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Lab talk, the good, the bad, and the ugly
Dental-CAD
At CrossRoads to buy which brand of CAD/CAM
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<blockquote data-quote="sixonice" data-source="post: 21256" data-attributes="member: 2"><p>You certainly have done your homework and then some! Spending the big bucks on a CAD/CAM system is the biggest decision you have made (next to deciding to open your lab!). I agree with you wholehearted that your lab being small should have no real influence on deciding to purchase a system - knowing that you have stable clients and good revenue.</p><p>Knowing and having researched many systems on the market today, I like the 3Shape best. I think it has the best software, I like the fact it can be a totally open system (depending on which dealer you buy it from) and 3Shape is cutting edge, always improving their platform, adding different modules and features. You can go anywhere you like with this system: printed wax patterns, copings, bridges, implants abutments, custom bars, partial dentures and even ortho. From all of this, you have every material available to you.</p><p>In my opinion, I think the full contour zirconia restoration is somewhat of a fad. I suppose for the patient that has broken everything placed and doesnt want full cast gold, these have a place - but they are a low percentage. The bottom line is for single unit all ceramic restorations there are better alternatives for your cost, esthetics and the wear attrition to opposing dentition (both natural and lab fabricated). Even highly polished zirconia will very gradually destroy what it opposes. Polished, moderately polished or poorly polished is still hard as a non-precious full cast crown. 900 MPA is absurd for single units unless your a hippo or rhino. Now for all-ceramic bridgework and implant abutments....zirconia is absolutely fabulous. </p><p>With all that said, I wouldn't purchase the CAM portion of the systems (that have that availability). Why? Because the blocks and refills cost a fortune to stock, remakes or mistakes become your problem and if the machinery decides to break down or give you problems that can create a whole set of setbacks, problems and cash. I like the idea of putting all my knowledge, skills and time designing restorations, choosing the material, and clicking send to my milling partner and moving on to the next. </p><p>Rapid prototyping and having designed restorations wax printed is something many of my lab friends have been doing recently. For $5.00 a wax-up, they have been designing full contour (or just under contoured if they want to "enamelize" restorations) lithium disilicate that they sprue and press and when they can cluster cases together cases can be $6.50 in material costs (by pressing 3 crowns with a single ingot). </p><p>Your going to get a bunch of replys I would bet on this topic and there are many good systems. I like the Nobel Procera and etkon has a new scanner coming, but the bottom line is I find for most laboratories is that choosing a good CAD module only, and having that said system being able to accomodate all materials and be flexible with what I do in the lab makes the most sense.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sixonice, post: 21256, member: 2"] You certainly have done your homework and then some! Spending the big bucks on a CAD/CAM system is the biggest decision you have made (next to deciding to open your lab!). I agree with you wholehearted that your lab being small should have no real influence on deciding to purchase a system - knowing that you have stable clients and good revenue. Knowing and having researched many systems on the market today, I like the 3Shape best. I think it has the best software, I like the fact it can be a totally open system (depending on which dealer you buy it from) and 3Shape is cutting edge, always improving their platform, adding different modules and features. You can go anywhere you like with this system: printed wax patterns, copings, bridges, implants abutments, custom bars, partial dentures and even ortho. From all of this, you have every material available to you. In my opinion, I think the full contour zirconia restoration is somewhat of a fad. I suppose for the patient that has broken everything placed and doesnt want full cast gold, these have a place - but they are a low percentage. The bottom line is for single unit all ceramic restorations there are better alternatives for your cost, esthetics and the wear attrition to opposing dentition (both natural and lab fabricated). Even highly polished zirconia will very gradually destroy what it opposes. Polished, moderately polished or poorly polished is still hard as a non-precious full cast crown. 900 MPA is absurd for single units unless your a hippo or rhino. Now for all-ceramic bridgework and implant abutments....zirconia is absolutely fabulous. With all that said, I wouldn't purchase the CAM portion of the systems (that have that availability). Why? Because the blocks and refills cost a fortune to stock, remakes or mistakes become your problem and if the machinery decides to break down or give you problems that can create a whole set of setbacks, problems and cash. I like the idea of putting all my knowledge, skills and time designing restorations, choosing the material, and clicking send to my milling partner and moving on to the next. Rapid prototyping and having designed restorations wax printed is something many of my lab friends have been doing recently. For $5.00 a wax-up, they have been designing full contour (or just under contoured if they want to "enamelize" restorations) lithium disilicate that they sprue and press and when they can cluster cases together cases can be $6.50 in material costs (by pressing 3 crowns with a single ingot). Your going to get a bunch of replys I would bet on this topic and there are many good systems. I like the Nobel Procera and etkon has a new scanner coming, but the bottom line is I find for most laboratories is that choosing a good CAD module only, and having that said system being able to accomodate all materials and be flexible with what I do in the lab makes the most sense. [/QUOTE]
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Lab talk, the good, the bad, and the ugly
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At CrossRoads to buy which brand of CAD/CAM
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