To cement or to screw – that is the question. Not anymore, startup RODO Medical has added a new option. Reversible retention using a shape memory metal dental retention system which uses one or more compression plates made from various shape memory materials, e.g., nickel-titanium alloys such as Nitinol. By applying energy via heat or electrical energy, the memory metal elements change shape. To remove a crown, energy is applied via a wand and the memory metal retentive element shape
ZikonZahn have developed the Zirkograph, a copy-milling unit, that is a manually operated machine for the manufacture of crown & bridge frameworks. An analog model is scanned using a stylus and enlarged by the panthographic principle when milling frameworks out of zirconia blanks. The Zirkograph 025 ECO can mill single abutments to 14 unit bridges or occlusal screwed bridges.
Morgan Advanced Ceramics have developed a method for injection moulding of zirconia abutments. At its injection moulding facility at Stourport in the UK, Morgan Advanced Ceramics is able to produce the highly complex geometries required for custom-designed dental abutments. It can produce these, and their associated retaining and jawbone screws, accurately, in volume and with a high degree of repeatability. Paul Manison, Project Manager, Morgan Advanced Ceramics explains: “The dental implant market is growing fast. We are working with a
MIS has released a specially designed diamond bur kit for use in modifying and customizing Zirconium abutments. The Zircon Diamond burr set has been designed to enable easy grinding and preparation of Zircon abutments. The set combines all burrs that are necessary for adjustment procedures and preparation of crowns and structures made of ZrO2.
The friendly takeover is Straumann`s largest to date and will position the group as a “one-stop shop” by providing solutions such as bone augmentation as well as implants and prosthetics, the firm said. “Overall it is a positive strategic move. They are copying the strategy of other major competitors, such as Nobel Biocare, by providing both implants and prosthetics,” said Vontobel analyst Christoph Gubler. Straumann has struggled to match Nobel`s presence in the U.S., where fewer dentists have used implants
3i has introduced their CAD/CAM precision bar milling system. This system produces a computer designed superstructure that is milled out of a solid billet of titanium alloy to ensure a passive fit. Six different types of implant systems are supported.
Astratech has released their Cresco(r) system for ensuring passive fit on screw-retained implant bridges. This system allows for up to 17 degrees of angle correction for screw-retained bridges using bendable wax tubes giving maximum flexibility in terms of being able to compensate for angled implant placement when bone quality and quantity are poor. Using a Cad-Cam-like milling machine corrects the casting distortion of prosthetic superstructures to a very high degree of precision. The majority of implant systems are supported.
