CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

7 March 2011

Events News

Delcam to Launch Complete “Open Implantology” Dental System at IDS

Delcam will launch a complete open system for the design and manufacture of dental implant restorations at the IDS exhibition to be held in Cologne from 22nd to 26th March. Delcam offers a complete solution, from accurately capturing the implant position and orientation, through to the high-precision, multi-axis milling of customised abutments, implant bridges and dental bars, with a management system to track every stage of the process.

This launch is the latest step in the trend within the dental industry to replace “closed” manufacturing methods, in which the user is restricted to the use of a limited range of equipment and materials, with “open” systems, in which manufacturers can combine their own choice of equipment and software, and then use a broad variety of materials.

The key to the Delcam process is a new range of scan adaptors that are compatible with the leading brands of dental implant. Once the scan adaptors have been fitted to the model of the jaw, the scanner can accurately capture the positions and orientations of the implants, together with the shape of the remaining teeth. The precise fit of the scan adaptors, coupled with the latest generation of white-light 3D scanning technology used in the Delcam scanners, ensures the highest possible accuracy in the data collected.

Furthermore, the same manufacturing data that is used to produce the scan adaptors is incorporated into the templates within DentMILL that generate the milling instructions to manufacture the implant interfaces on the restorations. The resulting high accuracy is, of course, important for individual copings but is absolutely essential for bridges and dental bars that need to align with a number of implants.

This focus on high accuracy has been a key part of Delcam’s strategy for the dental industry and has been supported by the panel of experts from among the company’s customers that drives the development of the software. The better quality of restorations designed and made with the Delcam software benefits the patient by minimising manual adjustment of the item as it is being fitted, so reducing fitting times, and by offering improved comfort. In the longer term, the resulting restorations are more durable so giving an extended life.

As well as providing the individual components needed for a dental design and manufacturing system, Delcam offers the Dental Manager to manage the entire process. This enables laboratories to track and access all files and transactions from the initial dental scan, through CAD modelling and manufacturing to delivery to the customer.

The laboratory’s customers don’t need to install any software as the complete system is Internet based. A secure log-in system allows orders to be placed through an order screen that allows customers to identify the required restorations and, based on the prescription, select the material, colour and any extra details.

The Dental Manager then allows laboratory staff to monitor the progress of the order, highlighting any outstanding steps so that the overall workload can be monitored. Customers can be allowed to view the status of their order, and can be notified by email when orders are received and dispatched.

In a similar way, the Dental Manager can be used in milling centres to manage the manufacturing process, from the receipt of the design data, though manufacturing and dispatch.

Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.

Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.

CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.

Subscribe