation (Fig. 46). 

Final smile photos render a naturalistic 

design of the composite restorations 

with subtle anatomical effects and 

translucencies. (Figs. 47a-b: High 

contrast photo) A before and after photo 

with the pre-operative photo adjusted 

to approximate the colours of the post 

operative photos, as these were taken 

with different camera systems and 

lenses (Figs. 48-49). DA 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dr John Rundell 

Paredes is the 

head dentist 

and owner of 

Esthetique 

Smiles Dental 

(Philippines). He graduated from 

Centro Escolar University with a 

degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine 

and has undergone intensive 

orthodontics training under Center 

for Orthodontic Training Seminars, 

Inc. A key opinion leader of VOCO 

Philippines and clinical advisor of 

Shofu, he also conducts training 

programmes and lectures with the 

organisation PIPE (Perio, Implant, 

Prostho, Esthetics). 


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Elevate patient experience 

with proactive dentistry 

With the advantage of data recording capability and visualisation of oral 

conditions at the chairside for patient communication, Dr Tak-On Tse 

Ryan explains why intraoral scanners (IOS) have become a substantial 

instrument for oral health assessment and risk assessment of potential 

oral diseases. 

Balancing the quality of care and 

practice efficiency becomes a question 

for almost every dental professional. 

Having a long-term relationship 

with patients is ideal even for dental 

professionals, but prolonged hours at 

the clinic are exhaustive and it requires 

additional resources and manpower. 

Thankfully, digital technologies in 

dentistry have evolved so that multiple 

clinical conditions can be diagnosed 

with efficiency. The perception that 

oral health needs to be checked by 

clinicians only when there are identified 

symptoms makes it hard for patients to 

develop a long-term relationship with 

dental clinics, resulting in transactional 

types of patients. 

The problem with this approach is that 

often patients wait until they develop 

serious oral diseases which may require 

restorative treatments and cause 

anxiety about dental treatments and 

clinic visits (Armfield and Heaton, 2013). 

Personally, I categorise this practice 

pattern as a “Hitman” approach which 

is to find out the disease in a routine 

dental appointment that was not 

present six months ago, followed by 

treating the problem. 

However, the adoption of new 

digital technology into practice 

may result in practice style changes 

and steep learning curves for dental 

professionals, especially due to 

digital literacy. Often, clinicians 

find it difficult to develop new skills 

or evolve their practice due to 

time constraints and staff training, 

resulting in limited benefits despite 

significant investments (Mascitti 

and Campisi, 2020). 

In addition, patients in the digital 

era prefer to have autonomy in the 

dental treatment decision-making 

with more understanding of their 

oral health conditions to accept 

any diagnosis or treatments and 

manage their oral health (Benecke 

et al., 2020). 

HEALER APPROACH VS HITMAN 

APPROACH 

In contrast, there is another 

practice style that implements 

a risk assessment strategy to 

provide proactive care and develop 

a long-term relationship with 

patients: a healer approach. The 

latter method is through evidencebased 

evaluation and made 

recommendations based on diet, 

homecare habits, and other preventive 

measures and monitoring to minimise 

the potential risk of dental problems. 

Preventive dental care is indeed found 

to be cost-saving and effective at 

achieving better oral health conditions 

overall (Pourat, Choi, and Chen, 2018). 

The concept closely resembles 

the periodic vehicle (automobile) 

inspection or regular health 

screening. Dental health also needs 

to be checked on a regular basis so 

that patients can take better care 

of their oral health. Some common 

problems that can be detected early 

and prevented include the following: 

periodontal, biomechanical, 

functional, and dentofacial issues. 

The concept of diagnostic options is 

like the vehicle inspection categories. 

ADVANTAGES OF IOS OVER 

CONVENTIONAL TOOLS 

Intraoral scanner (IOS) such as iTero 

Element 5D scanners is an ideal 

solution for preventive oral health 

assessment and risk assessment. The 

comprehensive diagnostics features 

and data record capability of the 

scanners for oral health assessment 

streamline the subsequent dental 

check-ups as well as the initial visit. 



In just one scan, multiple types of 

information are captured within 

minutes and visualised on-screen 

for communication with patients: 

iTero NIRI (Near Infra-Red Imaging) 

technology for early enamel/dentinal 

interproximal caries (Metzger, et al., 

2022); iTero Occlusogram for bite 

force/malocclusion/arch contact 

relationship; iTero TimeLapse 

technology and integrated 3D intraoral 

camera for teeth, tooth structures and 

oral soft tissues (Figs. 1a-b). 

These features can be used to 

identify cracks and visualise trauma 

as well. If needed, the scanned 

results can be used to demonstrate 

the needs of orthodontics 

treatments to patients (in certain 

versions of scanners) and the 

expected treatment outcomes can 

be visualised through an application 

called Invisalign Outcome Simulation 

(IOSim)/IOSim Pro at chairside. 

The strength of iTero Element 

scanners is the scan report feature, 

which packages the oral health 

condition pictures/data of a patient 

into one document and is formulated 

to be sent to the e-mail or mobile 

device of a patient. 

This is the reason why iTero Element 

scanners could be advantageous over 

mirrors and transilluminators which 

are far more affordable. It is the 

report and shared communication 

with patients that help clinicians 

build stronger relationships with 

patients. 

In addition, the record-sharing 

practice is effective to raise 

patient awareness of oral health 

management as well as for patients 

to take their time to understand and 

appreciate the additional time and 

resources spent on the assessment. 

The visualisation and the handson 

copy of oral conditions support 

patients to comprehend their oral 

conditions and accept diagnosis and 

treatments. Moreover, it is a practice 

to provide warnings for potential 

dental problem risks, educate how 

their oral conditions need to be 

taken care of, and therefore reduce 

the liability of dental professionals. 

PRACTICE SHARING 

To provide an example of how oral 

health assessment is integrated into 

my clinical practice, I will introduce 

a workflow. Upon arrival at the 

clinic, patients are asked to fill out 

an initial visit survey (from Kois 

Centre, Seattle) to assess their oral 

health conditions and report their 

daily oral management behaviours 

while they are waiting. This is a 

great gateway for patients to think 

about their oral health and feel the 

need for comprehensive check-ups. 

The survey provides oral health 

assessment recommendations based 

on the number of answers requiring 

the monitoring of oral health. Thus, 

if patients are willing to assess their 

oral health conditions or if a certain 

number of answers are ticked, an 

assessment is recommended. 

Once patients are under the oral health 

assessment, multiple diagnostics tools 

including IOS are used to analyse the 

oral conditions. The core value of IOS 

such as iTero Element scanners is that 

oral health conditions can be visualised 

and communicated with patients at the 

chairside concurrently. While scrolling 

over different angles of oral health 

components, dental professionals can 

explain the current oral conditions to 

patients, what oral problems are being 

suspected, and possibly share the 

treatment plans if needed. 

Since the saying “seeing is believing” 

is often a very fundamental belief 

system in humans, patients tend to 

trust and accept the diagnosis and 

treatment plans more easily after the 

visualised oral health assessment. 

Additionally, patient’s decision 

to accept treatment is heavily 

affected by their relationship with 

their dentists which is the first and 

foremost factor over cost and time 

(Kalsi and Hemmings, 2013). 

Figs. 1a-b: Clinical condition of attrition detected during oral health assessment which is difficult to detect without magnification 



Figs. 2a-b: Oral health assessment summary shared with patients via email or mobile phones 

Fig. 3: iTero TimeLapse technology image 

The benefits of iTero Element scanners do 

not end here. Even if patients do not accept 

treatments onsite or do not possess any oral 

health issues, the Scan Report feature of iTero 

Element scanners can be used to provide a 

summary of oral health conditions to patients 

via mobile phone or e-mail (Figs. 2a-b). 

It provides another opportunity for 

patients to be reminded of their oral health 

conditions and the importance of good 

management of their oral hygiene. Over 

multiple visits and several summary reports, 

patients can track the changes of their oral 

health over time and their awareness of oral 

health management is likely to increase. 

With the baseline record and additional 

record over times, the clinician can use the 

Timelapse function and monitor the oral 

health of the patient (Fig. 3). 

Furthermore, the summary is shared with a 

risk assessment scoring I provide for patients 

to be aware of potential oral health diseases. 

Based on the risk assessment scoring, the 

schedule for the next clinic visits could be 

estimated for individual patients and be 

arranged before they leave the clinic, which 

contributes to the continuous relationship 

with patients. 

Besides, convenience is guaranteed for 

patients and clinics from the long-term 

relationship. The oral health history of 

patients will be recorded in the database 

after initial visits. The patient profiles and 

records can be retracted at any time and 



Fig. 4: Flowchart of oral health assessment practice 

compared with the most recent conditions 

to examine any changes. This database will 

build a foundation for patients to establish 

their primary dental care and eventually lead 

to a long-term relationship. 

With the establishment of long-term 

patients, the predictability of clinic 

resource and manpower management 

is achieved, resulting in efficiency 

and effectiveness in clinic schedule 

arrangement. The productive cycle of oral 

health assessment practice is illustrated in 

the flowchart (Fig. 4). 

CONCLUSION 

Collectively, the proactive oral health 

assessment of patients using IOS provides 

benefits to patient lifestyle and dental 

professional clinic practice management in a 

few ways including: 

1. Efficiency of practice (reduced chairside 

time from the use of iTero Element scanners 

which feature comprehensive oral health 

assessment diagnostics applications) 

2. Effective patient communication and 

education (visualisation and comparison of 

oral health condition changes over time) 

3. Increased volume of long-term patients 

(with the practice of “seeing is believing” 

to establish trust and the record-keeping 

capability of IOS) 

With the constant evolution of technology 

in dentistry and the emergence of a new 

generation of patients in the digital era, it 

is critical to adapt versatile equipment to 

promote efficiency and effectiveness of 

clinical practice and enable a continuous 

relationship with patients to maintain 

good oral hygiene, which in turn returns 

sustainable relationship with dental 

professionals. DA 

REFERENCES 

• Armfield, J. M., & Heaton, L. J. (2013). 

Management of fear and anxiety in the dental 

clinic: a review. Australian dental journal, 58(4), 

390–531. https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12118 

• Benecke, M., Kasper, J., Heesen, C., Schäffler, 

N., & Reissmann, D. R. (2020). Patient autonomy 

in dentistry: demonstrating the role for shared 

decision making. BMC medical informatics and 


Dr Tak-On Tse Ryan 

graduated from the 

University of Hong Kong, 

and completed the 

whole comprehensive 

curriculum of Kois Centre 

in Seattle, US, involving 

aesthetic, occlusion and restorative dentistry. 

He eventually became a mentor in 2021. A 

fellow of International Dental College and 

Pierre Fauchard Academy, Dr Tse was also 

an instructor at the Implant and Aesthetic CE 

decision making, 20(1), 318. https://doi.org/10.1186/ 

s12911-020-01317-5 

• Kalsi, J. S., & Hemmings, K. (2013). The influence 

of patients’ decisions on treatment planning in 

restorative dentistry. Dental update, 40(9), 698– 

710. https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2013.40.9.698 

• Mascitti, M., & Campisi, G. (2020). Dental Public 

Health Landscape: Challenges, Technological 

Innovation and Opportunities in the 21st Century 

and COVID-19 Pandemic. International journal of 

environmental research and public health, 17(10), 

3636. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103636 

• Metzger, Z., Colson, D. G., Bown, P., Weihard, T., 

Baresel, I., & Nolting, T. (2022). Reflected nearinfrared 

light versus bite-wing radiography for 

the detection of proximal caries: A multicenter 

prospective clinical study conducted in private 

practices. Journal of dentistry, 116, 103861. https:// 

doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103861 

• Pourat, N., Choi, M. K., & Chen, X. (2018). 

Evidence of effectiveness of preventive dental 

care in reducing dental treatment use and related 

expenditures. Journal of public health dentistry, 

78(3), 203–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12262 

programme at the University of Southern 

California Esthetic Dentistry. He was also 

invited to be one of the experts in Dental 

XP and is a Digital Smile Design Global 

instructor. At present, Dr Tse is the vicepresident 

of the Chinese Academy of 

Esthetic Dentistry (CAED) and the chairman 

of the Accreditation Board of CAED and is 

recognised as an associate fellow member 

of the American Academy of Esthetic 

Dentistry for his contribution in aesthetic 

dentistry. 


USER REPORT 

All-ceramic restoration 

on discoloured teeth 

Dr Christopher Ho outlines strategies to overcome the challenges 

of restoring a severely discoloured tooth with high-aesthetic 

requirements. 

With the increasing use of all 

ceramic restorations, clinicians 

may encounter difficulty matching 

shades on discoloured teeth. This 

discolouration may be due to many 

factors, including metallic post and 

core, previous restoration, or other 

extrinsic or intrinsic factors. 

There is often a need to mask 

discolouration. However, allceramic 

restorations have inherent 

translucency within the material. 

It may be advantageous in most 

situations but may allow shine 

through of underlying dark stumps, 

negatively impacting the final shade 

match. 

Several strategies can be adopted 

to influence the final colour of the 

restoration including: 

• Choice of resin cement. Most 

dental companies manufacture 

shaded and opaque resin cement, 

which may assist in blocking 

discolouration. However, it should 

be noted that with the cement film 

thickness being 80-120 microns, 

it may not assist sufficiently 

in blocking the dark tooth. In 

my experience, it improves the 

situation by 10-15%. 

• Selecting an opaque ceramic 

material. The majority of materials 

for indirect restorations are 

available in different opacities 

and translucencies. Advising 

the ceramist that the tooth is 

dark and taking photographs 

of the stump shade may result 

in the selection of an opaquer 

ceramic material (e.g., Zirconia 

first generation materials, lithium 

disilicate – medium opacity ingot). 

The opaque ceramic will block 

the underlying dark tooth from 

showing through. 

• Thickness of material and 

preparation depth. All-ceramic 

restorations allow more 

conservative preparation, but 

with a dark tooth substrate, 

there may be the need to prepare 

deeper to allow greater material 

thickness which will be better 

at masking the dark tooth. 

Duraes et al. (2022) reported 

that the best thickness and 

opacity combination for masking 

discoloured dental substrates is 

to use 1.2mm thickness and LT 

(low translucency)/MO (medium 

opacity) lithium disilicate 

restorations. 


USER REPORT 

Fig. 1: Patient wants to replace the crown on tooth 11 due to poor 

marginal fit and discolouration of underlying stump 

Fig. 2: Removal of old crown reveals dark tooth substrate 

Fig. 3: Sub-opaquing the discoloured stump with opaque resin tints 

e.g., Kerr Kolor Plus A1 opaque, GC masking liner, Cosmedent Pink 

opaquer 

Fig. 4: Final all-ceramic crown 

• Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) 

crown. A conventional PFM 

restoration with a metallic coping 

is blocked out with an opaquer 

allowing the ceramist to start 

the layering on a white canvas. 

It should not be forgotten as 

a possible option. Clinicians, 

however, must remember that the 

depth of preparation would need to 

be at least 1.5mm with a shouldertype 

margin to achieve adequate 

thickness for the metal coping and 

the overlying feldspathic porcelain. 

• Sub-opaquing the stump. The final 

technique is to sub-opaque the 

stump with an opaque resin tint. 

Several manufacturers provide 

opaque resin tints that are thin 

and possess titanium dioxide, 

which effectively scatters light 

providing white opacity to block 

out discolouration. This opaquer 

is like a flowable resin applied 

by adhesive bonding and placed 

precisely with a thin layer that 

extends along the axial wall 

extending sub-gingivally when 

tissue biotype is thin (Figs. 1-4). 

Matching discoloured teeth is 

always a challenge; both the 

clinician and laboratory team need 

to work synergistically to achieve 

an ideal outcome. Communication 

is paramount to success with 

clinicians providing detailed 

instruction about the stump colour 

as well as allowing sufficient 

thickness and understanding the 

selection of materials to effectively 

block any dark stump colour. 

Possessing other strategies such 

as the sub-opaquing method may 

reduce the difficulty in the shade 

matching by having an idealcoloured 

substrate and should be 

part of your armamentarium in 

tackling these tough cases. DA 


Dr Christopher 

Ho is a specialist 

prosthodontist 

who completed 

postgraduate 

studies in Masters 

of Clinical 

Dentistry in 

Prosthodontics from the University 

of London, and a Doctorate in Clinical 

Dentistry in Prosthodontics from the 

University of Sydney. He is a fellow 

of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, 

American College of Dentists, and 

a special field member of the Royal 

Australasian College of Dental 

Surgeons in Prosthodontics. He is the 

head of the School of Postgraduate 

Dentistry, Australasian College of 

Dental Practitioners, and a visiting 

lecturer for the postgraduate oral 

implant diploma and prosthodontic 

programmes at the University of 

Sydney, and Kings College London, UK. 


USER REPORT 

GBR around implant 

using porcine-derived 

carbonate apatite 

xenograft to optimise 

pink aesthetics 

Dr Akshay Kumarswamy elaborates on the use of 

RegenerOss resorbable xenograft for guided bone 

regeneration (GBR) procedure. 

A 40-year-old female presented to us 

was unhappy about her longstanding 

existing two-unit cantilever bridge 

with tooth 25 being the abutment 

tooth and tooth 24 as the pontic. She 

wished to get rid of the pontic and 

hoped for something more aesthetic. 

Fig. 1 

Fig. 2 

After a thorough examination – the 

crown on tooth 25 seemed to have 

good margins and could be salvaged. 

The initial picture (Fig. 1) was taken 

after the pontic was cut off from 

tooth 25. The pontic had created 

an ideal soft tissue profile. A buccal 

defect was noted in tooth 24 region. 

Implant placement with guided 

bone regeneration (GBR) followed 

by a screw-retained restoration was 

planned at that site. 

TREATMENT PLAN 

The initial plan consisted of placing 

the implant in its most ideal position 

Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 

Fig. 1: Cantilever pontic cut from parent 

prosthesis and soft tissue profile created 

by it 

Fig. 2: Buccal defect seen – 4.1x10mm 

implant placed in ideal position keeping in 

mind future screw-retained restoration 

Fig. 3: Buccal view of the buccal defect and 

thin bone around the implant 

Fig. 4: RegenerOss resorbable xenograft 

placed at the site 

Fig. 5: Membrane cut to desired shape and 

placed over the bone graft 


USER REPORT 

Fig. 6a 

Fig. 6b 

Fig. 7a 

Fig. 7b Fig. 8 

Fig. 9a 


Fig. 9b 

Figs. 6a-b: Flap mobilised and sutures were 

placed with no tension 

Fig. 7a-b: Second stage surgery after four 

months and placing of healing abutment 

to facilitate a screw-retained 

restoration. This would also involve 

GBR with the help of a xenograft 

material (RegenerOss, ZimVie) and a 

collagen membrane to ensure that 

the lost buccal bone was regenerated. 

Since it was a premolar site, a 

4.1x10mm implant was planned. The 

ideal depth of placement was 3mm 

below the buccal CEJ of the adjacent 

tooth. This would help in an ideal 

emergence profile of the future 

restoration. 

CONCLUSION 

GBR with an implant can have 

great results — both functional and 

aesthetic. The following points need 

to be kept in mind: 

• Primary closure of the grafted site 

is of prime importance 

Fig. 10 

Fig. 8: Emergence profile post healing 

Figs. 9a-b: Screw retained crown placed 

Fig. 10: Final restoration 

• Placement of implant in the most 

ideal position is paramount to 

achieve a good aesthetic and 

functional restoration. In case the 

bone is absent, it needs to be built 

before implant placement. 

In the case above, the bone was 

adequate enough to facilitate the 

placement of an implant with good 

primary stability which in turn helped 

us to graft the buccal defect at the 

same time as implant placement. 

The handling properties of 

RegenerOss Resorbable Xenograft are 

excellent. I hydrate them in normal 

saline for about 10 minutes before 

placing them in the desired site. I have 

had great results when I use them in 

GBR procedures. DA 

Dr Akshay 

Kumarswamy is a 

diplomate of the 

American Board 

of Periodontology 

and is board 

certified in 

periodontics and implant surgery. 

He completed his graduation from 

the College of Dental Sciences, 

Davangere, Karnataka. He pursued 

Advanced Education in General 

Dentistry (AEGD) from Boston 

University Goldman School of Dental 

Medicine, US, and completed his 

Master of Science in Periodontics 

from the University of North 

Carolina at Chapel Hill School of 

Dentistry, US. Dr Akshay is also 

a fellow and diplomate of the 

International Congress of Oral 

Implantologists (ICOI) and was 

awarded the American Academy 

of Periodontology Educator 

Award in 2016 and the American 

Academy of Periodontology (AAP) 

Foundation scholarship for the year 

2012. Currently, he is a consultant 

periodontist and implantologist 

at Dr Kumarswamy’s PerioFamily 

Advanced Dentistry Clinic in Mumbai, 

India. 


USER REPORT 

Morphologyfocused 

direct 

composite 

restoration 

By highlighting the distinct characteristics of a tooth, 

clinicians can create natural-looking composite restoration 

as Dr Nokame Yoshinori explains. 

Dental resin composites (DRCs) 

are widely used for restorative and 

aesthetic repairs. To achieve clinical 

success, the process of adhesion is 

crucial. Hence after complete caries 

removal, composite restoration 

must be done with rubber dam 

isolation to prevent contamination 

of moisture and saliva. 

The key to the aesthetic outcome 

of direct molar restorations is the 

understanding of the anatomical 

characteristics of the teeth and 

the techniques used to express 

them. Commonly, shade is less 

of an issue in direct restoration 

of molars, particularly for new 

generation composites that can 

easily blend naturally with the 

tooth. 

Therefore, focusing on the 

morphological characteristics of 

the tooth is more important than 

ever in doing direct restoration. 

CASE STUDY 

The first case is a Class 2 direct 

restoration of a first and second 

maxillary premolar. Even though they 

are the same maxillary premolar, 

each has unique characteristics. 

For example, the first premolar 

has larger crown than the second 

premolar, a wider central groove, 

and a less developed secondary 

ridge. Without understanding these 

characteristics, the restoration will 

not look as natural as it does in this 

case (Figs. 1-2). 

The second case is a mandibular first 

molar restored by direct restoration 

on the same day after debridement 

Fig. 1: Pre-treatment condition: The metal inlay of the maxillary second 

premolar cuts into the distal side of the first premolar, taking up space 

Fig. 2: Postoperative condition: Direct composite restorations captured 

the characteristics of each tooth type 


USER REPORT 

of the large cavity underneath the 

metal inlay. Partial pulpotomy was 

also performed using MTA cement 

(Figs. 3-6). 

Fig. 3 

Fig. 4 

At first glance, the restoration appears 

to be typical of Class 2. But if you look 

carefully, there is a nodule — a rare 

mandibular first molar morphology 

— on the centro-lateral side. Called 

the “sixth cusp” in Japan, the nodule 

occurs in 10-20% of mandibular first 

molars. 

Fig. 5 

Fig. 6 

When I treated this tooth, I determined 

from preoperative observation of 

the crown morphology that there 

was originally a sixth cusp. This is 

because the crown is wider toward the 

centro-lingual side, and the centrolingual 

occlusal head would have been 

abnormally large if I had tried to create 

the usual type of crown (Figs. 7-9). 

Figs. 7a-c 

If the sixth cusp was not restored, 

the outcome would probably be 

unacceptable. Hence, whether or not 

the surgeon knows that a sixth cusp 

can exist in this area can make all the 

difference in the result. 

Fig. 8 Fig. 9 

Fig. 3: Pre-treatment condition: The 

mandibular first molar with metal inlay 

showing marginal leakage. There are no 

spontaneous symptoms, but stimulated by 

cold stimulator 

Fig. 4: The old restoration was removed and 

the tooth was isolated with rubber dam. 

Large cavity was observed underneath the 

metal inlay 

Fig. 5: After removing the decay, a part of 

the dental pulp was exposed. It was free 

of abnormal finding in the preoperative 

diagnosis with microscope. It was decided to 

perform partial pulpotomy using MTA cement 

Fig. 6: Completion of the partial pulpotomy 

procedure and the removal of the 

remaining infected dentin and beveling. 

In this phase, I make the prediction of the 

final morphology 

Figs. 7a-c: If we simply think of the 

mandibular first molars as five cusps and 

place them in textbook form, the final 

restorations would appear too large as 

shown in Figs. 7a-b. 

Fig. 8: Post operative condition: As shown 

in Fig. 7c, the restoration settled into a 

morphologically comfortable arrangement 

Fig. 9: Post-treatment one year later 


Dr Nokame Yoshinori graduated from Nihon University 

School of Dentistry in Matsudo, Japan, in 2010. Since 2011, 

he has served as the deputy director of Nokame Dental 

Clinic. He is board certified by the Japanese Association of 

Microscopic Dentistry (JAMD) and The Academy of Clinical 

Dentistry. 

CONCLUSION 

Knowing the textbook morphology 

of teeth is important, but merely 

memorising them will not 

automatically lead to aesthetic 

results, as not all teeth have the same 

shape. The teacher to learn from is 

the natural teeth, and observation 

teaches us that there are many 

variations. That is the fun of direct 

restorations. DA 



Attractive and with character 

With sophisticated techniques, DT Luís Manuel Rocha Saraiva presents a 

step-by-step guide to high-aesthetic zirconia restorations. 

This is my protocol about the correct 

handling of zirconia materials such as Zolid 

HT+ Preshades which can be applied to all 

kind of aesthetic restorations starting with 

single crowns up to implant-supported full 

arch cases. 

In this article, I will show how to individualise 

and characterise high-aesthetic monolithic 

zirconia restorations in a very efficient and 

easy way. For this case, I have chosen two 

cases. A monolithic tooth-supported fullarch 

bridge which is only stained and an 

implant-supported bridge with monolithic 

teeth and a veneered gingiva (Fig. 1). Both 

cases are made using Zolid HT+ Pre-shades. 

DIGITAL DESIGN 

For the design of the crowns, we usually 

follow the digital workflow which is given 

by our CAD Software. Because this article 

relates more to the manual processing of 

zirconia, we will go through it quickly. But 

there are some very important rules you 

should always consider in your design: 

1. Use an Artex articulator before the 

digital design for all preparations of the 

models and use the digital articulator to 

finalise the functional design. 

2. Never start the digital workflow 

without using an approved wax-up or 

test model. 

3. Use the approved wax-up or test model 

as a pre-op scan (Fig. 2). 

4. Always remember the basics of a dental 

restoration: we are trying to imitate 

nature, so never forget the importance of 

shape and anatomy. 

5. Always follow the manufacturer’s 

instructions and the given indications of 

the material. 

GREEN STATE CHARACTERISATION 

To achieve an optimum aesthetic result, 

we need to remember the basics of tooth: 

anatomy and shape. In the second phase, it is 

necessary to use our knowledge in anatomy 

and dental morphology. For this we must 

Fig. 1: High-aesthetic zirconia restorations with an individual character 

Fig. 2: Pre-op scan 

Fig. 3: Working model scan 

Fig. 4: Matching process, pre-op scan and working model 

Fig. 5: Final CAD design tooth-supported bridge 

Fig. 6: Final CAD design implant-supported bridge 



prepare ourselves accordingly and I would 

recommend the following actions: 

1. Always use tools that are suitable for 

zirconia finishing in the green state. I use 

the Amann Girrbach Green State Finishing 

Kit, it contains all the tools I need. 

2. The speed specifications of the tools 

should always be observed. 

3. Zirconia in the green state is very 

sensitive, never use too high pressure 

and/or blunt tools. 

4. Always keep in mind that the zirconia 

shrinks by almost 20%. Due to that fact, 

the surface characterisation should be 

a bit deeper, but never make notches in 

areas under tensile stress. 

5. Use gloves and a mask and work cleanly, 

milling dust must be completely removed 

before sintering. 

We should always should bear in mind that 

although we infiltrate the zirconia with 

liquids for shading, we still apply stains, 

glazes and veneering ceramics later. Of 

course, we want to keep the microstructure 

even if these ceramic materials are applied. 

We should also take this into account in 

this phase, too. The microstructure we 

create in the green state is later decisively 

involved in the aesthetics and the natural 

appearance of the restoration. 

INFILTRATION 

This stage has the least influence on the 

final result, but it is the trickiest step. We 

must improve the chroma and the effects 

of the restoration without a real and 

immediate visualisation of the colours we 

use. The final colour becomes visible for 

the first time after the sintering process. 

To achieve aesthetic results, we must 

understand the principle of the white and 

porous zirconia foundation. I therefore 

recommend to people who do not have a 

lot of experience with the application of 

colouring liquids to always start with tests 

on blank leftovers or practice restorations, 

to take photos of the last results and to 

record everything you do. 

If the principle is once understood, the 

mental visualisation and implementation 

works quite easy. For this process step, I 

recommend the following preparation: 

1. Prepare all the colours to be used and 

follow the instructions for the materials. 

2. Clean the zirconia surface with 

compressed air, milling dust needs to be 

fully removed. 

3. Carefully start infiltration with small 

brushstrokes and small amounts of liquid. 

The zirconia in this stage has a high 

absorption behaviour (Fig. 12). 

4. Apply the chroma (dentin liquid) to the 

intended areas, i.e., approximal, cervical 

and occlusal. Due to the use of preshaded 

zirconia, the colour only needs to 

be reinforced in those areas. 

5. Apply the effects e.g., in the incisal area. 

SURFACE PREPARATION AND COLOUR 

CUSTOMISATION 

Figures 13-16 show the results after 

sintering. Despite all the work, the excellent 

quality of this material is evident. It is 

only possible with a material like Zolid 

HT+ Preshades to have such results after 

sintering and to perceive the excellent 

optical behaviour of zirconia. If the 

restoration meets all requirements after 

sintering, we can concentrate on the most 

important aspect, the aesthetics. 

In that case, I used the staining system 

Ivocolor from Ivoclar Vivadent. This has 

two reasons. The first is the wide range of 

possible firing cycles, I am able to choose a 

temperature between 700-890ºC without 

harming its properties. The second reason 

is its optical behaviour. This kit has three 

unique colours on the market: Ivocolor E22, 

Magenta Ivocolor E21 and Neutral Gray 

Ivocolor E17. It also has three basic shades 

SD0, SD1 and SD2, that form the base of 

the chroma that we will need for this type 

Figs. 7-8: Initial situation after milling 

Fig. 9: Manual re-work of zirconia in the green state 

Figs. 10-11: Final restoration after manual re-work, ready for sintering 

Fig. 12: Application of the colouring liquid 



Figs. 13-16: Final result after the sintering process 

Figs. 17-20: First firing, only glaze and some chroma intensification 

Figs. 21-22: Second stain firing with predictable results 

Figs. 23-24: Applied stains in the monolithic areas and veneered gingiva 

before the firing 

of work. This system allows users to apply 

smaller amounts of material, saving on 

costs, reducing time and errors. 

FIRST STAIN FIRING 

For the first firing, I apply glaze as a base. At 

this stage, it is possible to take advantage of 

the great margin of fusion that these stains 

have and also to apply a little chroma (SD2) 

to the body of the teeth and to increase 

depth in the approximal spaces (Ivocolor 

E11 Mahogany). 

The first bake is the most important to 

prepare the surface for good aesthetic 

results, facilitating the application of the 

next layers, but also providing a good base 

for the adhesion of the ceramics used. 

To achieve high-aesthetic results, a lot of 

attention must be paid to the consistency 

of the glaze. Apply small amounts of stains 

in each application, maintaining a smooth 

and uniform colour. It is crucial to be 

careful with this detail for every firing. Keep 

in mind that in all firings, effects can be 

added and chroma can be improved. 

SECOND STAIN FIRING 

With the next stain firing, we have the 

opportunity to work very predictably. The 

anatomy, the shape and the function are 

done and now we can apply the necessary 

colours to make the work look as natural 

as possible. One of the great advantages of 

using only stains for monolithic restorations 

is the possibility of seeing the result of the 

firing before going to the furnace. 

The colours of the stains stay the same 

before and after the firing, so besides 

the form, we also achieve predictability 

in colours and effects (Figs. 21-22). The 

ceramic firing in this stage of the protocol, 

we add veneering ceramics to the surface 

of zirconia. Again, let’s take the advantage 

of all the firings to add more detail so that 

we can finish the job as quickly and simply 

as possible. 

Ideally, we will try to make just one our 

two ceramic firings. We apply the ceramic 

materials in the desired places and in the 

monolithic areas and, of course, we can 

also add effects and improve the chroma 

with stains. Thus, we reduce the thermal 

stress of the zirconia and ceramic, and we 

gain time. Remove the zirconia frames from 

the furnace when the temperature reaches 

250ºC, too high temperatures can lead to 

thermal stress and fractures. 

FINALISATION 

In this case, I will not go into the surface 

treatment any further. That would go 

beyond the scope here and is also very 

individual from technician to technician 

and highly dependent on personal taste. 

Although I would still like to give a hint. 

Zirconia is characterised among other 

things by its high biocompatibility, which 

demonstrates very good behaviour on the 

contact points with the tissue if properly 



processed. There are already 

numerous studies that prove this. 

When zirconia is high-gloss polished, 

the material shows an extremely 

smooth surface. This prevents the 

excessive colonisation of bacteria 

and significantly improves wearing 

comfort for the patient. So, when 

finishing the restoration, we have to 

make sure that all contact points with 

the gingiva are carefully polished. 

Figs. 25-26: Applied stains in the monolithic areas and some small cutback for the incisals before firing 

In addition, these areas should never 

be stained or veneered, as this in 

turn could lead to a deterioration 

of wearing comfort and to plaque 

adhesion. It is also essential to ensure 

a clean and gap-free connection 

between the titani-m base and 

the zirconia frame. A gap can lead 

to the colonisation of undesirable 

bacteria (Figs. 27-29). For monolithic 

zirconia restorations, the polishing 

of the occlusal contact points is also 

extremely important. Only a highgloss 

polished surface prevents 

abrasion of the antagonist. 

CONCLUSION 

With the arrival of CAD/CAM 

technologies, the doors for zirconia 

were opened. Nowadays, the great 

evolution of this material allows us 

to obtain highly aesthetic results in a 

predictable way, by using only small 

cut-backs or even full-contours. 

Mechanically, we reduce the 

possibility of fractures, and if we apply 

this protocol to any ceramic system, 

we should have a homogeneous 

restoration with predictable results. 

I believe that Zolid HT+ Preshade 

changed the game in a lasting way. 

This article is based on two cases, 

where we show a characterisation 

with a lot of effort and in the end, 

with a high-aesthetic result in a 

simple and fast way. This shows that 

for daily work it will be even easier to 

achieve the desired results. DA 

This article was first published in March 

2019 issue of “BYT- Another Dental 

Magazine” by Amann Girrbach 

Figs. 27-29: mechanical polished contact areas 

Figs. 30-32: The final result — predictable aesthetics simple and fast 


DT Luís Manuel Rocha Saraiva 

his debut as a speaker at several 

graduated from CESPU (Portugal) in conferences and as an instructor 

2012 in dental prosthetics field. In of Amann Girrbach. In 2019, 

the same year, he began his career at he joined the team of August 

a laboratory in Matosinhos for fixed Bruguera in Barcelona, Spain. 

denture where he worked with his 

In 2020, he became one of the 

mentor: Domingos America. Saraiva founders of the ClarityLab, a 

also worked as the technical director laboratory and training centre, in 

of the Dental Solutions Lab and made Porto, Portugal. 



Scanning spray for 

digital production 

Scantist 3D spray forms a fine, homogeneous matte 

coating on shiny, reflective dental objects. At Handrich 

Dental Laboratory, this dental spray is used daily. 

The Handrich Group, comprising five dental 

laboratories and its production centre, 

fabricates the entire spectrum of dental 

restoration products. Handrich always 

embraces the latest technology, so the 

production of models is increasingly digital. 

In fact, the group has been using digital 

technology since the 1990s and was one of 

the first laboratories with a 3D scanner. 

Today, it has a good dozen scanners from 

3Shape, and that number is likely to increase. 

Around 80% of dental products are produced 

digitally at Handrich. In the field of dental 

implants, that figure rises to 95%. Quality 

has always come first for Handrich. In 2001, 

the company was certified under the Medical 

Devices Act, making Handrich a forerunner 

in manufacturing following the European 

directive on implantable medical devices. 

Handrich’s recipe for success involves always 

trying out materials as well as testing and 

implementing new technologies. 

“We are always looking for new ways to 

optimise what we do,” said Rolf Ebert, 

managing director at Handrich. 

That does not only apply to production 

technologies and processes. Recently, the 

entire company group changed to a new 

dental spray for scanning objects. 

MARKS AND PUDDLES 

In recent years, Handrich has tried many 

different scanning sprays. The biggest problem 

in the past was that the sprays did not provide 

reproducible results. 

Uniform application of the spray coating was 

seldom achieved, and each spraying process 

would lead to a different result. Some sprays 

would leave behind marks, while others 

formed puddles. The coating was thick and 

uneven, which affected the results. 

Especially in telescopic technology, for which 

every micrometre is vital for the accuracy of 

fit, the quality of the scanning spray used can 

have a significant impact. With conventional 

sprays, a considerable amount of time was 

required to obtain reliable data. 

PIGMENT DUST SETTLES EVERYWHERE 

With many conventional sprays, the objects 

have to be cleaned again after the scan. The 

spray coating often adheres stubbornly to 

the surfaces. Since the pigment dust also 

spreads to the surrounding area, the cleaning 

process is very time-consuming. 

Although the extraction system installed 

in Handrich Dental Laboratory was able 

to capture most of the pigment dust, the 

white dust settled everywhere in the room. 

If the dust is not removed, it “bakes” into all 

surfaces, including printers, keyboards and 

furnishings. The health aspect is also very 

concerning. In particular, titanium dioxide, 

which most conventional sprays contain, is 

said to have carcinogenic effects. 

Ebert shared: “With previous sprays, the work 

was very complicated and time-consuming. 

The captured scan data were not reliable. 

There was no repeatability. A colleague told 

me about the new dental spray, so I tested 

Scantist 3D and was immediately impressed.” 

INNOVATIVE DENTAL SPRAY 

Scantist 3D dental spray can be applied very 

evenly. It forms a fine and homogeneous 

layer that offers the best conditions 

for scanning. The measurements are 

reproducible. The repeat measurements 

carried out by Handrich employees 

yielded consistent results. After testing it 

successfully, all five laboratories are now 

using the new spray. 

Scantist 3D was developed to make 

transparent and reflective parts matte in 

a few seconds. It has been on the market 

since 2021 and has already become 

established in many dental laboratories, 

including at Handrich. The spray forms a 

thin, homogeneous layer, so the scanners 

can capture accurate surface data. The 

reliable data quality enables the precise 

fabrication of dental restorations. Moreover, 

Scantist 3D adheres to all surfaces and is 

dry to the touch, making it particularly easy 

to use. 

Another advantage is that the spray 

evaporates by itself, so time-consuming 

cleaning is eliminated. An entire work 

step is saved. In addition, the fact that the 

spray coating completely disappears after 

approximately 20 minutes makes the whole 

process very hygienic. 

“We just feel better working with a spray 

that is pigment-free and thus harmless to 

health,” explained Ebert. “We’re pleased 

that we discovered Scantist 3D, and we 

immediately stocked up with a year’s 

supply.” DA 


IN DEPTH WITH 

Primescan Connect: Easy scan, 

seamless collaboration 

Achieve better 

diagnostics, treatment 

planning, and 

accelerated financial 

growth all while 

improving the patient 

experience. 

Primescan Connect is Dentsply Sirona’s highperforming 

intraoral scanner now available 

in a laptop configuration. Clinicians can 

enjoy all the benefits of Primescan at a more 

accessible price. 

Primescan is an intraoral scanner that allows 

clinicians to perform high-precision digital 

impressions of the patient’s mouth, without 

the use of traditional impression material. 

With simplified scanning and streamlined 

workflows, Primescan Connect is a great 

starting point to digital dentistry. 

Primescan Connect features: 

• Speed: Full arch scan possible in less than 

a minute. 

• Ease of use: Helps to simplify the scanning 

process, so dentists can delegate the 

impression taking process to their team 

and spend more time with patients. 

• Accuracy: Excellent scans no matter which 

material or how difficult the area is to 

capture. 

• Flexibility: Takes up little space and is easy 

to integrate into the practice workflows 

and set-up. 

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PREFERRED 

PARTNER 

Connect Case Center, Dentsply Sirona’s 

digital ordering system, enables seamless 

lab ordering from start to finish. Primescan 

Connect is an open scanner, which means 

users can send data to any lab of their choice, 

and they’ll receive the information exactly in 

the format they need. 

• Transfer digital orders to dental labs 

within seconds — all compliant to HIPPA 

and GDPR 

• No license fees for dentists and their lab 

partner 

• Validated connectivity with major lab 

software: 3Shape, exocad, etc. 

• Access to validated workflows from 

Dentsply Sirona: SureSmile aligners, 

digital implant workflows via Simplant and 

Atlantis 

WORKFLOWS 

From single unit procedures to more 

challenging cases, Primescan Connect 

provides seamless integration and expansion 

into any workflow: restorative, implantology, 

orthodontics and sleep appliance treatment. DA 


IN DEPTH WITH 

Implant planning module from 

Carestream Dental now accepts 

open files from intraoral scanners 

Carestream Dental’s Prosthetic- 

Driven Implant Planning (PDIP) 

module can now accept scans from 

intraoral scanners that generates 

STL/PLY files, giving clinicians 

greater flexibility when planning and 

placing implants. The PDIP module 

is the implant planning solution 

that supports more confident 

diagnoses, improves treatment 

predictability, reduces the number 

of visits and leads to better patient 

communication and enhanced 

collaboration. 

“Opening up the module to accept 

STL/PLY files gives practitioners 

more options and helps them make 

better decisions about optimal 

crown and implant position, which 

leads to more control over the final 

clinical and aesthetic outcomes,” 

said Stephane Varlet, global product 

line manager for extraoral imaging, 

Carestream Dental. 

The PDIP module, which is an option 

available with CS 3D Imaging, makes 

it easy for doctors to ensure implants 

are positioned according to the ideal 

future restoration by letting them 

virtually plan a crown and implant 

on the same screen. The module 

automatically aligns the STL/PLY 

files from an intraoral scanner and 

DICOM file from either the CS 8100 

3D, CS 8200 3D or CS 9600 CBCT 

systems to create a virtual set-up 

with little to no manipulation from 

the doctor. 

Users then add a crown to the 

combined scanner/CBCT datasets 

and place the implant from a 

library featuring more than 90 

manufacturers. They can also 

add abutments, create their own 

implants and manage their own 

library. Practitioners can also 

generate an implant report to 

order the components required 

for surgery and to share with their 

treatment network. 

Because the PDIP module produces 

files in an open format, implant 

planning output can be easily 

exported with a single click into 

third-party software including 

Swissmeda or BlueSky Bio for the 

creation of surgical guides. DA 


IN DEPTH WITH 

Exceptional performance 

in a compact body 

3Shape introduces TRIOS 5 Wireless, 

a completely new intraoral scanner 

designed to make it easier than ever 

for dentists to go digital with their 

dentistry. 

A breakthrough in intraoral scanners, TRIOS 

5 Wireless makes scanning smoother and 

faster with its all-new ScanAssist intelligent 

alignment technology that comes housed 

in a redesigned compact and hygienically 

optimised scanner — to deliver the highest 

standard in imaging performance and 

infection control. 

With over 50 improvements in ease of use 

and design, TRIOS 5 Wireless is 3Shape’s 

smallest and lightest scanner to date and 

is perfectly balanced to fit comfortably in 

clinician’s hand. 

TRIOS 5 Wireless delivers an unprecedented 

level of scanning simplicity. An LED ring and 

haptic sensory feedback guide users while 

they scan to make digital impression taking 

smoother and faster than ever. 

And now with ScanAssist technology, which 

minimises misalignment and distortion in 3D 

models, users can scan their patients in any 

direction they want — just create the scan 

path that works best for them. 

TRIOS 5 Wireless features, an FDA cleared, 

closed autoclavable scanner tip protected 

by scratch-free sapphire glass to define a 

new level of hygiene. And includes ultrathin, 

snug, and near-invisible single-use 

sleeves to cover the scanner body and 

minimise risk for cross-contamination. 

“At 3Shape, we have strived for perfection 

through five generations of intraoral 

scanner evolution. Using state-of-the-art 

scan software and artificial intelligence to 

deliver sharper colours, improved accuracy, 

and increased efficiency, we believe TRIOS 

5 surpasses all expectations. With its 

ergonomic and well-balanced look inspired 

by classic Danish design, TRIOS 5 Wireless 

simply, makes sense,” said Jakob Just- 

Bomholt, CEO of 3Shape. 

TRIOS 5 digital images are indicated for use 

in restorations, orthodontics, implantology, 

and assessment of dental status. 

Specifications: 

• 30% smaller and 20% lighter compared 

to TRIOS 4 

• ScanAssist provides clinicians with easier 

scanning independent of scan strategy 

• Improved battery technology, requiring 

only one battery per day 

• Calibration-free scanner 

• LED ring and haptic feedback for better 

user guidance 

• Two-button design for improved software 

navigation and scan analysis 

• Autoclavable scan tips providing a 

microbial barrier on the scan tip 

• Body sleeves to significantly reduce risk 

of cross contamination 

• Closed tip design to avoid cross 

contamination 

• Scanner body has been designed for 

cleaning and disinfection DA 


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS 

GC Asia Dental 

Simplifying all cementation 

procedures 

G-Cem One Paste Pak, the new self-adhesive resin cement 

from GC simplifies all cementation procedures. G-Cem One 

Paste Pak brings together high bond strength, effortless 

clean-up and long-lasting aesthetics as well as an excellent 

self-curing ability for a wide range of indications in one 

product solution. 

TITANUS ® LED 

BRILLIANT 

PERFORMANCE 

A truly universal, non-technique sensitive, versatile and 

reliable product, G-Cem One Paste Pak gives the flexibility 

of being effective in all cementation procedures for any type 

of restorations; from metal-based to resin and all-ceramic 

inlays, onlays, crowns, bridges, and posts. It demonstrates 

excellent bond strength to enamel, dentin and all indirect 

restorations. 

In addition, the optional Adhesive Enhancing Primer (AEP) 

and its GC Touch Cure feature provides optimal bond 

strength in challenging clinical situations, such as low 

retentive surfaces. 

The chemical initiator in the AEP accelerates the chemical 

cure of the cement to ensure optimal bonding. The AEP is 

easy to apply; no additional light-curing is needed — apply 

and air-dry. 

G-Cem One Paste Pak offers clinicians a reduced inventory 

with less components for a reproducible workflow. Its 

starter kit include G-Cem One Paste Pak A2 or Translucent 

(7.6mL), Adhesive Enhancing Primer (2mL) and a mixing pad. 

TITANUS ® ELED/SLED ULTRASONIC SCALERS 

G-Cem One Paste Pak is simply the one for peace of mind 

when it comes to clinicians adhesive requirements. DA 

SIMPLIFYING DENTAL MOTION 

info@teknedental.com 

www.teknedental.com 


Spazio pubblicitario 95x250_def.indd 1 27/10/22 14:43


SprintRay 

Best-in-class toughness 

SprintRay has launched OnX Tough, a 

next-generation hybrid ceramic resin 

designed for 3D printing dental prosthetics. 

Leveraging SprintRay’s proprietary 

NanoFusion technology, this new resin 

delivers unparalleled durability and lifelike 

translucency for high-quality, same-day 

smiles. 

“SprintRay was founded on the promise 

of building carefully-curated 3D printing 

solutions to enable dental providers to 

deliver an exceptional patient experience,” 

said Amir Mansouri, PhD, CEO and cofounder 

of SprintRay. “This breakthrough 

OnX Tough material represents a paradigm 

shift for chairside dentistry, delivering 

customised, beautiful and functional dental 

prosthetics while the patient is in the chair.” 

The need for dental prosthetics is on the 

rise, with the global market projected 

to reach US$9.71bn by 2026. In the US 

alone, approximately 178 million adults are 

missing at least one tooth and 40 million 

are edentulous. Conventional methods to 

manufacture dental prosthetics involve 

sending digital or analogue impressions to a 

lab with turnaround times averaging three 

to four weeks for some patients. With the 

advent of digital dentistry and 3D printing, 

first generation 3D printing technologies 

have enabled in-office manufacturing of 

dental prosthetics, but with significant 

limitations. 

“When creating OnX Tough, we set out 

to design a next generation resin that 

addressed a key limitation of 3D printed 

prosthetics today — durability and 

toughness,” said Sumeet Jain, PhD, vicepresident, 

Materials. “To address these 

limitations, we developed NanoFusion 

technology, a new approach to dental 

chemistry. NanoFusion materials have 

a novel composition and form dense 

polymer chains to deliver dental 

prostheses with best-in-class fracture 

toughness, five times that of firstgeneration 

technology. Furthermore, the 

composition brings a perfect combination 

of translucency and opacity to mimic that 

of natural dentition.” DA 

3M Oral Care 

Making restorative procedures more affordable for patients, more 

predictable for dentists 

Today’s dental patients are looking for lessinvasive 

options to improve their smile at 

a price they can afford. That’s why 3M has 

introduced the 3M Filtek Matrix — a new 

restorative solution that makes composite 

placement less stressful and more 

predictable for dentists, while making it 

more affordable for their patients. 

Dental composites can be a great choice 

to restore or improve the aesthetics of a 

patient’s smile. However, the traditional 

process can be long and complicated. 

The Filtek Matrix procedure begins with 

a digital restoration design. A patientspecific 

matrix is created that helps 

the clinician transfer the digital design 

to the patient’s teeth using 3M dental 

composites. 

Unlike more invasive ceramic procedures 

which often require the removal of tooth 

structure, the Filtek Matrix relies on 

additive composite techniques where 

little to no tooth reduction is required. 

In a clinical evaluation, dentists reported 

that using the matrix increased their 

confidence, delivered predictable and 

aesthetic results, and saved chair time. 

“This product brings together leading 

material science and digital innovation 

to enable clinicians to predictably and 

efficiently transform patient smiles,” said 

Andrew Milder, global portfolio director, 

3M Oral Care. “It is exciting to see the 

amazing results that clinicians have 

delivered using the Filtek Matrix.” 

The Filtek Matrix is the latest innovation 

in 3M’s portfolio of restorative solutions. 

Clinicians can pair the Filtek Matrix with 

3M Filtek Dental Restoratives to deliver 

excellent composite strength and wear 

resistance for patients. DA 



VOCO 

Built to last 

VOCO celebrates the 10-year anniversary of GrandioSO — a 

universal, light-cured, 89% filled nano-hybrid composite for 

anterior and posterior fillings of all classes. 

→ DISCOVER PERFECTION 

IN PROPHYLAXIS - 

THE NEW COMBI touch 

Formulated to match toothlike physical properties, GrandioSO 

has the modulus of elasticity, thermocycling coefficient, 

surface hardness, edge strength and several other properties 

that individually and even more so collectively, closely mirror 

that of natural dentition. 

These unique toothlike qualities makes for long-lasting, 

aesthetic and robust restorations. Practitioners for a decade 

have enjoyed GrandioSO with its easy, non-stick consistency, 

setting a new standard for composite handling and exceptional 

aesthetics. It also provides instant and tangible results. 

Additionally, its toothlike physical properties and high-fill rate 

deliver proven superior quality and enhanced longevity that can 

be trusted. 

→ ultra-gentle prophylaxis 

→ ergonomic handling 

→ made in Italy 

→ 40 years experience 

GrandioSO is indicated for Class I-V restorations, reconstruction 

of traumatically damaged anteriors, faceting of discoloured 

anterior teeth, correction of shape and shade for improved 

aesthetic appearance, locking, splinting of loosened teeth, 

repairing veneers, restoration of deciduous teeth, core buildup 

under crowns, and composite inlays. 

Over the past 10 years, GrandioSO has been at the centre of 

clinical successes in millions of restorations worldwide. As a 

universal restorative and a perfect workhorse composite for 

any practice, it has provided reliable results for practitioners 

and patients alike. GrandioSO is one of Voco’s most successful 

products; built on high-quality chemistry that provides 

reliable, long-term aesthetic restorations. 

Specifications: 

• 89% fillers by weight: Outstanding wear resistance, and 

enhanced colour stability 

• 30-50% less resin compared to classic hybrid and pseudo 

nano composites: Low shrinkage of only 1.6 vol.%, nonsticky, 

prolonged working time under ambient light DA 

→ www.mectron.com 



W&H 

More features, more innovation, more capacity 

Lara XL steriliser from W&H is now breaking 

the ground for even more innovation and 

usability. It has been further developed by 

providing a larger capacity and even more 

useful features. In addition, the advanced 

technology is geared to adapt to future 

developments and ensure comprehensive 

connectivity as well as upgradeability. 

The patented Eco Dry+ technology 

automatically adjusts drying times to the 

mass of the load, thus reducing cycle times 

and optimising energy consumption. A green 

solution for sterilisation processes, that as 

a side effect also extends the service life of 

instruments by keeping heat exposure to a 

necessary minimum. 

In addition, Lara XL features a chamber 

size of 28 litres. The higher volume allows 

for up to 7kg of wrapped instruments to 

be reprocessed in one go. A unique and 

extremely flexible rack system with six large 

trays makes clever use of the increased 

capacity. 

Based on a sophisticated and futureoriented 

technical concept, Lara XL can be 

easily connected to other devices in order 

to simplify handling, documentation and 

reporting. Innovations such as the ioDent 

system or the W&H Steri App are forwardlooking 

ways of integrating practical digital 

tools into the workflow. 

Moreover, Lara XL can be upgraded with two 

W&H Activation Codes: EliTrace and Fast 

Cycle. Traceability is a key feature for making 

workflows efficient, safe, and transparent. 

With its advanced documentation system, 

EliTrace offers traceability down to the 

single instrument. A barcode labels each 

pouch and informs on when its content has 

been successfully sterilised. Fast Cycle is an 

additional function that allows sterilisation of 

unwrapped items in just 20 minutes. 

Intelligent menu structures enable intuitive 

navigation through all functions of the Lara 

XL steriliser. A wide range of options can 

be operated via the colour touch display. 

Manual filling of the water tank is facilitated 

by an integrated funnel. Connection to a 

demineralisation system is also possible, 

which automates filling and draining. DA 

Tekne Dental 

Achieve high precision and scaling efficiency 

TITANUS ELED and TITANUS SLED 

ultrasonic scalers are Tekne Dental’s new 

piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers, equipped 

with integrated LED light that ensures 

natural bright light on the operating area. 

The core of the scaler — its titanium 

transducer — has been further improved to 

get higher efficiency and reliability. 

The scaler comes complete with three 

inserts for general scaling and the handy 

DYNO dynamometric wrench, useful for 

precisely screwing the insert onto the 

scaler and safeguarding the transducer 

thread. 

The ultrasonic inserts feature high precision, 

high scaling efficiency and smooth surface, 

thanks to their special polishing process. 

The scaler, inserts and wrench can be fully 

sterilised in autoclave and thermodisinfected. 

The scaler kit comprises the USC60 

ultrasounds generator which delivers gentle 

yet powerful sinusoidal output signal and 

combined with the linear oscillating action, 

allows to achieve high precision and patient 

comfort. 

The generator produces optimum power 

control for all applications: endodontics, 

periodontics, scaling, restorative. DA 



Kulzer 

More gain, less pain 

One for 

All Ceramics 

and More 

Introduced by Kulzer, Gluma desensitiser is indicated for the 

reduction or elimination of pain in exposed cervical areas that 

do not require restoration and the reduction or elimination of 

dentin sensitivity after preparation of teeth to receive a fixed 

prosthesis. 

One drop of Gluma desensitiser has been sufficient to reduce 

and prevent hypersensitivity. The results are quick and effective, 

without mixing, curing or multiple applications and patients feel 

immediate relief. 

Proven efficacy in over 50 million restorations, it can be used 

with all common adhesives and restoration materials in every 

treatment situation. 

Moreover, Gluma is the only desensitiser that has been proven 

to penetrate exposed dentinal tubules up to 200μm 1 . This leads 

to the formation of multi-layered protein walls which prevent 

an osmotic fluid exchange with the internal tubules. 

It also forms a hermetic seal which traps the bacteria and 

prevents bacterial growth 2 while reorganising collapsed 

collagen fibres, improving the bond strength of several 

adhesives. 

Part of the Mitsui Chemicals Group, Kulzer has been a reliable 

partner for all dental professionals for more than 80 years. 

Whether analogue or digital dentistry, aesthetic or tooth 

preservation, prosthetics or periodontology — as a polymer 

specialist and digital solution provider, Kulzer stands for 

trusted and innovative dental solutions. DA 

1 

Schüpbach P, Lutz F, Finger WJ: Closing of dentinal tubules by GLUMA 

desensitizer. Eur J Oral Sci, 1997, 105 (5Pt): 414-21 

2 

Felton D, Bergenholtz G, Cox CF: Inhibition of bacterial growth under 

composite restorations following GLUMA pretreatment. J Dent Res, 

1989, 68: 491-5 

VITA LUMEX® AC 

• For all frameworks 

made out of ceramic and titanium 

• For all techniques 

from micro veneering to refractory veneers 

• For all precise effects 

stable in layering and firing 

Find out more here: 

www.vita-zahnfabrik.com/LUMEX_AC 


3610E_LUMEX Anzeige_95x250_V01.indd 1 27.10.2022 16:14:32


Morita 

Unsurpassed image clarity 

3D Accuitomo 170 is Morita’s most 

advanced CBCT unit. Highly refined, it is 

the fourth generation of the Accuitomo 

product line. It offers a voxel size of just 

80µm and displays even the most subtle 

details of bone structure. 

This super-fine voxel combined with the 

unit’s 14-bit grayscale capability creates a 

wide dynamic range which produces many 

grayscale values for visualising both hard 

and soft tissue areas with a subtle spread of 

contrast. 

It enables a comprehensive examination for 

diagnosing apical lesions, fractures, cysts, 

tumours, TMJ problems, caries, and allows 

for treatment planning for implants and 

much more. 

The 3D Accuitomo 170 offers unsurpassed 

image clarity. With nine fields of view 

and multiple acquisition modes, the 

3D Accuitomo 170 can meet clinicians’ 

diagnostic needs with unparalleled quality. 

Additionally, it is equipped with four imaging 

modes that allow flexibility when scanning 

patients with a variety of diagnostic needs 

and clinical indications. Clinicians can 

choose High Resolution and High Fidelity 

modes for the best quality images, or High 

Speed for patients that have difficulty 

remaining still. 

3D Accuitomo 170 comes with two PCs (i-Dixel 

software pre-installed with VolR, Curved MPR, 

One Data Viewer Plus and One Volume Viewer 

functions) and one monitor. DA 

COLTENE 

Precise impression of details 

With the Affinis product family from 

COLTENE, clinicians will be well prepared 

for any patient situation, no matter 

how complicated. This reliable, precise 

impression material is characterised not only 

by its speed but also by its flowability and, 

where necessary, by the required stability. 

With the aid of its highly active surfactant 

system and the resulting surface affinity, 

Affinis captures even the smallest detail 

under the most difficult conditions. 

Even in a moist environment, it exhibits 

outstanding flow behaviour. 

Affinis impression material has become an 

indispensable material in my daily dental 

routine due to its good processing, high 

precision and good patient compliance,” 

shared Dr Sylvia Rahm (Germany). 

Prof Dr Salomão Rocha (Portugal) added: 

“The combination of heavy body and light 

body provides an impression with excellent 

detail reproduction. Even in situations 

where it is difficult to control moisture. 

The fast version is characterised by a short 

working time and high impression quality, 

and is therefore very comfortable for the 

patient and effective for the dentist. To 

prevent cross-infection, the option to 

autoclave the impression when taken with a 

heat resistant tray is definitely a plus.” DA 

The impressive flowability and self-levelling 

of Affinis wash materials not only lead to 

highly precise capture of details, but also 

avoid air voids, flashes and imperfections. 

“The reproducibility of work steps creates 

safety, speed and reliability. COLTENE’s 



Dr Wolff 

Mouthwash to protect teeth, prevent tooth sensitivity, gum problems and bad breath 

Dr Wolff’s Bioniq Repair Tooth-Milk has 

all the characteristics of a conventional 

mouthwash with the added benefits of 

hydroxyapatite. 

It has long-lasting antibacterial effect, cleans 

the entire oral cavity, protects against bad 

breath and gum problems, and prevents 

cavities and tartar. With its artificial enamel 

(hydroxyapatite) with valuable calcium, it 

also protects natural enamel from wear. 

Given its high degree of similarity to the 

natural enamel structure, the artificial 

enamel attaches to the surface of teeth 

and seals microscopically small defects. A 

protective layer is formed. 

Thanks to its slightly gel-like consistency, 

it sticks to the enamel very well and makes 

the surface so smooth that it is extremely 

hard for bacteria and stains build-up. This 

can make the teeth appear whiter. 

The Tooth-Milk contains two active 

ingredients that protect healthy gums 

against inflammation: 

• Lactoferrin is a natural antimicrobial active 

ingredient which is also present in saliva. 

It removes the iron (lat. ferrum) which is 

necessary for bacteria to survive. 

• Hyaluronic acid supports the healthy moist 

environment of the oral cavity. Medical 

research has shown that human saliva is an 

important barrier against bacteria. DA 


SHOW PREVIEW 

CDS 2022 and 24th CSA 

Annual Congress: The return 

of much-awaited dental 

events in China 

Together with the 24th China Stomatological Association Annual Congress, 

China Dental Show 2022 will be held from 9-11 Dec 2022 in Suzhou, Jiangsu. 

Held along with the China Stomatological 

Association (CSA) Annual Meeting, China Dental 

Show (CDS) is a leading trade show which 

covers brand and product promotion, continuing 

education, trade negotiation and equipment 

procurement. 

This year, they open the door in Suzhou, Jiangsu, 

to the largest number of dentists from private 

and public hospitals as well as clinics and 

distributors in the Yangtze River Delta and China 

overall, showcasing products and services from 

the entire value chain of the dental field. 

Through the CDS, new products and 

technologies are presented by over 500 

companies including leading international and 

local brands to tens of thousands of industry 

professionals who are there to learn, trade and 

network at one of the most important dental 

events of the year in China. 

CDS has an exhibition area of more than 60,000 

sqm. Exhibiting brands come from over 30 

countries and regions, including China, Singapore, 

Malaysia, Germany, the US, France, Italy, South 

Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, 

Israel, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan and much more. 

Every year, the Japan Dental Trade Association 

(JDTA), Seoul Dental Association and Trade 

Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) 

send official delegates to CDS. They also obtain 

strong support from USDOC/SIMAP/MEPRC 

and so on. 

Moreover, the CSA Annual Meeting, hosted 

by CSA and undertaken by Reed Sinopharm 

Exhibitions, is held at the same time as CDS 

as usual in Suzhou this year. CSA altogether 

held 400 academic seminar sessions, 

operation and demonstration shows and 

prize competitions. More than 350 leading 

international and domestic experts attended 

its Annual Meeting. 

It is no surprise that CDS is witnessing 

exponentially growing demands for exhibition 

space in Suzhou Jinji Lake International 

Convention Centre this year, which is equipped 

with all the latest high-tech amenities to 

facilitate a global dental show. The venue is 

also planned in the most ergonomic fashion, 

allowing exhibitors and visitors within the 

same product portfolio to interact on the 

same floor, thus obtaining great results within 

the limited time. DA 


exocad Insights 2022: 

A highly anticipated digital 

dentistry event 

Around 700 participants from more than 45 countries attended the full, 

two-day programme. 

Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO of exocad 

exocad, an Align Technology company 

and dental CAD/CAM software provider, 

successfully concluded Insights 2022, the third 

edition of its global digital dentistry event, under 

the motto “Learn. Connect. Enjoy.” The biennial 

meeting took place on 3-4 Oct 2022 in Palma 

de Mallorca, Spain. 

“Insights 2022 truly exceeded our expectations,” 

said Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO of exocad. 

“International speakers and attendees from 

around the world joined us to explore the future 

of digital dentistry together and share best 

practices.” 

Dentists, dental technicians and industry 

partners from more than 45 countries attended 

the educational CAD/CAM event. The full, 

two-day programme included informative 

presentations from top industry experts and indepth 

learning sessions run by exocad software 

experts for both clinical and lab communities. 

Insights industry partners offered sessions as 

well, rounding out the diverse agenda of tips, 

tricks, and deep learning opportunities. 

“ exocad is our collaboration 

partner on the CAD 

software. Amann Girrbach 

is still the largest distributor 

of exocad software 

worldwide, even though 

we have our own branded 

version. We’re very happy 

with our collaboration with 

exocad. We can provide our 

input, and this flows into 

product development. So 

that’s really helpful.” 

Stephan Domschke, 

director of Global Training and 

Education, Amann Girrbach. 


SHOW REVIEW 

Novica Savic, CCO of exocad 

“This event provided us all with a muchneeded 

opportunity to connect face-toface,” 

said Novica Savic, CCO of exocad. 

“Being in one location for two days of 

high-quality networking, learning and 

hands-on demonstration provided us 

all with great inspiration for the digital 

dentistry era we are in.” 

New Rijeka 3.1 release series and 

exocad software sessions 

At Insights 2022, exocad’s software 

solutions DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD and 

exoplan, and the new Rijeka 3.1 release 

series took centre stage. 

MDT Michael Kohnen, head of Global 

Application Support and Education 

at exocad, presented the 45 new 

and over 85 enhanced features for 

DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka and provided 

a first look at the Rijeka 3.1 version 

of exoplan, exocad’s open implant 

planning software. In dedicated 

software sessions, users were guided 

through new software features and 

demonstrated how to reap the full 

benefits of seamless digital workflows 

using exocad software. 

International top speakers 

Dental industry trailblazers ran 

presentations on how to use digital 

tools to achieve better aesthetic 

treatment results for patients and to 

work even more productively. 

The speaker lineup covered all points 

along the treatment spectrum. Dentist 

and dental technician speaker duo, 

Prof Dr Guilherme Saavedra from Brazil 

and Spain’s MDT Waldo Zarco Nosti 

addressed the question of how digital 

dentistry works, from virtual planning 

to finished high-quality prosthetics. 

US-based restorative dentist Dr Lori 

Trost inspired participants on the topic 

of dentures and presented her digital 

treatment concept. UK lab owner CDT 

Steven Campbell discussed how digital 

workflows can help address looming 

staff shortages for clinics and labs. 

MDT Sascha Hein from Germany 

offered valuable tips on how to reliably 

determine the correct tooth shade for 

aesthetically high-quality restorations in 

the digital age. 

“Dentist-lab synergy in the digital 

era” was the focus of Smile Design 

founder, Dr Christian Coachman, 

from Brazil. His lecture provided 

dentists and dental technicians 

with inspiration on ways to produce 

predictable high-quality aesthetic 

restorations. UK’s Dr Gulshan Murgai 

presented his digital workflow based 

on a patient case with a focus on 

implant planning with exoplan. He 

discussed the planning of singletooth 

implants, also with immediate 

restoration, and the restoration of 

edentulous jaws. Dr Diana Tadros 

from the US discussed aesthetics in 

her clinical session, explaining her 

digital treatment concept and how 

exocad’s Smile Creator can be used in 

the patient journey to highly aesthetic 

restorations. 

Partner exhibition, partner sessions 

and software integrations 

More than 50 of the top companies in 

dental materials, equipment and CAD/ 

CAM presented their latest innovations 

as part of the Insights partner 

exhibition. The Insights Diamond, 

Platinum and Gold partners ran a total 

of 14 special sessions to introduce 

attendees to their products and shared 

Press conference at exocad Insights 

Dr Lori Trost on stage 


SHOW REVIEW 

valuable ideas for the application 

of exocad software solutions in 

connection with digital hardware. 

Three new DentalCAD Rijeka 3.1 

features and modules were launched. 

iTero NIRI technology and intraoral 

camera images are now automatically 

imported when designing restorations, 

enabling technicians to visualise the 

internal and external tooth structure 

and optimise the process of margin 

line tracing. The new xSnap module 

is a model attachment for a printable 

3D articulated system featuring a 

spherical head, which allows a precisely 

executed protrusion, laterotrusion and 

mediotrusion. And Ivoclar’s Ivotion 

Denture System, a complete workflow 

for the digital production of high-quality, 

removable dentures is now available in 

exocad. 

Growth to meet demand 

To provide space for its growing 

workforce, exocad announced it will 

open a new high-tech headquarters 

in Darmstadt, Germany, this 

November. exocad also opened a new 

headquarters in South Korea this past 

May. With the relocation of exocad’s 

Asia headquarters, the company said 

it aims to be closer to its resellers and 

users from South Korea and to provide 

even more comprehensive services to 

customers in Asia. 

Community, collection, and 

connection 

Insights 2022 provided a welcome 

opportunity to network in person with 

exocad experts, strategic partners 

and resellers. Following a rigorous 

educational agenda, attendees had 

the opportunity to unwind at the end 

of day one with an evening dinner and 

live music. exocad once again offered 

attendees the chance to participate in 

a charity drive by selling T-shirts. The 

“We became partners with 

exocad when we launched the 

Freedom dental lab scanner. 

The team is very friendly. This is 

the third time we’ve participated 

in exocad Insights and many 

visitors of the show are 

interested in our products.” 

Esther Son, 

marketing manager, DOF 

collected funds go toward supporting a 

dental non-profit organisation. 

The future is digital 

At the press briefing, speakers agreed 

that open software architecture is a key 

to creating a comprehensive future in 

digital dentistry. Insights partners also 

reflected on the general direction of the 

dental industry saying that all processes 

are moving toward digital. They advised 

labs and dentists to embrace this digital 

transition and to discover what tools are 

available to help them reach the ultimate 

goal: better patient care. DA 


SHOW REVIEW 

IDEM 2022 celebrates 

another great 

milestone achieved 

The in-person event exceeded expectations by over 30% and welcomed 

6530 attendees, and marked a record number of represented countries. 

The 12th edition of the International Dental 

Exhibition and Meeting (IDEM), held from 7-9 

Oct, has successfully concluded. Co-organised 

by Koelnmesse and the Singapore Dental 

Association, the first physical IDEM after the 

pandemic hosted 6530 attendees from 67 

countries, exceeding the record number of 

attendee countries. 

This edition featured a total of 46 scientific 

conference sessions and workshops, covering 

on the latest trends and innovations curated 

for the dental community. The exhibition floor 

hosted nine national pavilions and a total of 

540 exhibiting brands from 37 countries of 

which 90% were returning exhibitors and 10% 

were exhibiting for the first time. 

“Words cannot fully express my heartfelt 

gratitude to our sponsors, speakers, 

exhibitors, and delegates,” said Mathias 

Kuepper, managing director of Koelnmesse. 

“This year, IDEM welcomed a strong number 

of quality dental traders and distributors 

from the region. In addition to the elevated 

interaction from an in-person setting, the 

number of quality leads that our exhibitors 

have secured is also testament to the 

success of IDEM 2022. With the support 

of our stakeholders, we continue to strive 

towards excellence at the next IDEM event.” 

Zaamigo, one of the exhibitors, took this 

chance to showcase their latest dental camera 

to the attendees of IDEM 2022. The sleek 

and waterproof design of the dental camera 

allows users to understand the situation of 

their dental health at a glance with Zaamigo’s 

mobile application. The smart analytics are 

the results of annotating thousands of images 

together with dentists, allowing users to 

understand their teeth brushing and flossing 

patterns and keep their teeth in pristine 

condition all the time. 

Keni Kubo, country manager of Envista 

Holdings, shared: “Nothing compares to inperson 

conversations with like-minded dental 

professionals and the brightest minds in the 

industry. IDEM 2022 in person gave Envista 

the opportunity to showcase and share about 

our new products to the fullest, meet old and 


SHOW REVIEW 

new connections, and explore new business 

opportunities. We look forward to the next 

IDEM edition in 2024.” 

Adrian Tan, dentist of Dent1st Limited from 

New Zealand, added: “IDEM 2022 was an 

opportunity for us to conveniently meet 

all the major manufacturers and suppliers 

in the world in one place. The scientific 

conference was led by quality speakers who 

presented niche and relevant topics that 

practitioners can immediately apply as well.” 

Dr Jerry Lim, one of the speakers at IDEM 

2022, conducted a conference on the topic: 

Comprehensive Aesthetic Rehabilitation: 

A Multidisciplinary Approach to a Complex 

Problem. More than 750 delegates attended 

the session to learn about the process of 

treatment planning for complex aesthetics 

rehabilitation. The conference aimed to 

expose participants to digital smile design 

and neuromuscular occlusion concepts 

and to appreciate digital integration in 

comprehensive aesthetic rehabilitation. 

The digital community platform, IDEM360+, 

specially created to supplement the 

in-person event, recorded close to 4500 

of new connections made. Exclusively 

made available for attendees to explore 

in-app business matching and networking 

opportunities, and build wider customers 

and partners database beyond the physical 

conference. Of the new users onboarded, 

half of these users connected with a fellow 

delegate, speaker, or exhibitor, and about 

40% engaged in online discussions via the 

IDEM360+ app. 

The platform continues to run post-show, with 

32 of the scientific conferences made available 

on-demand from 17 Oct–17 Nov 2022. 

“IDEM continues to propel and invigorate 

the dental industry with not only the inperson 

event but also the IDEM360+ mobile 

application which continues to run after 

today,” said Prof Patrick Tseng, scientific 

chairperson of IDEM 2022. “Continued 

learning is key for our industry, and we look 

forward to the next edition of IDEM as we 

aim to reach a wider audience and create a 

more insightful event for our participants.” 

The next edition of IDEM will take place 

on 19-21 Apr 2024 at Marina Bay Sands 

Singapore. Attendees will be able to look 

forward to the latest developments in 

dental research and practice with more 

intensive educational sessions, interactive 

presentations, engaging meetings, and the 

latest advancements in dentistry. DA 

““IDEM 2022 was an 

opportunity for us to 

conveniently meet all 

the major manufacturers 

and suppliers in the 

world in one place. The 

scientific conference was 

led by quality speakers 

who presented niche 

and relevant topics 

that practitioners can 

immediately apply as well.” 

Adrian Tan, 

dentist of Dent1st Limited 

from New Zealand 


EVENTS CALENDAR 

NOVEMBER 

2 – 4 Phar-med Cambodia 2022 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Venue: DIECC (KohPich) 

25 – 30 Greater New York Dental Meeting 2022 

DECEMBER 

New York City, US 

Venue: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center 

1 – 3 The International Vietnam Dental Equipment and 

Materials Exhibition 

Hanoi City, Vietnam 

Venue: ICE – 91 Tran Hung Dao Str., Dist Hoan Kiem 

2 – 4 Hong Kong International Dental Expo and 

Symposium 

Hong Kong 

Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre 

6 – 8 The 3rd Taiwan International Orthodontic Forum 

Taipei, Taiwan 

Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center 

9 – 11 China Dental Show 2022 and 

24th CSA Annual Congress 

Suzhou, Jiangsu 

Venue: Suzhou Jinji Lake International Convention Centre 

12 – 13 Advanced Asian Dental Summit 

Manila, Philippines 

Venue: Philippine International Convention Center 

2023 

JANUARY 

20 – 21 ITI Congress Switzerland 

Engelberg, Switzerland 

Venue: Kursaal Engelberg 

26 – 28 Barcelona Dental Show 2023 

FEBRUARY 

Barcelona, Spain 

Venue: Centro de Convenciones Internacional Barcelona 

7 – 9 AEEDC Dubai 2023 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre 

17 – 19 Association of Orthodontists (Singapore) 

Congress 2023 

Singapore 

Venue: Marina Bay Sands 

23 – 26 Dental South China 2023 

MARCH 

Guangzhou, China 

Venue: China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex 

14 – 18 International Dental Show 2023 

Cologne, Germany 

Venue: Cologne Fair Grounds 

14 – 17 DenTech China 2022 

Shanghai, China 

Venue: National Exhibition and Convention Center 

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. 

DENTAL ASIA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022 67

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 

COMPANY 

PAGE 

3Shape A/S 9 

Align Technology Inc. 

OBC 

Anthogyr France 13 

Association of Orthodontists (Singapore) 

Congress 2023 

IFC 

Carestream Dental 5 

COLTENE 33 

Dental Asia House Ad 68 

Dental South China 2023 66 

exocad GmbH 3 

International Osteology Symposium 2023 23 

Mectron S.p.A. 7, 55 

Medical Protection Society Limited (MPS) 1 

Rolence Enterprise Inc. 59 

Shofu Inc. 11 

Tekne Dental 53 

For information, visit us at www.dentalasia.net or 

contact us at sales@pabloasia.com 

VITA Zahnfabrik 57 

VOCO 49 

@dentalasia 

W&H 

IBC 

Company Registration No: 200001473N 

All rights reserved. Views of writers do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without 

prior permission in writing from the Publisher and copyright owner. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, the Publisher accepts no 

liability for damages caused by misinterpretation of information, expressed or implied, within the pages of the magazine. All advertisements are accepted on the understanding 

that the Advertiser is authorised to publish the contents of the advertisements, and in this respect, the Advertiser shall indemnify the Publisher against all claims or suits for 

libel, violation of right of privacy and copyright infringements. Dental Asia is a controlled-circulation bi-monthly magazine. It is mailed free-of-charge to readers who meet a set 

of criteria. Paid subscription is available to those who do not fit our terms of control. Please refer to subscription form provided in the publication for more details. 

Printed by Times Printers Pte Ltd 


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and/or other countries. | MKT-0005927 Rev B

Dental Asia November/December 2022

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