Dental Asia March/April 2023
For more than two decades, Dental Asia is the premium journal in linking dental innovators and manufacturers to its rightful audience. We devote ourselves in showcasing the latest dental technology and share evidence-based clinical philosophies to serve as an educational platform to dental professionals. Our combined portfolio of print and digital media also allows us to reach a wider market and secure our position as the leading dental media in the Asia Pacific region while facilitating global interactions among our readers.
For more than two decades, Dental Asia is the premium journal in linking dental innovators
and manufacturers to its rightful audience. We devote ourselves in showcasing the latest dental technology and share evidence-based clinical philosophies to serve as an educational platform to dental professionals. Our combined portfolio of print and digital media also allows us to reach a wider market and secure our position as the leading dental media in the Asia Pacific region while facilitating global interactions among our readers.
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BEHIND THE SCENES<br />
Inside<br />
story of press<br />
technology<br />
Thirty years ago, Nicola Pietrobon<br />
experienced the development of press<br />
technology. Here is his recollection of<br />
this memorable time.<br />
Nicola Pietrobon qualified as a dental<br />
technician in 1985. As a young technician,<br />
he participated in an advanced training<br />
programme at the University of Zurich<br />
between 1988 and 1990. This is where<br />
he met a very special person: Arnold<br />
Wohlwend.<br />
“Arnold Wohlwend was the chief dental<br />
technician at the University of Zurich.<br />
During my studies, I worked with him<br />
on a daily basis. He was busy developing<br />
a process in which a viscous ceramic<br />
material could be shaped as desired. Once<br />
the shape is attained, the ceramic would<br />
be hardened again. The idea as such<br />
was brilliant and I was impressed with<br />
how dedicated Arnold Wohlwend was in<br />
trying to achieve this goal. His innovative<br />
spirit was incredible as he undertook<br />
one experiment after the other,” shared<br />
Pietrobon.<br />
Reinventing how dental restorations<br />
are made also meant opening up<br />
new aesthetic design opportunities.<br />
Furthermore, at that time, the demand<br />
for minimally invasive, metal-free<br />
restorations, which would help conserve<br />
healthy tooth structure, started to grow.<br />
Pietrobon said: “It was a long journey,<br />
which required much patience. The<br />
equipment that was needed was as<br />
yet unheard of in the dental industry.<br />
Consequently, Arnold Wohlwend worked<br />
with injection moulding equipment<br />
and ceramic furnaces from other<br />
industries. Countless attempts were<br />
necessary before his vision of the press<br />
technique as we know it today became<br />
a reality with the introduction of the<br />
first prototype. It was an incredible<br />
experience to have shared in the<br />
enormous joy and satisfaction of this<br />
achievement.”<br />
The Programat press furnace has formed a part of the standard equipment of the Pietrobon &<br />
Michel <strong>Dental</strong> Laboratory for many years<br />
In order to develop a reliable and<br />
marketable product, the inventors<br />
decided to look for a partner in the<br />
dental industry who had the expertise<br />
that they needed. Ivoclar was prepared<br />
to provide the desired support and<br />
helped drive the further development of<br />
the product. The press technique was on<br />
its way.<br />
48 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL <strong>2023</strong>
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