Who is using which incarnation of digital impression technology?
There are now a multitude of chairside digital impression devices available in the U.S. Some of the players today include CEREC Omnicam, CEREC Bluecam, and Apollo DI (all Sirona), E4D, E4D Solo, and E4D Nevo (all D4D), iTero (Align), Lava C.O.S. and True Definition (both 3M), TRIOS and TRIOS POD (both 3Shape), MIA3D System (Densys, LTD), and IOS FastScan (Glidewell Laboratories).
This is a growing list as more companies are getting in on the potential multibillion-dollar technology explosion. Why? The technology and acceptance are gaining significant traction. Additionally, the price point for these devices is becoming more attractive to many. You do not have to purchase an in-house milling unit to do prosthetics. In fact, many doctors are finding that transferring digital data for crown and bridge creation reduces turnaround time and cost. It’s becoming a win-win situation for the laboratory as well as the dental office.
The question is, what are you using and why? Were you an early adopter? Have you upgraded recently? Or have you not yet “pulled the trigger”?
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CONSIDER READING THESE LAB ARTICLES:
From the perspective of an outsourcing dental lab technician in China
3-D printing — the death of the dental lab?
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I’ve been familiarizing myself with these devices for quite some time, and I’ve watched in fascination as the technology has evolved and the accuracy and materials used have improved. But I personally have not pulled the trigger. There were times when I was really, really close to purchasing one, but something always stopped me at the last minute.
Of course, cost is a factor. The idea of purchasing something that is close to the cost of some homes just didn’t seem right. If I wanted an “investment,” I’d buy real estate. I know, I could expense it with the tax deductions and only have to do 20 crowns a month to pay for it. But that didn’t seem right either. Ethically, was I doing a procedure because it needed to be done, or because I needed to pay for the equipment? That conundrum just didn’t sit right with me.
As I dug deeper into the mire of it all, I realized that my office workflow would need to be altered if I had an in-office milling machine, and time would have to be changed and staff would have to alter how they did things. This in not an impossible task, but it needs to be considered. I’ve heard of too many colleagues not using their machines because of these factors. But all this can be overcome with proper training.
Training! I asked myself, why couldn’t I be trained on a device before I bought it? Why did I have to lock myself into one machine that might not work the way I needed it to work? Why couldn’t these companies allow me the opportunity to learn before I bought, train me first and then if it works in my hands, in my manner. Then I might say SOLD!
However, that’s not how it’s done in the dental industry. Or at least that’s not how it was done. It seems like some of the companies are now giving you a way out if something does not work in your office. But you still have to sign your life away to do this, make sure you do a certain number of crowns or scans within the 30 days, and if you don’t like the equipment, then you can return it. Well, perhaps. This is as long as you did what you were contractually obligated to do during the time period. A few companies out there will even fly you to a location and do the initial training at no cost to you before you buy, but this is introductory at best, and there are at least four to six follow-up courses needed to become proficient in the device.
I simply wish I could become proficient before I needed to buy a device. What’s your take on this? Dr. Comisi would like to hear your thoughts about this article.
Dr. John Comisi loves to investigate the many applications of dental products and services available today to help dental professionals get a better perspective on what works and what needs further improvement. He has been in private practice in Ithaca, N.Y., since 1983, and he is president and CEO of “Dental Care with a Difference,” PC. He is a graduate of Northwestern University Dental School, the current Speaker of the AGD House of Delegates, a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, and a Fellow in the Academy of Dentistry International, the American College of Dentistry, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the International College of Dentistry.
