Dental Asia January/February 2020

www.dentalasia.net 

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 

Journey in Digital Dentistry: 

Fact or Fashion? 

The Gold Standard: 

IPS e.max Press 

by Dr. Diether Reusch and 

Jan Strüder 

All that Glitters 

is not Gold 

Dr. Gerald Tan shares his journey to the top

C 

O 

S 

Dental Management 

18 What is Premium? 

N 

T 

E 

N 

T 

Under the Spotlight 

20 All that Glitters is Not Gold 

26 Living Implantology 

Regulars 

4 First Words 

6 Dental Updates 

65 Product Highlight 

78 Events Calendar 

79 Giving Back to Society 

80 Advertisers’ Index 

Dental Profile 

30 The Last Frontier: Taking Dentures into Digital Space 

34 The Power of Nakama 

38 Putting the Patient at the Centre 

40 Future-Proof 

Clinical Feature 

44 The Myotalea System: A Revolutionary Approach to Active Myofunction 

Treatment 

46 Diode Laser-Assisted Gingivo-osseous Recontouring to Enhance 

Aesthetic Dental Restorations 

User Report 

50 The Gold Standard: IPS e.max Press 

56 Monolithic, Time-Efficient Front Tooth Restoration with the Best Light 

Dynamics 

Behind the Scenes 

58 Repairing Screw Retained Hybrid Prosthesis 

In Depth With 

62 exocad ChairsideCAD Matera: New Release Enables Single Visit 

Dentistry with Unsurpassed Indication Spectrum 

64 Integrated and Powerful Digital Imaging Tools for Implants and 

Orthodontics 

Show Preview 

71 Dental South China International Expo to Celebrate 25 th Anniversary 

72 Dentistry Advancement and Technologies 

Show Review 

74 Fact or Fashion? 

2 

DENTAL ASIA JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

First Words 

A touch of humanity 

A happy new year to 

all of you! We hope 

you’ve enjoyed the 

happy holidays. 

It’s the first issue of 

the year and there are 

Pang Yanrong 

Senior Editor 

a couple of interesting 

stories and products 

which we would like to share with you. 

We have Dr. Gerald Tan who heads the 

Dental Division of Novena Global Lifecare. 

Dr. Tan believes that treating for a patient 

goes beyond following a rigid set of dogma 

or evidence-based treatment — without doing 

any harm to the patient — and choosing what 

is best in the long run (p.20). 

He said, “None of my patients have asked 

me what the qualifications on my name 

card mean. Although I have sacrificed time, 

effort, and energy to get these post-graduate 

qualifications, I don’t let them define me. It 

is more important that I’m a good, decent 

human being first, before I’m this super dentist 

with all these qualifications.” 

This touch of humanity is also seen with 

Anthogyr UK General Manager Chris Bartlett, 

who said, “We mustn’t lose sight of the 

importance of discussing our failures, as well 

as our success, so that everyone can learn 

from them and keep implant dentistry moving 

together. (p.14)” 

GC, too, places emphasis on employees, 

whom they call ‘nakama’, or associate (p.34). 

The company believes that “true products 

are made for the good of others, not for our 

own sake.” This can be traced back to the 

failure of their first dental product, launched 

in 1922 by Kiyoshi Nakao and two other cofounders, 

which jolted them to think from the 

customer’s standpoint. 

As we progress into the new year, we look 

forward to seeing all the new innovations 

that will happen as the industry continues 

to place patients’ wellbeing at the forefront 

of everything. 

FOLLOW US 

@dentalasia 

ADVISORY BOARD 

Dr William Cheung 

Dr Choo Teck Chuan 

Dr Chung Kong Mun 

Dr George Freedman 

Dr Fay Goldstep 

Dr Clarence Tam 

Prof Nigel M. King 

Dr Anand Narvekar 

Dr Kevin Ng 

Dr William O’Reilly 

Dr Wong Li Beng 

Dr Adrian U J Yap 

Dr Christopher Ho 

Dr How Kim Chuan 

Dr Derek Mahony 

Prof Alex Mersel

Dental Updates 

Around the World in 24 Hours 

In an unparalleled 

and innovative 24- 

hour livestream 

event, Dentsply 

Sirona engaged 

with more than 

13,000 employees 

worldwide to 

Brazil, China, 

Egypt, France, 

Israel, Italy, 

Poland, Russia, 

South Africa, 

Sweden, Thailand, 

United Arab 

Emirates, and 

discuss the 

Vietnam, among 

company culture 

and its purpose “to 

Japan 

others. The event 

also reached 

make people smile”. From a TV studio created 

in the middle of the company’s production 

more than 58,000 people on social media 

platforms. 

facility in Bensheim, Germany, members of 

the leadership team connected with 90 global 

sites to talk about how the company culture 

and purpose support their work and facilitate 

a focus on the customers. 

Don Casey, CEO of Dentsply Sirona, 

said, “DS24hours was a unique 

experience unlike anything that we 

have done before. The energy and 

motivation of all employees around 

The event, named DS24hours, addressed 

employees all over the world in individual 

the world to contribute to our culture 

was amazing.” 

sessions from November 20 th into the 21 st 

of 2019, reaching employees in Argentina, During the 24-hour event, employees 

had the opportunity to get in touch with the 

leadership team, ask questions and discuss 

ways to empower dental professionals all 

over the world so as to provide millions of 

patients with better dental care. 

“DS24hours demonstrated the great 

commitment of our management team for 

an inspirational and transparent company 

culture, and how our employees engage 

by putting the customer at the centre of 

everything we do,” said Lisa Yankie, CHRO 

and Communications at Dentsply Sirona. ■ 

Salzburg, Austria 

3Shape Partners with Tianshi College in China 

3Shape has established a comprehensive 

education partnership with Tianshi College in 

China. The collaboration calls for 3Shape to 

open a 3Shape Academy within the university 

and its digital dentistry department. Using 

3Shape software and scanners, 3Shape 

instructors will provide CAD/CAM dental 

education and expertise to students. The 

school is planning to offer education to about 

80,000 students. 

3Shape’s CEO, Lars 

Christian Lund, said, 

“As 3D scanning and 

digital printing develop 

rapidly and become 

ubiquitous, dentistry 

is stepping into a new 

digital era. Besides its 

spirit of innovation, 

passion for education, and solid 

teaching philosophy, Tianshi 

College is also respected for 

the academic strength of its 

faculty and student body, 

quality of practical facilities, 

breadth of courses available 

and depth of specialised fields 

of study. This gives 3Shape 

the confidence to partner with 

Tianshi College, and nurture 

3Shape’s CEO Lars Christian Lund (second from left) with Tianshi 

College’s Vice Principal Yu Peng (far right) 

a new generation forerunner in digital dentistry design globally. 

of technicians The establishment of 3Shape Academy 

proficient in digital will revolutionise Tianshi College’s way 

dentistry.” 

of teaching, raise the standard of dental 

education, and provide valuable expertise. 

Tianshi College’s As students are being equipped in all areas 

Vice Principal, of hands-on learning, Tianshi College will 

3Shape Academy in Tianshi College will nurture a new 

generation of technicians proficient in digital dentistry 

Yu Peng, said, 

“3Shape is a 

continue to supple the society with nimblefingered 

craftsmen of a new era.” ■ 

6 


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Academy of Dentistry International Conclave in Chennai, Tamil Nadu 

To recognise the contributions to the field 

of dentistry by Dr. Rafiuddin Ahmed, who 

started the first dental college in India in 

1920, Academy of Dentistry International 

(ADI) India chapter conducted its 3 rd Global 

Conclave from 10 – 12 December 2019 at 

Saveetha Dental College and Hospital. 

The college’s curriculum fuses the best 

practices of east and west, and seeks 

to change accepted mindsets in dental 

education, helping students evolve into 

strong and confident professionals. 

“The State of Tamil Nadu is not only a trendsetter 

but also a game changer. This conclave 

will create opportunities for the continued 

exchange of oral health knowledge and 

expertise,” said Health Minister Dr C. Vijaya 

Bhaskar. 

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical 

Sciences Founder, Dr. N. M. Veeraiyan, said, 

“It was always a dream for me to make 

Saveetha dental college a model college, 

and now I see that dream becoming a reality. 

Besides keeping up with current trends by 

adopting digital dentistry, innovative teaching 

processes also help get students involved, 

making dentistry more enjoyable.” 

Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru O 

Panneer Selvam, said, “I hope that 

the deliberations with international 

experts in this conclave will 

help design an affordable and 

accessible oral healthcare model for 

developing countries like India.” ■ 

Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru O Panneer 

Selvam (second from left) lights lamp in opening 

ceremony with Saveetha Institute of Medical and 

Technical Sciences Founder Dr. N. M. Veeraiyan 

(far left) and Health Minister Dr C. Vijaya Bhaskar 

(centre, in white) 

New Centre for Specialty Dentistry Opens at the National University of Singapore 

The Faculty of Dentistry at the National 

University of Singapore (NUS) officially 

opened its new treatment centre at Kent 

Ridge Campus in July 2019, in a joint initiative 

with the National University Health System. It 

offers students the possibility of communitybased 

education with access to high-end 

equipment in dentistry, with 265 Sinius 

treatment centres from Dentsply Sirona to 

use for treatments. 

“We are pleased that we have successfully 

implemented a project of unmatched size for 

one of the most renowned dental faculties 

in the Asia-Pacific region,” explained Jörg 

Vogel, vice president of Dentsply Sirona’s 

international special clinic solutions business 

division. 

In addition to providing clinical care for its 

patients, the National University Centre 

for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS) is 

committed to research and education. 

From left to right: Sylvia and Jane Fonda from Fondaco (Dentsply 

Sirona’s local partner), Prof. Patrick Tseng (Senior Consultant 

in Endodontics, Restorative Dentistry and Prosthetics, NUHS), 

Josef Mitterberger and Frederick Wong (Dentsply Sirona), Prof. 

Patrick Finbarr Allen (Dean of NUS Faculty of Dentistry) and 

Associate Professor Asher Lim (Vice Dean of NUS Clinical Affairs) 

Singapore’s only dental school NUS Faculty 

of Dentistry will be housed in the new facility, 

allowing students to be trained on a larger 

scale than before. Thanks to direct contact 

with patients, students gain familiarity with 

patient needs for dental care early on in 

their career. 

Dean of Faculty Professor Patrick F. 

Allen said, “We would like to offer our 

students first-class education in the 

field of dentistry and prepare them 

as well as possible for their practice 

routine. In addition to communitybased 

training, we focused on 

innovative teaching methods and the 

use of high-quality technologies.” ■ 

Prof. Patrick Finbarr Allen, Dean of NUS Faculty 

of Dentistry 

8 


Osstell Scientific Symposium Welcomes 

Record Number of Visitors 

Visitors gained exclusive insights into the product world of W&H and Osstell 

Osstell’s 11th Annual Scientific Symposium was held in Lisbon, 

Portugal, on the 26th of September 2019. Part of the European 

Association for Osseointegration’s 28th Scientific Meeting, it 

achieved a record number of visitors, depicting an interest in new 

solutions for efficient treatment planning. 

Co-inventor of Resonance Frequency Analysis and Osstell Prof. Neil 

Meredith (Australia), together with Dr. Jeff Ganeles (USA), Dr. Barry 

Levin (USA), and Dr. Marcus Dagnelid (Sweden), shared first-hand 

information on “Evidence-based guidance for implant loading.” 

In addition, Dr. Meredith demonstrated how implant stability 

quotient (ISQ) is more than a simple number, as it can be used to 

measure, monitor and enhance clinical success utilising global data 

analysis. The event also saw Dr. Levin speaking on post-extraction 

implants, insertion torque value (ITV), and ISQ – how to value each 

measurement, and when to restore implants in immediate and 

grafted sites. 

Dr. Ganeles, who 

lectured on the 

principles and rationale 

in using resonance 

frequency in clinical 

decision making, said, 

“The improvements in 

implant surfaces and 

understanding about 

The interplay of Piezomed and Implantmed Plus with its the biologic processes 

ioDent® system was the focus of attention 

of osseointegration 

make it reasonable to give patients what they want – less waiting 

time to complete implant dentistry.” 

The audience was also introduced to specific cases by means of 

live polls. ■


FDI World Dental Development Fund Backs Projects that Improve Oral Health Worldwide 

Projects with a prominent educational 

component and promising potential for 

sustainability are given priority. They should 

focus on at least one of the following topics: 

disease prevention or eradication, education, 

oral health promotion, and primary health 

care. 

Promoting oral health for the Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous 

community in Costa Rica 

FDI World Dental Federation is 

accepting applications for the 

World Dental Development 

Fund (WDDF), which supports 

innovative oral health initiatives 

in communities around the world. 

The fund backs projects with 

clear objectives to promote and 

improve oral health and prevent 

oral diseases in limited-income 

areas with oral health needs. 

As an example, Hands for Health, a nonprofit 

organisation in Costa Rica which 

has benefited from WDDF funding in 2017, 

The World Dental Development Fund continues to support oral health 

projects in Cambodia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Vanuatu 

Local teachers and cultural leaders are taught how to give 

oral health education lessons to ensure the sustainability 

of the project 

promotes oral health among children of 

indigenous people. Many had migrated 

from Panama and found themselves 

stateless, which has led to complex 

health and socio-economic issues. As 

part of their work, project leaders visit 

“Houses of Joy”, where indigenous 

children stay while their parents are 

working. Together, project leaders and 

indigenous children sing songs that 

encourage them to brush their teeth 

regularly. ■ 

IDEM Singapore Features Conference Programme on the Cutting Edge of Dentistry 

Co-organised by Koelnmesse and the 

Singapore Dental Association, International 

Dental Exhibition and Meeting (IDEM) will take 

place at Suntec Singapore Convention and 

Exhibition Centre from 24 th – 26 th April 2020. 

Besides the discussion on the treatment of 

patients with special needs at the Special Care 

Dentistry Symposium, IDEM will also vhost 

the Dental Hygienist and Therapist Forum. 

Some 9,000 visitors and 500 exhibitors are 

expected. Fifteen international pavilions will 

be featured, including first-time participants 

Spain and Russia, in an exhibition arena of 

20,000m 2 . 

“With each edition, IDEM has strengthened. 

For this next edition, we have given great 

consideration to what is important in dentistry 

today, so that it will build new experiences for 

dental professionals,” said Mathias Kuepper, 

managing d irector at Koelnmesse. 

Speakers such as Dr. Shimon Friedman from 

Toronto, Prof. Mark Wolff from Amsterdam, 

Dr. Fadi Yassmin from Sydney, and 

Dr. Roberto Turrini from Pesaro, Italy will 

share their insights. 

Dr. Lim Lii, president of the Singapore 

Dental Association, said, “The conference 

programme is comprehensive and designed 

to convey the latest industry trends about 

new practice areas in dentistry.” ■ 

10 


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Envista Announces Location for Nobel Biocare Global Symposium 2020 

To be held in Las Vegas from 16 th to 18 th April, 

Nobel Biocare Global Symposium 2020 will 

explore the future of dental implantology 

and digital dentistry. The previous event in 

Madrid, Spain, brought together more than 

1,200 dental professionals. 

More than 60 key experts from different 

fields of dental implantology and digital 

dentistry will offer several interactive 

podium discussions and engaging hands-on 

workshops. Also featured will be Envista’s 

KaVo Kerr and Ormco brands including 

solutions such as CBCT digital imaging, 

powerful clinical and treatment software, 

clear aligners, as well as everything dentists 

need for a complete digital workflow. 

Topics to look out for include implant dentistry 

innovations, breakthrough surfaces for tissue 

integration, choosing the ideal treatment 

solution for edentulous patients, guided vs 

navigated surgery, unlocking the 

regenerative potential of soft and 

hard tissues, and pushing the 

boundaries in implant dentistry. 

Amir Aghdaei, president and 

CEO of Envista said, “The Nobel 

Biocare Global Symposium 2020 

in Las Vegas is a celebration 

of continuous learning and 

recognition of the positive impact 

it can have on dentists’ skills, 

daily practice, and their patients 

– through genuine and proven 

innovations. We invite everyone to join this 

landmark event and be a part of the implant 

and digital dentistry revolution.” ■ 

VITA Dental Masters 2020 in Germany 

Ewald Colliery 

On 20 th March, at the historical site of Ewald 

Colliery in Ruhr, western Germany, where 

coal used to be mined from a depth of 1,000 

metres, dental professionals will meet to 

discuss the scientific, material, economical, 

and practical aspects of digital and analogue 

production of all-ceramic restorations at the 

VITA Dental Masters. 

The brand-new universal veneering ceramic 

VITA LUMEX AC and the next generation 

of pressed ceramic VITA AMBRIA press 

solutions will also be featured. Speakers 

include Prof. Dr. Florian Beuer, ZT Benjamin 

Schick B. Sc. DTM, 

ZTM Hans Jürgen 

Lange, ZTM 

Jürgen Freitag 

and Peter Holzer. 

foot of Zugspitze peak, as VITA Dental 

Masters meets Tooth Summit. The following 

day, dental technicians and brothers Luc and 

Patrick Rutten, among others, will climb the 

highest mountain in Germany (altitude of 

2,600 metres) and share their all-ceramic 

knowledge for starting digital and analogue 

ceramic production of highly aesthetic 

implant restorations with attendees of the 

Zahngipfel Symposium. 

With these three exclusive training events, 

dental technicians and dentists will be 

prepared for the digital revolution. ■ 

Jürgen Freitag, Florian Beuer, and Peter Holzer 

The same 

specialist content 

will be discussed 

the following 

Friday, 27 th March, 

in southern 

Germany at the 

Zugspitze 

12 



American Dental Association Announces Interim Policy on Vaping 

e-cigarettes and vaping products for tobacco 

cessation purposes, and their effects on the 

oral cavity. 

“While the long-term oral health effects 

of vaping are under scientific review, as 

health professionals we must be prudent 

in protecting consumers from potentially 

harmful products,” said ADA President Chad 

Gehani, D.D.S. 

“We will continue to advocate for additional 

research, but we must protect the health of 

our patients first and foremost. A ban such 

as this would ensure patient safety while 

allowing us to explore the impact of vaping 

products on oral health.” ■ 

The American Dental Association (ADA) has 

announced a new interim policy on vaping 

– calling for a total ban on vaping products 

that are not approved by the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for tobacco cessation 

purposes. 

The policy states that the ADA urgently 

advocates for regulatory, legislative, and 

legal action at federal and state levels to ban 

the sale and distribution of all e-cigarette and 

vaping products, except those approved for 

tobacco cessation purposes. 

ADA also advocates for research funding 

to study the safety and effectiveness of 

Academy of Osseointegration Sets New Standard with Adoption of IJPRD as Exclusive 

Member Benefit 

The Academy of Osseointegration’s (AO) 

Board of Directors has adopted The 

International Journal of Periodontics & 

Restorative Dentistry (IJPRD) as its second 

official journal, significantly elevating the 

level of benefits offered to its members. 

With a global reputation for high-quality 

editorial content and colour illustrations, 

IJPRD is an often-cited journal in presentation. 

AO members will receive the IJPRD at no 

additional cost beginning in February 2020. 

“Member value is a top priority for the 

Academy,” said AO President Dr. Jay P. 

Dr. Jay P. Malmquist 

Malmquist. “The IJPRD is a world-class, 

scientific, peer-reviewed journal that will 

provide clinically relevant information 

designed to inspire our members in their 

daily practices.” 

Articles are uniquely presented showing the 

relationship between a healthy periodontium 

and precise restorations, as well as the 

integration of implants with comprehensive 

treatment planning. The IJPRD will be in 

addition to AO members already receiving the 

International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial 

Implants (JOMI), consistently rated as its 

number one benefit. ■ 

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 DENTAL ASIA 13


The Human Side of Implant Dentistry 

Le Cercle - which 

means “a round table 

discussion” - was held 

in London last year by 

dental implant manager 

Anthogyr. The event 

facilitated an exchange 

of knowledge and 

experience among 

implant dentists and 

technicians. Starting 

with a poll of the 

Dr. Bill Schaeffer (centre) with Dr. Anthony Bendkowski (right) 

number of implants 

the audience had placed; the percentage But the pressure isn’t from companies – it’s 

of immediate loading cases; the level of from patients.” 

guided bone regeneration (GBR) usage; 

and the adaptation of digital workflows, the The socket shield surgical technique was 

discussion quickly intensified. 

described as “a difficult, technique-sensitive 

procedure, which could be rewarding if it 

On the trend of immediate loading, works” by Dr. Nigel Saynor. At the same 

Dr. Anthony Bendkowski said, “We’ve seen time, while Dr. Bill Schaeffer found the results 

commercial pressure increasing the amount brilliant, he no longer uses it because “it’s 

of immediate load cases being carried out. solving a problem I didn’t have.” 

UK General Manager Chris Bartlett 

said, “Sometimes it feels as though the 

profession is in danger of being guided 

by social media at the moment. We 

mustn’t lose sight of the importance of 

discussing our failures, as well as our 

success, so that everyone can learn from 

them and keep implant dentistry moving 

together. It’s the human side of implant 

dentistry that drives us forward – and 

that’s what Le Cercle is all about.” ■ 

Dr. Nigel Saynor 

Japanese Government Honours Former GC Chairman Makoto Nakao 

On 13 th December 2019, Makoto Nakao, 

former GC International AG Chairman, was 

formally bestowed the Order of the Rising 

Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from the 

Japanese Government. On the same day, he 

was invited to the Homeiden banquet hall 

of the Imperial Palace by His Majesty the 

contributions to the pharmaceutical 

scene can be seen in GC’s sustained 

growth and continued success, 

where each employee is valued and 

empowered to develop to their full 

potential. The organisation believes 

that “true products are made for the 

good of others, not for our own sake.” 

Emperor. In 1966, past Chairman Kiyoshi 

Nakao was bestowed with the same award. 

Also decorated with the award was former 

President Toshio Nakao. 

The award represents the Japanese 

Government’s recognition of GC’s service 

in dentistry over several decades. Nakao’s 

GC aims to make an important 

contribution to people’s oral health 

by developing dental care products with 

the latest scientific knowledge, and through 

intensive and continual dialogue with dental 

health professionals. Besides impression 

materials, restoratives, and cements, GC also 

supplies CAD/CAM blocks and a digital dental 

system, which are sold in over 100 countries 

around the world. ■ 

14 



exocad Insights 2020 in Darmstadt, Germany 

On the evening of 12 th March 2020, the international exocad community can expect a grand celebration of the company’s 10 th anniversary in Darmstadt, Germany 

To be held from 12 th – 13 th March 

2020, Insights 2020 – A Decade 

of Digital Innovation will take 

place in Darmstadt, Germany. 

For the second time, the dental 

software company, exocad, opens its doors in 

the city of science in Germany. CEO and Co- 

Founder Tillmann Steinbrecher, explained, 

“In Darmstadt, where our history began in 

2010, we want to celebrate our company’s 

10 th anniversary with the international 

community in the context of a CAD/CAM 

education event.” 

Besides lectures by international speakers 

and software sessions with exocad experts, 

discussions on the latest trends in CAD/ 

CAM will also be carried out by more than 

40 international partner companies. On 

Thursday evening, exocad’s birthday will be 

celebrated with dinner and live music with 

up to 850 technicians and clinicians from all 

over the world. 

Insights 2020 focuses on the possibilities 

of exocad’s open software platform, on 

which intraoral and model scanners, milling 

machines, 3D printers and DVT devices from 

different manufacturers can be combined 

to form a consistent digital workflow. 

Dr. Paulo Maló from Portugal, Uli Hauschild 

from Italy and Waldo Zarco Nosti from Spain 

will demonstrate how the software can be 

used successfully in an interdisciplinary 

way and how exocad’s open software 

platform allows a faster, and ultimately, more 

economic design of digital workflows. 

On Friday, exocad software experts will 

present patient cases on DentalCAD, exoplan, 

and ChairsideCAD. Attendees will get a 

first-hand experience of how intuitive and 

easy it is to make veneers, crowns, and 

inlays in an integrated workflow, yielding 

time-savings, flexibility, freedom, and patient 

satisfaction. 

While the conference language for Insights 

2020 is English, simultaneous translation 

into German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and 

Chinese will be available. 

During the programme breaks, visitors will be 

able to check out the latest digital solutions 

from key exocad partners: Align, Amann 

Girrbach, GC, NextDent, Carestream, CIM 

System, DGShape, Planmeca, vhf, VITA, and 

VOCO, among others. 

“We want to experience the future of digital 

dentistry and make our software solutions 

accessible to everyone,” explained CCO 

Novica Savic. ■ 

Up to 850 users of digital dental technologies in 

laboratories and practices are expected at exocad 

Insights, which is themed “a decade of digital innovation” 

16 



Making Braces In-House 

AirMico provides software and hardware for dental 

treatment to help reduce orthodontics costs 

Chinese start-up AirMico is changing their 

production, distribution, and follow-up 

service in a bid to bring costs down for clear 

aligners. Despite costing four times more 

than traditional braces, clear aligners, usually 

priced around RMB$40,000 (S$8,000), are 

seeing a rise in popularity for their aesthetic 

appeal and convenience. 

AirMico’s idea features a small laser scanner, 

a 3D printer, and a robotic arm, with which 

dentists can create braces in their offices. 

By cutting down on waiting times and 

complicated processes, AirMico hopes to 

lower the costs for end users. Another idea 

also involves the matching of patients with 

braces makers. Patients are able to take their 

own scans either at home or at specific locations, 

and send it to technicians who will manufacture 

and deliver the braces. Follow-up services will 

then be conducted by dentists. The clear aligners 

are estimated to be priced at RMB$10,000. 

Online platforms, such as Taobao and Tmall, will 

also serve as distribution channels. 

While their entrance to the market is unlikely 

to affect industry leaders, such as Align 

Technology and Angelalign, in the short term, 

AirMico is currently seeking funding to bring 

these ideas to fruition. If the ideas succeed, 

they may indeed cause a disruption to the 

orthodontic scene. ■ 



What is 

premium? 

Just what is a premium brand? It is 

very simply the gold standard – the 

best of its kind. But, what exactly 

makes it different from other brands? 

Reducing premium to quality would 

be an oversimplification, and Dentsply 

Sirona is more than that. 

Premium does not come off the 

rack. For many, it is synonymous 

with individuality. 

Back in the 1940s and 50s, U.S. 

Social Psychologist Abraham Harold Maslow 

(1908–1970) proposed the hierarchy of 

needs with a model that bears his name. 

At the bottom are the deficit needs – the 

elementary desire for food, tools, clothing, 

etc. This basic need is subjected to changing 

times, but must be fulfilled in order to 

pursue satisfaction. According to Maslow, 

those who additionally satisfy growth 

need to experience happiness that goes 

beyond satisfaction. At the pinnacle is selfactualisation, 

the urge for individuality and 

aesthetics. 

According to this model, individuality and 

growth are closely interconnected. Selfactualisation 

is an important motivation 

when it comes to choosing products 

and brands. Aside from choosing quality 

products, users seek premium products as 

an expression of themselves. 

Perfection and personality 

Firstly, “premium” is embodied in all 

aspects of quality. Products aspiring to 

this standard should be flawless and of 

high quality in every regard: State of the 

art with outstanding workmanship, durable 

with dependable functionality, simple and 

easy to use, and is aesthetically pleasing. A 

genuine premium product also has a spark 

of individuality that makes it stand out 

from the rest. In addition to outstanding 

quality, people who buy a premium product 

also expect that product to serve their 

own highly individualised system of values 

and, thus, express their personal standard. 

They invest in the product because it suits 

them. It enables them to do their work or 

live their lives the way they want. Unlike 

social status as with luxury products, this 

is a commitment to quality, aesthetics, and 

sustainability. The design of the premium 

product is the medium for this individual 

attitude of the customer and reflects his 

or her high standard of value. It must be 

timelessly modern and harmonious as well 

as support the functionality of the product 

completely: Form follows function. This 

18 



is the only way for functionality itself to 

become aesthetic. 

Said Heino Thiele, head of Individual 

Solutions at Dentsply Sirona, “Our range 

of treatment units covers a wide spectrum 

of aesthetic and functional needs on the 

part of practitioners. In addition, we also 

take care of highly individual customer 

requests. First, we determine how we 

can implement these requests within the 

framework of our technical and economic 

capabilities and in accordance with the 

Medical Devices Act. Some users face special 

technical challenges and want to map the 

corresponding processes and workflows. 

Frequently, however, it is also a matter of a 

customer’s individual taste: For example, by 

request, we once designed the upholstery 

of a treatment unit entirely in the national 

colours of Austria. We want to enable our 

customers to design treatment as the centre 

of their workplace and their practice so 

that it suits their way of working and their 

individual style.” 

The gold standard 

The gold standard was 

once a monetary system in which currency 

could be exchanged directly for gold at a 

guaranteed rate of exchange. Today, we 

use the term for processes that are hitherto 

unrivalled or point the way to the future. 

These processes result in premium products 

or services. Thus, the gold standard denotes 

nothing less than a process of creation in 

which every single step — from the initial 

idea to the manufacturing processes, 

materials, quality assurance, and service — 

occurs according to the highest standard of 

quality known to people today. The objective 

in all of this is to provide the user with a 

product that can transform all of his or 

her complex needs into simple, absolutely 

reliable, and aesthetically pleasing solutions 

and enable users to attain their highly 

individual goals. Premium products that 

meet the gold standard enable their users to 

also meet a gold standard: In manufacturing 

their own products, carrying out their work 

or treating their patients. 

Experience and evidence 

From the customer’s point of view, quality 

is first of all something that can be 

experienced with the senses: Does a form 

seem harmonious? Does a substance smell 

pleasant? Does a handle feel impressive 

and is it easy to grasp? Does a motor run 

smoothly and powerfully? 

One can also experience the perfection of a 

product in terms of technical functionality 

by trying it out. What about workflow, 

usability, speed, and efficiency? Does the 

product fulfil the user’s individual needs and 

can its operating functions be configured 

specifically for them? Is the equipment, 

system, or device sustainable, integrable, 

and perhaps upgradeable? Trust originates 

from continuously flawless performance and 

verification. Thus, premium products must 

be put to the test, especially when it comes to 

longevity and ruggedness. Quality controls 

using validated test processes, stress tests, 

and functional checks demonstrate the 

quality and service life of specific functional 

elements or entire systems. 

Regardless of the many 

facets premium has – 

quality, gold standard, 

and individuality – 

ultimately, it is the 

customer’s 

feelings that 

turn a good 

product into a 

premium. DA

All that Glitters 

is not Gold


Dr. Gerald Tan seems to have been dealt with a good hand of cards in life: Alumnus of the prestigious Anglo- 

Chinese School, Founder of Elite Dental Group Singapore, Global Head of the Dental Division of Novena 

Global Lifecare (a Singaporean Healthcare Conglomerate), and the youngest and longest-serving President 

of the Aesthetic Dentistry Society of Singapore (ADSS), just to name a few. But if you were to speak to him, 

he would contend that life is not just a matter of holding good cards, but also playing a poor hand well and 

relying on good old-fashioned resilience. 

After receiving his Bachelors of Dental Surgery 

Degree from the Faculty of Dentistry at the National 

University of Singapore in 2003, Dr. Tan obtained his 

postgraduate qualifications at the Royal Colleges of 

Surgery in Sydney and in London. He then went on to 

be awarded with fellowships at the International College of Dentists 

(USA), the Pierre Fauchard Academy (USA) and the International 

Congress of Oral Implantologists (USA). 

During his time as President of the ADSS, his travels and 

overseas internships allowed him to spend considerable time with 

world-renowned industry legends like Dr. Bill Dorfman (USA), 

Dr. Daniel Buser (Switzerland) and Dr. Galip Gürel (Turkey), who 

inspired him and mentored him to focus his practice and postgraduate 

training on Aesthetic Dentistry and Dental Implantology. 

Although he is active with in multiple Aesthetic Dentistry and Dental 

implantology Associations and Academies globally, he would rather 

people recognise him first as a kind and honest person, before 

anything else. 

When one door closes 

With a title like Global Head of Dentistry at Novena Global Lifecare 

Group, one might be forgiven for thinking that life had offered 

Dr. Tan all its best on a silver platter. But in fact, Dentistry was not 

his first choice of study, it was Medicine. When he was given his 

Dr. Gerald Tan explains 

digital smile design to a patient 



A surgical room in Elite Dental Group 

second choice – Dentistry – he accepted it thinking he could switch 

to medicine in the future. But the application was rejected. 

He said, “As divine intervention would have it, I grew to love dentistry 

so much that I am so glad that I did not become a medical doctor! 

I have many people whom I am grateful for in nurturing me in my 

undergraduate days, but none more so than Prof. Keson Tan. He is 

an absolute academic genius who is also passionate about teaching. 

He made me realise that Dentistry was indeed my higher calling 

and my God-given purpose on earth. He was the initial spark that 

lit that fire in me.” 

After serving as commissioned dental officer at the Singapore Armed 

Forces and as a dental officer at the National Dental Centre, Dr. Tan 

moved into the private sector. In 2013, he founded his own group 

practice: Elite Dental Group. 

Dr. Gerald Tan with one of his mentors in Aesthetic Dentistry, Dr. Galip Gurel 

When asked about his journey, he said, “There have been so many 

challenges since day one, I don’t know where to start! The key 

challenge was (and still is) people management. I used to think that 

people would be only motivated by money. I was wrong. I had to sit 

down with each and every member of my team, to understand their 

needs and wants; and to make sure that they feel heard, respected, 

and valued. 

“Business ownership has been such a humbling experience but also 

fulfilling overall. I’ve learnt that if I take care of my team, my team 

will take care of the business, and the success will eventually come.” 

A heart of gold 

Dr. Tan found himself given the opportunity to replicate his current 

business model in multiple locations after a meeting with close 

22 


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himself given the opportunity to replicate his current business model 

in multiple locations. Novena Global Lifecare wanted to complement 

its existing technology driven aesthetic medical and healthcare 

services with the equivalent in state-of-the-art dentistry. Dr. Tan, 

who is known for being dynamic, energetic, and well-connected in 

the dental industry, was chosen as the best man for the job of leading 

that joint venture growth. 

At Elite Dental Group, technology is key to improving efficiency. 

Some of the treatment planning processes, such as computer guided 

implant surgery, is fully digitised. So too, are the patient registration 

process and tracking of multiple business metrics. In a broader 

sense, Novena Global Lifecare believes that the use of technology and 

artificial intelligence can help bring healthcare costs down, making 

aesthetic dentistry accessible to more people. At the same time, Dr 

Tan realises that the human touch matters as well, and the patient 

experience is more relevant now than ever before. 

Despite being one of the only two dental surgeons in Singapore 

recognised with Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties at The 

Royal College of Surgeons of England, Dr. Tan said with disarming 

frankness that academic achievements, while important, have done 

little except to feed his ego. 

He elaborated, “None of my patients have asked me what the 

acronyms of my qualifications on my name card mean. Although I 

have sacrificed time, effort, and energy to get these post-graduate 

qualifications, I am wary of letting them define who I am. In this 

world of glamour and temporal success, my credibility as a person, 

and the sacred trust that my team and my patients put in me, matter 

more. There will always be someone more successful and more well 

educated than I am. One generation goes, and another generation 

comes.” 

Turning points 

He had not always been this self-aware though. There was a time 

when running the practice felt like an emotional roller coaster ride 

and there were moments when he felt like quitting. He explained that 

when he first set up Elite Dental Group, he was more of a clinician 

than a business leader, and lacked the skills to manage the people 

under him well. 

Again, he revealed candidly, “Initially, my poor leadership, 

complacency, and arrogance created a toxic working culture that led 

to many inefficiencies, staff turnover and disharmony. I had to make 

difficult decisions – hire and fire – a few rounds of employees, learn 

from business mentors, and humble myself. Finally, I have a team 

now that is working together harmoniously and with mutual respect. 

Dr. Gerald Tan with one of his implantology mentors, Prof. Daniel Buser 

“It took soul-searching and self-reflection, but I’ve realised that no 

matter how brilliant I think I am, it’s not just about me anymore. It’s 

about the team, and that has been humbling.” 

While he is excited about the opportunity to grow either organically 

or by acquisition (Novena Global Lifecare together with Elite Dental 

Group are currently looking at acquiring and organically opening 

dental clinics across South East Asia and Australia), he wants to 

remind young clinicians that business ownership is not for everyone. 

Half in jest, he said, “Don’t do it.” 

After a pause, he relented, “Unless you know what you’re doing. 

Think carefully before you start a practice; you must have a solid 

business plan. You must have deep pockets to weather the storm. 

Don’t expect to be making money from day one. 

“Although it might be tempting to think that your way is the best 

way, once you start a practice and begin dealing with fellow 

dental surgeons, dental assistants, front office coordinators, clinic 

managers, and even the janitor, you will soon realise that you are 

the least important person in your whole organisation. Your success 

depends on your ability to lead others. And being the boss doesn’t 

automatically mean that you know how to lead.” 

But he counts himself fortunate, being the sole owner of his practice. 

He has seen many partnerships, and friendships, get destroyed 

over money, or differences over how the business is run. To him, it 

is not worth it. 

Out of an abundance of caution, he reiterated, “Life is much easier 

as an employee!” 

24 



Meaning is in the service of others 

Besides being Asia’s only fully integrated and multiple enterprise 

award winning healthcare platform with their own research and 

artificial intelligence technology arm, Novena Global Lifecare also 

has one of the largest healthcare databases in Asia, with over two 

million active patients. With over 250 clinic and retail locations 

over 20 cities in four continents, the group manages an estimated 

annual turnover of US$350 million and growing. With super bluechip 

institutional and international investors on board, there are 

plans to offer shares to the public through an Initial Public Offering 

soon, after which the group will expand their global reach even more. 

Dr Tan said, “We aim to proudly bring a Singapore dental brand 

like Elite Dental Group to all areas where Novena Global Lifecare 

operates in, and be truly a global dental brand. We have the reach, 

the network, the backing, and the capability to make this happen.” 

Beneath the bright lights and glamour though, there is real work to 

be done. Dr. Tan recalled one case which was brought to his attention 

through his work as a volunteer in helping victims of domestic 

violence. A woman had sustained multiple fractures in her ribs, leg 

and facial bones, as well as lost many teeth as a result of being flung 

three storeys off the balcony of her apartment by her ex-husband. 

He recounted, “When I first met her at my practice, she showed 

me a picture of herself, smiling, before the injuries. I set my mind 

to reconstructing her smile to what it was, so that she could face 

Dr. Gerald Tan with his joint venture partners Terence Loh (left) 

and Nelson Loh (right), founders of Novena Global Lifecare 

the world again. Maybe she would be able to smile again, go for job 

interviews, and ultimately regain her sense of self-worth and esteem. 

It was quite an emotional experience.” 

When the rehabilitation was complete, the patient was moved to 

tears; so were Dr. Tan’s nurses, and the entire operating room. There 

was a sense that being equipped with the skills and knowledge to 

help in a case like this was a privilege, and he and his team found 

purpose in being able to change the lives of those in desperate need. 

Staying sharp, yet malleable 

When he was still young and inexperienced, Dr. Tan had several 

local mentors – Dr. Ronnie Yap, Dr. Jerry Lim, Dr. Dominic Leung, and 

Dr. Hwang Yee Cheau – who believed in him and gave him a chance. 

He is grateful that they took him under their wings, discussing the 

latest dental developments with him, sometimes well into the wee 

hours of the morning. Even now, he feels that his work is built upon 

what they had accomplished. 

Nowadays, he encounters young dentists who are frustrated at being 

unable to apply what they might have learnt at continuing education 

events at their current places of work, where the equipment is still 

rather basic. And he believes that it is his turn to encourage them. 

He reminds them that there’ll always be an opportunity some day 

to use that knowledge. 

“If you really want to practise high-end dentistry, then choose 

a practice that is progressive and always improving, with good 

leadership. Clinical and technical know-how are important, but soft 

skills are also essential. Build rapport with the patient; don’t forget 

that you’re dealing with a human being. Sometimes all it takes to 

gain a person’s trust is a caring touch and a listening ear,” he said. 

There will be times when caring for a patient means looking past 

a rigid set of dogma or evidence-based treatment – without doing 

any harm to the patient – and choosing what is best in the long run. 

Dreaming small 

Call it the butterfly effect, ripple effect, or snowball effect, but 

Dr. Tan believes in dreaming small instead of dreaming big. His advice 

is to focus your energy on the people in your immediate sphere of 

influence. Guide, empower, and inspire them, and they will in turn 

lead their own teams with the same passion and culture that you 

have created. In this way, the big dream will naturally come. 

Dr. Tan concluded, “A true leader, in my opinion, serves. I firmly 

believe that the true way to finding meaning in myself is in the 

service of others. As long as I’m a little bit better today than I was 

yesterday, I will be happy.” DA 



Living Implantology 

Dr. Tristan Staas graduated from the University of Utrecht 

in the Netherlands in 1988. And in 1990, together with 

his wife Mieke Bergmans, who is also a dentist, they 

founded Staas and Bergmans Zorgvooruwmond, a 

practice for general dentistry, and clinic for aesthetic 

dentistry and implantology. 

In 2018, they moved Staas & Bergmans Expertisevooruwmond, a 

second office founded in 2012, to a bigger space in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, 

the capital city of the Dutch province of North Brabant. 

Dr. Staas was one of the first clinicians to introduce immediate 

loading with NobelActive implants by Nobel Biocare to his practice 

back in 2007. 

“We were the first to believe in the benefits and predictability of a new 

approach in the Immediate Implant Placement Protocol (IIPP),” said 

Dr. Tristan Staas. “Before that, the aesthetic outcome from placing 

an implant in the socket was unpredictable.” 

From the drilling protocol to the form and surface, NobelActive is 

a unique implant that was designed with immediate loading and 

stability in mind. Clinicians are able to adjust the implant position 

during placement thanks to the reverse-cutting flutes with drilling 

blades on the apex. The moderately rough, thickened titanium oxide 

layer on the implant surface enhances osseointegration, preserves 

soft tissue and marginal bone, hence, helping the implants to 

maintain stability even after a decade. 

With Nobel Active, “We treat patients in a less invasive way with a 

shorter treatment time, and at a lower cost,” said Dr. Staas. “The 

excellent outcome resulted in happy patients and a lot of referrals.” 

Advantages of NobelActive implant system 

“NobelActive stands out in handling, positioning, and initial stability, with 

a wide assortment of stock and customised CAD/CAM (NobelProcera) 

biocompatible components, which are suitable to achieve a coronal seal. 

For an experienced clinician, the NobelActive implant system is easy to 

control with minimal preparation needed,” said Dr. Staas. 

26 



Since 2006, he has further introduced CBCT (cone beam computed 

tomography) imaging to his office, and planned all patients’ implants 

in 3D. Nowadays, his team uses the smart fusion of data with intraoral 

scanners and digital smile design to streamline their planning. 

Reshaping implantology 

As one in a small group of international clinical experts, Dr. Staas 

has been involved in the development of the new Nobel Biocare N1 

implant system over the last couple of years. In a move to make 

treatments faster as well as more straightforward and predictable, 

Nobel Biocare revealed this breakthrough new system at its Madrid 

Symposium last year in Madrid. 

The entire Nobel Biocare N1 system, from planning to the prosthetic 

delivery, was created to streamline workflows and enhance patient 

comfort. Going beyond a new implant design, Nobel Biocare 

is also redefining site preparation with the introduction of the 

OsseoShaper, a new innovative alternative to conventional drilling 

protocols. 

The Nobel Biocare N1 system will also feature Nobel Biocare’s latest 

surface innovation for implants and abutments, Xeal and TiUltra. 

It will also be further integrated into the digital workflow with DTX 

Studio, giving dental professionals more opportunities to provide 

patients with shorter-time-teeth. 

Clinical indications for NobelActive 

“When you want a bone-level implant system, particularly in the 

aesthetic zone, NobelActive will be your first choice,” said Dr. Staas. 



“We were also one of the first to make ourselves available online, 24 

hours a day, seven days a week, for questions and advice,” he said. 

He acknowledged that it took a lot of time to convince his team and 

their referral dentists to consider a new way of thinking, as they 

tend to be trained to work in a specific workflow. He encourages 

his team by giving them unconditional trust and support. 

“Empower them, let them make decisions without your interference 

and accept that they’ll do things in a different way,” he shared. 

“Allow them to make mistakes too.” 

As for the future, he sees his team expanding, with greater ability, 

skill, and knowledge to cover even the most complex cases. 

“We will integrate the digital workflow and dental lab more and 

more into the office,” he said. 

He also looks forward to the next innovations from Nobel Biocare 

that will help to treat more patients better. DA 

In fact, some of his most memorable cases go as far back as a 

decade, when he first started using NobelActive. 

“It’s been 10 years now, and we’re still surprised and impressed 

by the stability of the aesthetics,” he said. 

In Dr. Staas’ research on the coronal seal, he has also found that 

biological width created with biocompatible components is another 

key factor to a stable outcome in the long term. 

“Implants to me are just a tool to reconstruct function and 

aesthetics,” Dr. Staas thought aloud. 

Back in 1990, his focus had been on reconstructive dentistry. 

Today, his clinics are leading dental practices in the Netherlands, 

providing care in all areas of dentistry. As he started giving 

lectures about their protocols and results, and building a website 

on treatment options with immediate implants, patients and peers 

began to recognise him. 

28 


See the 

future 

unveiled 

Experience the innovations set 

to reshape implantology. 

Join us for three science-focused days with key 

industry speakers and exciting hands-on sessions. 

April 16-18, 2020, Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas. 

nobelbiocare.com/symposia 

Sharpen your skills 

 

 

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to learn more 

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The last frontier: 

Taking dentures 

into digital space 

Having spent 22 years with Dentsply 

Sirona, Ms. Julie Mroziak most 

recently served as director 

of the Removable Products 

Platform at Dentsply Sirona 

Lab. Before that, she served as global 

market development leader for Dentsply 

Sirona. Today, she is Vice President of 

Dentsply Sirona Lab, responsible for the 

global platform marketing of laboratory 

consumables and lab equipment, 

including all CAD/CAM products as well as 

restorations, from crowns and bridges to 

full and partial dentures. 

In this issue, she shares in detail how she 

and her team are able to provide dental 

professionals with the right tools, materials, 

and technology. 

Early last year, you took over the 

position of Vice President of Dentsply 

Sirona Lab. Could you share with us 

more about the business unit? 

For some time now, we have observed 

how the whole ecosystem of technology 

is changing. In particular, digitisation has 

changed dentistry and now, technicians 

need to be educated on new technologies. 

We saw that bringing together material, 

equipment technology, and science will 

result in a cohesive workflow, and bring 

added value. So in 2018, several different 

parts of the company came together to 

form Dentsply Sirona Lab. 

Now, rather than each of us focusing on 

just one segment, such as prosthetics 

from a material perspective, we look at 

developing and innovating the whole way 

through. This way, we can help technicians 

achieve good restorations to improve 

patient care. When we partner together, we 

believe laboratories will be confident that 

they can educate their dentists on these 

process changes. 

How was the transition of the new role 

for you? 

Throughout the entire 22 years with the 

company, I’d been involved with material 

and equipment technology. So, it was easy 

for me to continue what my predecessor, 

Tom Leonardi, had done. Technicians are 

a truly special part of why dentistry is 

successful, that’s why it’s an honour and 

joy to lead this space. It’s a big role, and I’m 

growing, learning, and being challenged. I 

have some good mentors, and my boss 

genuinely wants me to succeed. When I 

look back at all the experiences, failures, 

and successes I’d encountered, I realised 

they were all preparing me for this role. 

Along the way, the laboratories and their 

processes have become a passion of mine. 

I want to continue building the innovation 

pipeline for the team. 

How do you ensure everything runs 

smoothly? 

First, we set out to understand the actual 

challenges of the labs. We make sure we’re 

truly listening to the technicians, and 

ultimately, what the patients need in that 

process. 

30 



ultimately, what the patients need in that 

process. 

Second, my team will get closer to parts of 

the organisation where integration has to 

happen, such as where digital technology 

comes into play with implant cases, and 

orthodontics. 

process – dentures – into digital space. 

If technicians can become experts on the 

digital impression process, they’ll be able 

to easily communicate with their dentists 

about case workflow. They’ll also be able 

to explain the importance of treatment 

planning, and be informed about the new 

materials and science available. 

Could you share with us more about it? 

Several years back when we were looking 

at where the technology was going, we 

believed that if we had a unique printing 

device and software for denture case 

design, we’d be able to develop a material 

that could take the old, antiquated, 

analogue part of lab processing into digital. 

My goal is to be a strong leader and 

encourager of my team. 

What are your plans for the labs to 

sustain its leading position in the 

dental market? 

We are focusing on continuing education 

and training for our technicians because 

we want them to feel confident with 

new technology. For example, we’re 

taking the last part of analogue lab 

To further educate technicians, we do 

specialised training for labs. We also have 

congresses, or summits, where technicians, 

specialists, and clinicians come together in 

one place and have dialogues. 

Last year, Dentsply Sirona and Carbon 

(a leading Silicon Valley-based digital 

manufacturing company) announced 

their strategic collaboration to 

revolutionise digital denture materials. 

Carbon was able to provide all of the 

equipment expertise, while we provided 

the material expertise. We took the best 

of both companies and put them together 

to advance this space. In order to push 

forward patient care to the best place, 

Dentsply Sirona has always been an 

innovator of material, equipment, and 

technology. Where we don’t have the 

solution, we’re open to collaborating with 

other organisations. 

32 



What can we expect from this 

collaboration? 

We’ve started working together with a 

couple of universities to do independent 

studies so we can answer some of the 

questions the market has about the science. 

We are so excited about the material, and 

once additional country registrations are 

cleared, we believe we’ll be able to open up 

the material to Carbon M-Series printers in 

other parts of the globe early this year. 

In May 2019, the Fraunhofer- 

Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer) in Munich, 

a globally recognised link between 

basic research and applied sciences, 

awarded its renowned Joseph von 

Fraunhofer Prize to Dentsply Sirona. 

Please share with us what this means 

for the organisation. 

It was an honour to receive this award. The 

collaboration between manufacturer and 

research scientists resulted in development 

around ZLS (zirconia reinforced lithium 

silicate), a unique material science that 

allows the advancement of high-strength 

glass. Dentsply Sirona’s contribution was in 

material dispersion — getting it to a finished 

crystalised state so the tooth colour looks 

like what the final restoration will be. By 

advancing to that level, the performance of 

the material will improve as will the ease of 

use for technicians, and ultimately for the 

dentist. It’s truly an exciting technology. 

What are the latest products and 

innovations from Dentsply Sirona Lab? 

We have new versions of software focusing 

on implant and scanner integration, which 

allows a broader range of what we can do. 

Integration has also allowed users to finish 

restorations using scans from Dentsply 

Sirona scanners and exocad software. We 

have just launched the new Multimat Cube 

and Cube Press furnaces for ceramic firing 

and pressing applications. 

In the material side, Cercon xt (extra 

translucent) multilayer was a significant 

material advancement for us. The multilayer 

gradient lets us achieve better light 

transition down to the enamel edge. 

Technicians can get a beautiful aesthetic 

crown that looks natural by just glazing. 

It’s progressing the level of zirconia 

processing, and we’re going to continue to 

have advancements in that space as well. 

What are the recent trends you’ve 

noticed? 

As mentioned earlier, the last antiquated 

technology that hasn’t become digital are 

dentures. With printing and the partnership 

with Carbon, we’re seeing an explosion of 

interest. There’s a buzz in the industry. 

We’re excited to be leading that change 

towards digitisation; through the innovation 

of material science. 

There is also great focus on digital 

communication and ecosystem and a 

closer relationship now between general 

dentists, implantologists, orthodontists 

and laboratory technicians. All of this is 

enabled by our digital workflows. With our 

software, information can go in and out 

within a day, and labs and dentists can 

talk to each other quickly, rather than the 

delay in sending physical models. Speed 

of communication and material processing 

are the most important trends we’re seeing. 

With all that’s happening, we feel more 

urgently than before the need to equip 

technicians, so they can communicate 

effectively and be seen as experts in this 

place. 

On a separate note, 3D printing, whether 

chairside or at the lab, is advancing at 

a rapid pace. From the Dentsply Sirona 

side, we want to agree on a workflow that 

delivers consistency. As for printers, we 

want to educate that what you’ll need for 

digital denture printing will be different 

from, say, models, since the level of 

accuracy of various print materials you’ll 

need is different. We’re sharing with lab 

partners our knowledge as everyone goes 

though that transition. 

What potential does Dentsply Sirona 

Global Lab see in the Asia-Pacific 

region? 

Outside of the United States, Japan is the 

number two market in terms of growth for 

dental application, so the global market 

matters a lot to us. We’ll be investing 

in clinical education and expanding the 

number of locations where we can do 

hands-on training. This is important to us 

because we feel that our responsibility is 

to walk alongside dental professionals and 

educate for growth. Aside from Japan, we 

also see potential in Korea, Taiwan, and 

Australia. In fact, patients themselves are 

more educated now and demanding better 

solutions, so we want to enable dental 

professionals to communicate that. We’re 

creating tools that are not just about the 

material, but to connect with the patients in 

a way that helps them feel confident in what 

we’re delivering. 

Is there anything else you might like to 

add in closing? 

I am honoured to be doing this interview with 

you as I feel I don’t get to travel enough— 

there are so many customers all around 

the world I want to meet. We also have a 

great team in our Dentsply Sirona Asia 

locations—they’re passionate, no matter 

which part of the world they’re in. For me, 

it’s important to know what’s happening 

and what matters to your readers and the 

community that you’re serving with Dental 

Asia. I hope that this shares a little bit of 

how we care about the advancement and all 

parts of the world, not just Germany or the 

United States where our bigger locations 

are. DA 



The power of Nakama 

There are millions of companies around the world yet the 

fundamental components of a company are the same — 

employees, system and culture. What sets GC apart is 

their emphasis on employees, whom they call ‘nakama’, 

or associates. How does this unity and spirit translate 

into energy and motivation in the development of dental 

science? Fourth-generation President Dr. Kiyotaka Nakao 

shares with us. 

34 



GC is committed to supporting the 

vitality and well-being of people all 

over the world by supplying high 

quality and innovative products that 

contribute to people’s oral health. 

How does GC uphold the company’s 

philosophy, “True products are made 

for the good of others, not for our own 

sake?” 

Dr. Kiyotaka Nakao: The company’s mission 

has always been about making a positive 

contribution to society. It was the failure of 

the first dental product, launched in 1922 

by Kiyoshi Nakao and two co-founders, that 

jolted them to think from the customer’s 

standpoint. To achieve this, associates 

at GC engage in intensive and continual 

dialogue with dental health professionals. 

As we study solutions for everyday 

challenges to further the development 

of dental science, we become equipped 

in producing safer and better dental care 

products. 

GC is steadfast in setting benchmarks 

in dentistry; focusing not only on the 

latest scientific knowledge, but also 

on the safety and quality of products. 

How does GC continue to maintain 

products’ quality while staying ahead 

in the industry? 

The unity of GC associates, which we have 

built over the past 99 years, is one of our 

greatest advantages. From day one, we 

have not used the term ‘employee’ for 

anyone who works for GC, rather, we use 

the term ‘nakama’ (associate), which 

carries the meaning of compatriot or 

comrade. 

One of the main principles of GC nakama 

spirit is that we do not work to make profit 

for investors. Instead, we look to safeguard 

the continual development of dental 

science and dental health in society in 

general. We are convinced that the source 

of a company’s energy and success lies not 

in the power of capital, but on the people 

— the 3,300 GC associates around the 

world — who work for it. 

I always ask GC associates to consider 

how we can improve the satisfaction of 

our end-users. The company’s core value, 

semui — a word that means selflessness, 

pure objectivity, charity, and great wisdom 

— permeates all aspects of the working 

relationships between GC associates 

and dental professionals, suppliers, or 

partners. It is a belief that ‘an action taken 

for the benefit of a user will never fail us’, 

where short-term growth objectives pale in 

comparison to ethics and values, which will 

sustain product development and benefit 

the whole society. 

In 2018, GC was ranked second in 

the 10 th Quality Management Level 

Research conducted by the Union of 

Japanese Scientists and Engineers 

(JUSE), which is sponsored by Nikkei 

Inc. Also, in November 2019, GC Europe 

N.V. received the highest recognition 

from the European Foundation for 

Quality Management (EFQM), the 2019 

Global Excellence Award. What does this 

achievement mean for the company? 

It is a great pleasure to have GC’s efforts 

recognised and act as a benchmark for 

other organisations. 



What are the plans and visions of GC 

in the APAC region in the next three 

to five years? What is the company’s 

future global strategy in the dental 

market? 

Since 2015, we have supported the Oral 

Health for an Ageing Population project 

by the FDI World Dental Federation. As a 

Japanese company, this topic is especially 

relevant to us given our demographic 

situation as a super-ageing society and 

the fastest ageing country in the world. 

With lower birth rates and adults living 

longer, the aged are going to represent an 

ever-increasing percentage of the 

population. The consequent pressure 

this puts on the medical profession is 

significant, and dentistry is no exception. 

For us, this does not mean the end of our 

journey of excellence, rather, our pursuit of 

quality is continuous and never ending. As 

we seek quality, we will be able to meet the 

end-user satisfaction. 

GC Corporation is counting down to its 

100 th anniversary in 2021. What can 

we expect from the company for this 

remarkable milestone? 

To commemorate our 100 th anniversary, 

we’ll be holding the 5 th International Dental 

Symposium in April 2021. The lectures, 

presented in English by Japanese and 

international researchers and clinicians, 

will address cutting-edge topics from 

various fields in dentistry. Whether you’re 

a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental 

technician, we look forward to your 

participation! 

Today, about 28% of Japan’s population 

is over 65 years old. And in South East 

Asia, 15% of the population will be above 

60 years old by 2030. In Singapore, more 

than 40% of the population will be over 60 

years old by 2050. 

As individuals age, oral muscles weaken, 

affecting the ability to chew and swallow 

food. Incidents of choking may increase, 

and meals may be restricted to semi-solids. 

To prepare dentists for the care of the 

ageing population, GC has developed 

36 



diagnostic devices such as Gluco Sensor GS-II, a 

masticatory efficiency testing kit; Dental Prescale II, 

a bite force analyser; as well as a tongue pressure 

measuring device and a tongue training tool named 

“Peco-panda”. 

Given that the population is ageing at the fastest 

pace in Singapore, followed by Thailand, Vietnam 

and Indonesia, we are looking to introduce these 

diagnostic tools in South East Asia. As we respond 

to the challenges of ageing by developing products 

that dental practitioners need, we believe we will be 

able to help societies and individuals live well as they 

live long. DA 



Putting the Patient 

at the Centre 

Founded in 1980 by Professor 

André Schroeder and Dr. Fritz 

Straumann, the International 

Team for Implantology (ITI) 

is built upon the belief that 

“medical research needs independence, 

open space, and opportunities for 

discussion.” Since then, membership has 

grown to more than 19,000 professionals 

from the implant dentistry sector around 

the world, who gather during events such 

as the upcoming World Symposium in 

Singapore. Dr. Stephen Chen, who was 

Chair of the ITI Education Committee from 

2007 to 2014, talks about his current 

role as ITI President, changes in implant 

dentistry, and the theme and format for the 

symposium happening in May this year. 

You have been the President of 

ITI since 2017. Could you tell us 

more about your position, role, and 

responsibilities, and 

what it is from your 

work that intrigues and 

excites you? 

It has been a privilege as 

well as quite a responsibility to 

guide this organisation for the past 

three years. Fortunately, I do not do this 

alone but work together with our board 

of Directors, international committees, all 

the Sections and their leadership teams, 

and ITI Headquarters. The purpose of our 

organisation is “to engage and inspire 

the global dental profession to strive for 

excellence in implant dentistry for the 

benefit of the patient”. The two main areas 

in which we are active towards achieving 

this purpose are education and research 

funding. 

Given that we live in exciting times, with 

more dentists than ever entering implant 

The 2019 ITI Board of Directors (from left): Gilbert Achermann, Frank Hemm, Eiji Funakoshi, 

Lisa Heitz-Mayfield, Dean Morton, Bo Chen, Stephen Chen, Charlotte Stilwell, Luca Cordaro, 

Bilal Al-Nawas (absent from photo: Daniel Wismeijer) 

Stephen Chen, ITI President 

dentistry along with significant change and 

development within the field, we are faced 

with both opportunities to reach a wider 

audience as well as risks. We see it as our 

main responsibility to develop and provide 

tools, measures and support to members 

of the dental profession to mitigate risks, 

as well as ensure that they are adequately 

equipped to advise on or carry out implant 

dentistry treatment. 

What are your plans to sustain the ITI’s 

leading position and continued growth 

and expansion in the dental market? 

As an organisation, we have been tracking 

the ongoing changes in the implant 

dentistry landscape. Our priority has been 

to adapt our structure and the way we work 

to ensure that the ITI remains responsive, 

agile and innovative. With this approach we 

can better meet the needs of our growing 

target audience that now increasingly 

includes dental professionals with little 

experience in implant dentistry. 

The ITI has a strong reputation that is 

grounded in evidence-based science, 

which forms the core of all the tools and 

services we offer. We are meeting the 

needs expressed by general practitioners, 

among others, with measures like our


Will take place in Singapore on May 14 – 16: The ITI World Symposium 2020 

recently launched ITI Curriculum. As a 

globally standardised set of programmes, 

the ITI Curriculum provides practitioners 

interested in implant dentistry with a solid 

foundation of basic knowledge and skills 

towards restoring and, later on, placing 

implants. 

The ITI champions learning for the entire 

profession both online and face to face. In 

the latter category we organise events that 

range from local study clubs, and regular 

national congresses to global events such 

as the upcoming World Symposium in 

Singapore. We have a particular interest in 

promoting young practitioners which is why 

we have dedicated three parallel breakout 

sessions of our World Symposium to short 

presentations made by professionals in the 

under-40 age group. 

The upcoming ITI World Symposium 

is taking place in Singapore on May 14 

– 16, 2020. This is the first time that 

the ITI is bringing its flagship event to 

Asia. Why now? 

Asia is one of the regions where the ITI’s 

growth is strong. We have quite a few 

Sections there and many are very active. 

This reflects the demand for implant 

dentistry solutions within the region, which 

has increased exponentially. Naturally, this 

has led to a need for more knowledge and 

education in this field. The decision to hold 

our World Symposium in Asia addresses 

this need and also acknowledges the 

achievements of our local Sections. It is 

also a fact that Singapore in itself is not 

only an attractive destination, but is also 

accessible for participants from all over the 

world. 

Why did the ITI decide on the theme 

“Evidence & Trends for Patient-Centred 

Solutions: The Challenge of Choice”? 

The way we practice implant dentistry is 

driven by evidence-based technological 

and medical innovation, but an equally 

important aspect of treatment planning is 

the patient with his or her individual needs 

and life situation. For the upcoming World 

Symposium, we decided to address this 

aspect head-on with the theme: Evidence & 

Trends for Patient-Centred Solutions: The 

Challenge of Choice. 

This approach puts the patient at the centre 

of all deliberations. Each main session 

in the scientific programme starts with a 

video interview in which a patient explains 

his or her concerns, not just from a medical 

but also from a life situation point of view. 

The lectures that follow then address each 

of these concerns directly. In taking this 

approach, we want to reach as broad an 

audience as possible, members and nonmembers 

alike, giving them the opportunity 

to interact directly with a faculty of key 

opinion leaders who are at the cutting 

edge of implant dentistry today. The ITI 

has championed evidence-based implant 

dentistry for the past 40 years, and the 

ITI World Symposium is always a valuable 

opportunity to share the latest knowledge. 

The unique and lively format we are 

proposing serves to attract participants 

who come not only for the latest science, 

clinical approaches and practical 

take-home messages, but also for the 

opportunity to network on a global scale. 

Among the anticipated 6,000 participants, 

we expect a high degree of participation 

from the Asian region. This also represents 

an opportunity for the ITI to reach out to 

professionals in the region who do not yet 

know the organisation and show them that 

the ITI is the ideal partner for every dental 

professional for life-long learning in implant 

dentistry. 

What words of advice would you give 

to the younger cohort of dentists in 

today’s dentistry landscape? 

The challenges facing young dentists today 

are many and varied, but the issue that 

seems to be common to all is lack of access 

to good quality education, particularly in the 

field of implant dentistry. In most countries, 

learning about implantology is done via 

continuing education courses. Most of these 

are provided by implant companies which 

have a vested interest. Many young dentists 

also learn about clinical techniques and 

procedures via social media, and this type 

of information often suffers from empiricism 

and inadequate quality assurance. My 

advice to young dentists is to be discerning 

about the sources of information that they 

go to, and to always question the accuracy 

of what is being disseminated. Look for 

evidence-based recommendations and 

try to seek mentorship from experienced 

clinicians. DA 



Future-Proof 

With developments in implantology taking place at a 

breakneck pace, dentists find themselves having to learn, 

unlearn, and relearn. At the upcoming World Symposium 

organised by the International Team for Implantology (ITI), 

focus will be given to topics that are currently attracting 

attention and controversy. Prof. Dr. Daniel Wismeijer, who 

has been an ITI Fellow since 1993, talks about the importance 

of harnessing change. 

As the Chair of the ITI 

Education Committee, 

could you tell us about 

your position, role and 

responsibilities? What 

intrigues and excites you most about 

this work? 

The ITI’s mission is to serve the dental 

profession by providing a growing global 

network for lifelong learning in implant 

dentistry through comprehensive quality 

education and innovative research for 

the benefit of the patient. The Education 

Committee decides on and defines the 

ways in which we can achieve this objective 

most effectively. I have been Education 

Committee Chair since 2015 and, so far, my 

term has been extremely busy and exciting. 

The ITI has been active in introducing 

and developing educational tools over 

the years, in particular since 2014 when 

we introduced our peer-reviewed online 

e-learning platform. We have a longstanding 

range of educational tools such as the ITI 

Treatment Guide book series, now in its 

12 th volume; the SAC Assessment Tool; the 

ITI Consensus Statements that result from 

the regular ITI Consensus Conferences; ITI 

Education Weeks; Study Clubs; national 

congresses as well as the regularly held ITI 

World Symposium. The newest addition and 

the one that completes the circle of 

the ITI’s educational offerings is 

the ITI Curriculum. 

Daniel Wismeijer, Chair of the ITI Education Committee and 

Piloted and introduced in 2018, 

Chair of the ITI World Symposium 2020 

Scientific Program Committee 

the ITI Curriculum is a globally 

standardised programme of learning based 

on the ITI’s principles and philosophy at 

two levels: Foundation and Intermediate. 

In this structured learning approach, 

the Foundation level provides a broad 

theoretical basis in implant dentistry. 

The Intermediate level then builds on 

There are many decisions taken along a 

career path that influence the direction in 

which you develop as a professional. When I 

left dental school, I was asked to come and 

work as a trainee in the centre of special 

dental care of the University of Nijmegen’s 

dental school in the Netherlands. Faced 

this knowledge to introduce clinical with patients with oral facial birth defects 

implementation and first-hand experience 

of treating patients. 

or defects caused by trauma, I learnt at an 

early stage to think in terms of treatment 

protocols and to define multidisciplinary 

With the growing number of products on 

the market of varying levels of quality, 

along with an increase in the number of 

practitioners interested in offering their 

patients implant therapy, it is crucial to 

ensure the availability of tools and measures 

to support them in understanding the risks 

involved and undertaking treatment safely. 

Through the ITI’s educational offerings, 

patient-centred treatment plans. At the 

time, implants had not yet been accepted 

as the standard of care, and trial and error 

guided our understanding of what could 

be done with them and how to use them 

in a predictable way. If I had gone directly 

into general practice out of dental school, 

I would not have gained this in-depth 

experience of dentistry. 

we can have a direct impact on the level 

of education in our field, and I find that 

personally very satisfying. 

Early on in my career I became a member 

of the ITI. My colleagues there have always 

provided valuable impulses to my thinking 

Could you share with us three major 

turning points in your journey that led 

you to where you are today? 

about implant treatment and I have learnt 

so much from them that contributes 

towards the greater predictability of my 

40 



The ITI World Symposium 2020 will take place in Singapore on May 14 – 16 

implant treatment choices. I’m sure that 

without the ITI I would not be where I am 

today. 

Within the ITI family I had the chance to 

be part of the ITI Research Committee and 

the ITI Education Committee, giving me 

a helicopter view of the developments in 

the field of implant dentistry. This inspired 

me to think outside of the box and, during 

my professorship at Academic Centre for 

Dentistry Amsterdam, to pass this on to 

my colleagues in the department in order 

to develop research strategies for areas of 

implant dentistry that we thought would 

develop. I’m sure that what I have learnt 

through the ITI has helped me at every 

stage of my dental career, and the best 

advice I can give a colleague interested in 

oral implantology is to become a member 

of the ITI. 

Could you share with us how 

the programme of cutting-edge 

presentations for the ITI World 

Symposium was put together and how 

the speakers were selected? 

The first step for every World Symposium 

is to put together a scientific programme 

committee made up of experts from 

various disciplines. At the ITI, we have the 

necessary expertise available to us through 

our Fellows and Members. This time, with 

the importance of digital solutions, it was 

crucial to also include experts from this 

area. It is the job of this committee to 

then decide on the topics to be covered 

and the members do so by reviewing 

the areas of implant dentistry that are 

developing; currently attracting attention 

and controversy. 

Our approach this time is completely novel 

— we will literally be putting the patient at 

the centre of our discussions in a series of 

seven videos. Rather than focusing solely 

on the medical aspects of each case, we are 

taking a holistic approach that also takes 

into consideration the concerns, hopes 

and fears of each patient. Our speakers will 

respond to each of these in turn. 

Could you give us a hint what 

attendees can expect from the 

scientific programme and the ITI 

World Symposium 2020 as a whole? 

Our aim is always to update participants on 

the latest developments and discussions in 

implant dentistry coupled with take-home 

messages that can be put to immediate 

use. We also want to involve them actively 

and believe that the patient-centred 

approach will achieve just that. Naturally, 

the panel discussion at the end of each 

session allows participants to pose critical 

questions and trigger discussion between 

the speakers. 

As each of the speakers will be available 

at the ITI Speakers’ Corner in the ITI City 

directly after each session, it is an ideal 

opportunity to buttonhole speakers and 

get into discussion with them. It is also an 

opportunity to find out more about the ITI’s 

range of educational offerings as well as 

the ITI’s past within a lively and attractive 

environment. The theme of the interior 

architecture of the World Symposium 

reflects the city state of Singapore and will 

provide quiet and relaxing gardens and 

delicious food, among others, to enhance 

the overall Symposium experience. 

Together with Dr. Stephen Chen, you 

will be opening the World Symposium 

with a lecture on “Trend watching 

in dentistry”. Would it be possible 

to share some key thoughts you’re 

currently holding on this? 

When thinking about trend watching 

in implant dentistry, digitalisation and 

robotization will be part of our focus. 

Patient healthcare records will become 

available to all treatment providers with 

the patient in the centre as the owner 

of their data. Patients will be able to 

authorise treatment providers to access 

their data anywhere in the world, making 

even long-distance second opinions based 

on all the available patient information 

possible. We also think that evaluating 

patients’ opinions and expectations of 

their treatment will become increasingly 

integrated into everyday dental practice. 

Proms and prems will possibly become part 

of the quality assessment carried out by 

insurance companies and institutions that 

accredit dental professionals. 

In addition to the seven sessions, 

participants will be able to choose 



create a short motivational video outlining 

the importance of their topic, to whip up the 

enthusiasm of the viewers and earn likes. 

The sheer inventiveness and creativity 

of the videos submitted made narrowing 

down the selection to 27 young speakers 

a difficult task for the Scientific Program 

Committee. It showed us that there is no 

lack of talent, dedication and commitment 

among the younger generation. 

The ITI World Symposium 2020 scientific programme at a glance 

between four parallel breakout 

sessions, three of which have been 

dedicated to speakers under 40. 

What does the ITI hope to achieve 

in engaging the younger cohort of 

dentists as speakers? 

The ITI is a dynamic organisation and it 

is important for us to know that the next 

generation of leaders in implant dentistry 

are ready and waiting to take over as 

necessary. Finding these people and 

giving them the opportunity to find their 

voice, hone their skills, and share their 

knowledge is an important step in their 

development. Our breakout sessions for 

the under-40s serve to give promising 

young professionals a chance to speak on 

an international stage and share it with 

today’s opinion leaders. 

Our selection process to find these 

speakers involved a competitive process 

in which 94 of 265 aspirants (whose 

abstracts had been accepted) each had to 

What words of advice would you give to 

the younger cohort of dentists in this 

new dentistry landscape they’ve found 

themselves in? 

The only constant in life is change. To 

paraphrase American futurist, Alvin Toffler, 

one must be prepared to learn, unlearn 

and relearn. Continuing education and lifelong 

learning will become more and more 

important in the lives of younger dentists. 

What they learn at dental school has a 

limited shelf life and is continually subject 

to change. They must be prepared to 

unlearn what is older and obsolete, and to 

learn what is new to stay ahead in the field. 

They must learn to harness change and get 

what is new to work for them in everyday 

practice. The ITI provides dentists with 

continuous education focused on implant 

dentistry. The ITI e-learning platform, the 

ITI Curriculum, the SAC tool, congresses 

and symposia, the results of ITI Consensus 

Conferences and the content of ITI 

Treatment Guides provide young dentists 

with cutting-edge information to direct 

their life-long learning. Change is difficult. 

But if we are not prepared to change, 

it could be fatal. As English naturalist, 

Charles Darwin, theorised, “It is not the 

strongest of the species that survives, nor 

the most intelligent. It is the one that is the 

most adaptable to change.” DA 

Take advantage of the early bird rates by 

registering for the ITI World Symposium 

before February 15, 2020. 

www.iti.org/worldsymposium2020 

42 


Will my dentist 

understand what 

I really need? 

Patients have many questions. Get the right answers 

at the ITI World Symposium 2020 in Singapore! 

ITI 

World 

Symposium 

Singapore 

May 14 –16 

2020 

Evidence and Trends for 

Patient-Centered Solutions: 

The Challenge of Choice 

Official Carrier 

Register now: www.iti.org


The Myotalea System: A revolutionary approach to active 

myofunctional treatment 

By Dr. Derek Mahony 

“Current literature demonstrates that 

myofunctional therapy decreases apnoeahypopnoea 

index by approximately 50% 

in adults and 62% in children. Lowest 

oxygen saturations, snoring, and sleepiness 

outcomes improve in adults. Myofunctional 

therapy could serve as an adjunct to other 

obstructive sleep apnoea treatments.” 

A common finding in patients who present for 

orthodontic treatment, temporomandibular 

joint (TMJ) dysfunction and sleep disordered 

breathing is a lack of muscle strength in 

the tongue, lip and jaw areas. Insufficient 

tone and collapsibility of the upper airway 

(pharyngeal and supra-hyoid) muscles are 

also common findings in sleep disordered 

breathing. 

Myofunctional Research Co. (MRC)’s newly 

released Myofunctional Tongue and Lip 

Exercise Appliances (Myotalea ® ) have been 

designed to correct mode of breathing as 

well as improve the strength of lip, tongue, 

jaw and supra-hyoid muscles simultaneously 

through the use of isotonic and isometric 

exercises. 

Tongue, Lip and Jaw (TLJ) appliance 

The Myotalea ® TLJ is an active myofunctional 

appliance used for strengthening the tongue, 

lip and jaw muscles. Additional exercises 

also target the airway muscles, which 

are typically weak in patients who show 

symptoms of sleep disordered breathing. 

Features which aid in the correction of 

dysfunctional soft tissue habits including 

the following: 

• Habitual mouth breathing 

• Lips apart rest posture 

• Low tongue rest posture 

• Lack of strength in the throat and 

airway muscles 

• Incorrect swallowing pattern 

Tongue and Lip Press (TLP) appliance 

The Myotalea ® TLP exercises the tongue and 

lip muscles in a similar way to TLP, minus 

the TMJ exercise. Practitioners who are not 

licensed to prescribe intra-oral appliances 

can still use the TLP during various phases 

in their therapy to target the lip, tongue and 

pharyngeal muscles. The TLP can be used 

as an alternative when access to the TLJ is 

not available. 

44 


Myotalea ® exercises include a head tilt variation 

which specifically targets the pharyngeal and 

supra-hyoid muscles to decrease the likelihood 

of upper airway collapse 

Lip Trainer (LT) appliance 

The Myotalea ® Lip Trainer is designed to 

achieve an adequate lip seal and strengthen 

lip muscles. Many patients show signs of 

lip incompetence and poor muscle tone 

around the orbicularis oris muscles. The 

Lip Trainer improves lip seal and also 

strengthens and stretches lip muscles 

to eliminate mentalis overactivity when 

swallowing. 

Lip Seal Trainer (LST) appliance 

The Myotalea ® Lip Seal Trainer is an 

attachment that comes with the Lip Trainer 

and attaches to the Strap-Tether so that the 

patient can pull the Lip Trainer in various 

directions for perioral muscle training. 

It can, however, serve as a stand-alone 

appliance used to improve lip seal and 

strength. It features the Lip Seal Spade and 

Training Board in the one appliance 

The Myotalea ® treatment system provides 

the benefits of active myofunctional training 

and ease of implementation for all patients 

to improve outcomes for malocclusion, sleep 

disorders and TMJ dysfunction in the most 

cost-effective way. DA 

Reference 

1. Camacho M et al. Sleep. 2015= May 

1;38(5):669-75 

About the Author 

Dr. Derek Mahony is a diplomate of the International Board of Orthodontics and a visiting clinical professor at the City 

of London Dental School in charge of their international orthodontic programme. He is a world-renowned specialist 

orthodontist who has spoken to thousands of practitioners about the benefits of interceptive orthodontic treatment. 

He has been actively involved in research that links to constricted maxillary arch forms to nasal breathing problems, 

adverse facial growth and systemic health problems such as nocturnal enuresis. As a practicing clinician, his research 

interests include the aetiology of malocclusion and the guidance of facial growth. 

Dr. Mahony approaches his orthodontic diagnosis from a “facial profile” point of view. He sets his treatment goals to create not just straight 

teeth, but beautiful faces and healthy temporomandibular joints. He is a contributing editor to the Journal of Clinical Paediatric Dentistry, 

International Orthodontic Journal and Journal of Dentofacial Orthopaedics. He works in private practice in Sydney and London. 



Diode Laser-Assisted Gingivo-osseous 

Recontouring to Enhance Aesthetic 

Dental Restorations 

By Dr. Clarence Tam 

Predictability in aesthetic dentistry 

starts with the consideration of 

the smile in relation to the face. 

The face is a dynamic, expressive 

medium that modifies the display 

of teeth, granting the individual either 

desirable or undesirable characteristics. 

Tjan and Miller identified that 20% of 

individuals feature low lip dynamics, 

69% medium dynamics and 11% high lip 

dynamics 1 . A consideration should always 

record the maximal smile, otherwise known 

as the Duchenne smile, an individual effort 

that exposes as much upper gingival display 

as possible. The lip position of a Duchenne 

smile is approximately 6mm – 10mm 

from the repose position of the lip. If lip 

dynamics are significant, asymmetries in 

pink aesthetics or gingival elements may 

be modified to enhance the proportion of 

the teeth to gain better bilateral symmetry 

in global smile design. 

Fig.1: Pre-operative Situation; teeth 12, 22 

Fig.2: Pre-operative situation: 1:1 ratio retracted 

Fig.3: Button technique for shade selection 

Fig.6: Split dam isolation, facial resin removed tooth 22 

Fig.7: Laser diode gingivectomy to planned level 

Fig.8: Sounding to bone. Need to re-establish 

biologic width 

Generally, it is accepted that the distance 

of the bony crest from the free gingival 

margin is 3mm on the facial aspect and 

3mm – 4mm at the proximobuccal line 

angles for 85% of the individuals who 

feature a normal crest, according to Kois 2 . 

A high crest situation exists in 2% of the 

individuals and is when the midfacial bony 

crest is less than 3mm from the free gingival 

margin. A low crest situation exists in 13% 

of individuals, and is characterised by a 

crestal height in the midfacial that is greater 

than 3mm, and greater than 3mm – 4mm at 

the proximobuccal line angles. Therefore, it 

is imperative that any modification of the 

gingival levels be preceded by a customised 

site evaluation of crestal proximity via bone 

sounding, driving any open or closed flap 

modifications as required to maintain the 

accepted distances, and avoid restorative 

marginal position inflammation. 

Fig.4: Ultradent Gemini dual wavelength diode laser 

Fig.5: Gemini laser cradle detail 

Anterior teeth feature an 87% incidence 

of having a facial bony cortex measuring 

1mm or less in buccolingual thickness with 

cone beam CT scans often overestimating 

bony cortical thickness of facial bone. This 

Fig.9: Closed flap transsulcular osseous 

recontouring using the Kois Wedelstaedt chisel 

is the basis of possibility for site specific 

transsulcular modification of osseous 

contour if a full flap is not necessary to 

access multiple adjacent teeth. 

Case #1: Gingival asymmetry 

A 14-year-old female with recently finished 

orthodontics was referred for improvement 

of aesthetics of composite bonding on 

teeth 12 and 22. A diagnostic wax-up was 

generated as the referring dentist required 

certain proportions relative to primary 

anatomy to be confirmed before starting. 

Due to gingival asymmetry negatively 

impacting on resultant tooth display of the 

lateral incisors, the decision was made to 

modify the gingival contour of tooth 22 

(diode, 810nm, 980nm, 1.0W SuperPulsed) 

46 


(Gemini, Ultradent, UT), with pre-operative 

bone sounding being the basis for whether 

osseous recontouring was necessary. In this 

case, transsulcular osseous recontouring 

using a Wedelstaedt chisel (Kois) (Brasseler) 

was utilised to re-establish biologic width on 

the day of the restorations. It is important 

to note that the gingival and osseous 

recontouring surgery is normally done first 

with a three-month period for complete 

healing prior to any restorative enhancement 

of the teeth. But this patient suffered from 

limited time constraints, thus, necessitating 

XL1 Enamel, A1 Enamel, XL2 Dentin, Trans 

Clear (Harmonize, Kerr Dental). 

Fig.13: Final enamel volume placed and primary 

anatomy completed. Planning of secondary anatomy 


gingival zenith of tooth 24 posing as tooth 

23 was to be moved apically, and after 

site-specific bone sounding determined to 

be possible using a transsulcular approach 

with a Kois Wedelstaedt chisel (Brasseler). 

Modification of the soft tissue was completed 

using the Ultradent Gemini diode laser 

(810nm, 980nm) on 1.2W Superpulsed 

mode before osseous recontouring 

completed. The restorations were layered 

to completion using shades XL1 Enamel, XL2 

Dentin, Trans Clear, white tint (Kerr Kolor) 

(Harmonize, Kerr Dental). 

Fig.10: Removal of old composite on peg 

lateral tooth 22 

Fig.14: Finishing and polishing completed 

for tooth 22 

Fig. 1: Pre-operative view of 14-24. Note the 

prominence and dominance of the mesialised 13, 23. 

Fig.15: Immediate post-operative view 

of corrected aesthetics on 12 and 22 

Fig. 2: Retracted 1:1 ratio view of the 

maxillary anterior sextant 

Fig.11: Guided placement of lingual shelf 

using Harmonize A1 Enamel 

Fig.16: 1 week reassessment of aesthetics; 

retracted 1:1 view 

Fig. 3: Digital Smile Design Workup 

(Smile Designer Pro, Toronto) 

Fig.12: Sculpting of dentin layer using 

Harmonize XL2 Dentin 

a concomitant procedure. Intraoperatively, 

the bulk of the old composite was removed 

except for areas where it could not easily 

be distinguished from tooth structure. After 

defining finish lines, the teeth were isolated 

with metal strips and micro air abraded 

(27-micron aluminium oxide) before a total 

etch approach. A silane coupling agent 

was utilised (GC G-MultiPrimer) before 

bonding (GC G-Premio Bond) to maximise 

the chemical link to silica particles in the 

old composite. A layered approach was 

utilised (four separate layers) using shades 

Fig.17: 1 week reassessment: 1:2 unretracted 

frontal view 

Case #2: Missing lateral incisors with 

mesialised canines 

A 32-year-old female had congenitally 

missing maxillary lateral incisors, mesialised 

canines and first premolars. Improvement in 

tooth proportions was desired and planned 

using a Digital Smile Design-type software 

(Smile Designer Pro, Toronto). The digital 

design specified modifications in both soft 

and hard tissue dimensions to achieve a 

more harmonious and natural smile. The 

Fig. 4: Putty matrix generated from 

diagnostic wax-up tried on preoperative model 

Fig. 5: Ultradent Gemini dual wavelength diode laser 



Fig. 6: Adaptation of putty matrix derived 

from diagnostic wax-up 

Laser wavelength therapeutics 

The Ultradent Gemini diode laser (810nm 

and 980nm) was used to adjust the 

gingival margins prior to a transsulcular 

osseous recontouring approach using the 

Kois Wedelstaedt chisel (Brasseler USA), 

re-establishing the 3mm biologic width 

midfacially and 4mm at the proximofacial 

line angles. The Gemini uses different 

wavelengths for different therapeutic actions 

— 980nm is attracted to the water content 

more, resulting in more efficient coagulation 

and cutting. It has been used in pain relief 

and inflammation reduction protocols. 

Fig.16: Post-operative 1:2 unretracted frontal view 

showing improved proportionality of teeth in the 

smile 

Fig. 7: Isolation with split rubber dam to allow 

access for gingivo-osseous procedures 

Fig.17: Post-operative view showing harmonious 

integration and proportions of smile 

Fig. 8: Pre-operative view tooth 24 posing 

as tooth 23 

Fig.12: Intraoperative frontal view. Lingual shelves 

completed on 13, 23 posing as 12, 22 

The 810nm requires carbonisation of the 

tip to account for its lesser absorption (10 

times less than 980nm), but is an efficient 

“cutter”. DA 

References 

1. Tjan AHL, Miller GD (1984) Some aesthetic 

factors in a smile. J Prosthet Dent 51:24-28. 

2. Kois JC. The restorative-periodontal interface: 

Biological parameters. Periodontol 2000 1996; 

11:29-38. 

Fig. 9: Post-gingivectomy and closed flap 

transsulcular osseous recontouring to planned level 

Fig. 10: Finalised preparations treated with 

caries detector dye to rule out active lesions 

Fig. 11: Improved pre-operative pink/gingival 

symmetry prior to modifying white aesthetics 

Fig.13: Close-up view of proximal axial contour 

development using a vertically-oriented Garrison 

Slick Band (purple) 

Fig.14: Final Enamel Volume placed, primary and 

secondary anatomy placement 

Fig.15: Immediate post-operative view of corrected 

aesthetics. The canines look more like lateral 

incisors 

About the author 

Dr. Clarence Tam heads 

a practice in Auckland, 

New Zealand, which 

specialises in cosmetic 

and restorative dentistry. 

She is originally from 

Canada, where she 

completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery 

and General Practice Residency at the 

University of Western Ontario and the 

University of Toronto, respectively. 

Dr. Tam is the Chairperson and Director 

of the New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic 

Dentistry. She is currently the only person 

in Australasia to hold Board- Certified 

Accredited Member Status with the 

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. 

She frequently and continually lectures 

internationally. 

48 


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User Report 

The Gold Standard: IPS e.max Press 

By Dr Diether Reusch and Jan Strüder, Westerburg, Germany 

The book titled “Porcelain 

Laminate Veneers” by David 

A. Garber, Ronald E. Goldstein 

and Ronald A. Feinmann 

has had a great influence on 

the prosthetic and restorative methods 

developed by the authors. Based on the 

resounding success of adhesive technique, 

a minimally invasive approach evolved for 

the reconstruction of teeth. 

In 1990, Westerburger Kontakte, a private 

postgraduate dental training institute, 

offered the first course on ceramic crowns, 

inlays and veneers. Today, as was the case 

almost 30 years ago, it is still considered 

quite an amazing feat that ceramics can 

be used in the same way as gold alloys. A 

study conducted by A. Krummel, A. Garling, 

M. Sasse and M. Kern at the Christian- 

Albrechts-Universitaet Kiel (University 

of Kiel) showed that occlusal veneers 

in the posterior region with a minimum 

thickness of 0.3mm to 0.6mm offer a 

promising treatment solution. In our dental 

practice, we restore posterior teeth with 

occlusal veneers or partial crowns. These 

restorations, measuring 0.5mm to 7.0mm 

in thickness, are made of monolithic IPS 

Empress or LS2 and are cemented with 

the adhesive technique. In anterior teeth, 

we use adhesively bonded monolithic 360° 

veneers, partial crowns or laminate veneers 

measuring 0.3mm to 0.5mm in thickness. 

In contrast to gold, which deforms quite 

easily, and metal-ceramic solutions, which 

can fracture, most all-ceramic materials 

are virtually indestructible. Therefore, 

these materials fulfill exceptionally high 

standards in terms of static and dynamic 

occlusion. 

Diagnosis and treatment planning 

As a result of parafunctional habits 

and biocorrosion, the front teeth of our 

23-year-old patient showed considerable 

attrition. The palatal enamel in the upper 

jaw had been completely worn away 

(Figs. 1a-2b). Hardly any of the occlusal 

enamel remained on the posterior teeth. 

Fig. 1b 

Fig. 2b 

Fig. 1a 

Fig. 2a 

Figs. 1a-2b: Initial situation. Loss of tooth length 

and palatal enamel 

Functional analysis, wax-up and 

preparation planning 

The upper jaw model was articulated 

according to skull-related orientation 

principles. The joint-related orientation 

was used for the lower jaw. The lower jaw 

movements were recorded in order to 

programme the articulator. A diagnostic 

wax-up was produced on the duplicate models 

(Figs. 3a-b). It 

Fig. 3a 

was to raise the 

vertical height 

to the level 

required for the 

reconstruction 

of the front teeth 

for a logical 

Fig. 3b 

tooth shape. 

The length of the 

anterior teeth 

was established 

with a mockup, 

which was 

used to test 

the phonetic, 

functional 

and aesthetic 

parameters. As 

far as the lateral 

movements 

Fig. 3c 

were concerned, 

Figs. 3a-c: Diagnostic wax-up 

our objective 

was to achieve immediate disclusion 

of the posterior teeth. Any interfering 

cusps were relocated. As a guide for the 

appropriate functional preparation, the 

dental technician marked the original 

location of the working cusps (red lines) 

and non-supporting cusps (green lines) on 

the buccal surface of the teeth. Markings 

were made on the gingiva of the model to 

indicate the new position of the cusps and 

spaces. A mould of the duplicate wax-ups 

was made using a thermoforming process. 

A temporary composite resin was filled in 

the moulds, which were placed on the teeth. 

Once the material had set, the moulds were 

removed. Together with the patient, we 

were then able to evaluate the planned 

Fig. 4a 

50 


User Report 

Figure 4b 

Figs. 4a-b: Mock-up made of provisional 

composite resin 

changes in terms of phonetics, function 

and aesthetics (Figs. 4a-b) before the teeth 

were actually prepared. 

First treatment phase: Temporary 

upper posterior restoration and 

permanent lower posterior restoration 

The posterior teeth in the upper and lower jaw 

were prepared, and the models (Figs. 5a-d) 

were mounted in the articulator on the basis of 

the obtained facebow and centric relation data. 

The support pin was adjusted in accordance 

with the planned vertical dimension. The 

lower posterior teeth were waxed up with the 

help of an occlusal plane plate. Next, the wax 

crowns were invested and reproduced with 

ceramic. The crowns were placed using an 

adhesive cementation technique (self-etch 

technique, Adhese ® Universal, Variolink ® and 

Monobond ® Etch & Prime). 

We placed an indirect temporary 

restoration made of composite resin in 

the upper posterior jaw. The unprepared 

anterior teeth were provisionally treated 

with an adhesively bonded composite resin 

mock-up (Figs. 6a-b). The upper dental 

arch was slightly expanded towards the 

buccal aspect and the anterior teeth were 

lengthened. The restorations featured the 

vertical dimension and cusp positions that 

were determined by means of the mockup. 

Small adjustments were made in the upper 

temporary restoration by means of splint 

therapy. 

Fig. 6a 

Fig. 6b 

Fig. 7b 

Fig. 7c 

Fig. 7d 

Fig. 7e 

Figs. 7a-e: The individual minimally invasive 

preparation steps in the upper anterior teeth 

Fig. 8a 

Fig. 8b 

Figs. 8a-b: Completed preparation of the upper 

and lower anterior teeth (partial preparation) 

Fig. 5a 

Fig. 5b 

Figs. 6a-b: Upper and lower anterior teeth: 

lengthened with composite resin; upper posterior 

teeth with provisional restorations; lower 

posterior teeth with permanent partial crowns 

(characterised) 

Second treatment phase: 

Permanent upper and lower 

anterior restorations 

Step 1: A “dual-grit” diamond was used 

to mark the depth to which the incisal 

edge needed to be removed through the 

adhesively bonded mock-up (generally 

1.0mm - 1.5mm). 

Step 2: A special grinder was used to apply 

0.5mm horizontal depth markings on the 

Preparation and fabrication of the 

temporary restorations 

facial surface of the teeth through the 

mock-up. The grooves were marked with 

an insoluble fine liner. 

The upper and lower anterior teeth were 

prepared on the basis of minimally invasive 

Step 3: The incisal edges were removed. 

principles (Figs. 7a-8b). 

For this purpose, the “ dual-grit” diamond 

was inclined towards the palatal aspect at 

an angle of about 30°. 

Fig. 5c 

Fig. 5d 

Figs. 5a-d: Models of prepared posterior teeth 

Fig. 7a 

Step 4: The proximal parts of the teeth 

were removed with a “dual-grit” diamond 

(0.3mm) or a flame-shaped bur (014). 


User Report 

Step 5: The mock-up was removed and 

the labial enamel was cut away until the 

markings were no longer visible. The 

cervical areas of the teeth were prepared 

along the gingival margin. The palatal 

preparation depth was between 0.3mm - 

0.5mm. In the areas where the enamel loss 

on the palatal surface extended beyond the 

tubercle, we prepared the teeth for a 360° 

veneer. This was done to prevent palatal 

fractures from occurring. 

Step 6: Before we finely contoured the 

margins, we placed a #000 retraction cord. 

The teeth were prepared with a red contraangle 

handpiece at reduced speed (40,000 

rpm) up to the level of the retracted gingiva. 

This preparation step can be done with air 

cooling. 

A silicone matrix, which was produced on 

the basis of the diagnostic wax-up, was 

filled with hydrocolloid. Alternatively, the 

thermoforming method could have been 

used to make a mould of the wax-up, 

which would have been filled with silicone 

impression material. This enabled us to 

check whether or not we had removed 

enough of the tooth structure (Figs. 9a-c). 

If the hydrocolloid is less than 0.3mm thick, 

the tooth structure that needs to be further 

reduced is marked with a wax pencil. 

Fig. 9a 

Fig. 9b 

Fig. 9c 

Figs. 9-c: Examination of the prepared teeth 

using hydrocolloid 

After this impression step, a model was 

produced with a fast-setting stone (Whip 

Mix Snap-Stone) in order to check the 

prepared surfaces. The silicone matrix 

(diagnostic wax-up) was given to a 

specialised dental assistant who fabricated 

the indirect provisional restorations. 

Preparation of the lower front teeth 

and fabrication of the model 

The lower front teeth were prepared and 

checked in the same way as the upper front 

teeth. The preparation depth was not to 

exceed 0.3mm. Before the impressions were 

taken, a #0 cord (soaked with ViscoStat 

Clear, Ultradent) was placed over the 

#000 cord. It was removed shortly before 

the impression material was inserted. The 

#000 cord keeps the sulcus open and 

dry during the impression taking process. 

We took an overall impression and two 

partial impressions for the reconstruction 

of the individual teeth. The articulator 

was programmed with all the necessary 

movement data of the lower jaw. 

Wax-up for the examination of the 

phonetics, function and aesthetics 

The dental technician produced a wax-up 

of the front teeth using an aesthetic wax. 

This allowed the dental technician, the 

dentist and the patient to jointly examine 

the phonetic, functional and aesthetic 

properties of the restoration (Figs. 10a-c). 

Fig. 10a 

Fig. 10b 

Fig. 10c 

Figs. 10a-c: Wax-up for the examination of the 

phonetics, function and aesthetics 

The adjustments were made with the 

consent of the patient. Subsequently, 

the wax-up was invested and then the 

restoration was pressed. 

Determination of the tooth colour and 

fabrication of the crowns 

The final appearance of thin veneers 

and crowns is considerably dependent 

on the colour of the remaining tooth 

structure. Therefore, the colour of every 

single prepared tooth was determined. 

Furthermore, the dental technician 

produced individual dies with the 

corresponding shade in the dental lab 

(IPS Natural Die Material). 

Fig. 11a 

Fig. 11b 

Fig. 11c 

Figs. 11a-c: Try-in of the restoration after the 

stains firing cycle 

The lab-fabricated crowns were 

characterised before they were tried in. 

This allowed the phonetic, functional and 

aesthetic properties of the teeth to be 

checked and documented by means of 

photographs taken with a smartphone. 

After the necessary adjustments had been 

made, the restorations were glaze fired. 

The completed restorations (360° veneers/ 

partial crowns) measured between 0.3mm 

- 0.5mm in thickness (Figs. 11a-c). 

Adhesive cementation 

If possible, a rubber dam should be used to 

establish a dry working field for the adhesive 

cementation technique. Alternatively, a 

#00 retraction cord should be placed 

in the sulcus before the cementation 

52 


User Report 

procedure in order to make the preparation 

margin easily accessible (Figs. 12a-b). In 

the present case, the neighbouring teeth 

were isolated with Teflon tape. We usually 

place the crowns in pairs. In this case, after 

etching with 37% phosphoric acid, the 

entire preparation was shown to be located 

in the enamel tooth structure. Dentin was 

visible in individual areas, where it had 

been exposed due to the parafunctional 

habits of the patient. 

Fig. 12a 

Application of ReFu wax 

We fabricated the upper partial crowns 

with ReFu wax (Reference Function wax, 

Keydent). Initially, this wax was very 

hard. As a result, we were able to check 

the contact points after the placement 

of the crowns with the help of Shimstock 

contact foil. In the oral environment, the 

wax became softer. We asked our patient 

to make certain forceful movements, some 

of which simulated parafunctions (Figs. 

13a-b). If a cusp interfered, this was 

shown on the chewing surface and the 

necessary adjustments could be made. 

Subsequently, the waxed-up models were 

invested and the monolithic partial crowns 

were fabricated using lithium disilicate (IPS 

e. max Press) in the press technique. The 

restorations were characterised and glazed 

(Fig.14). No adjustments were necessary 

after the restorations had been adhesively 

bonded. The thickness of the posterior 

partial crowns measured about 0.5mm on 

average. 

Adhesive cementation 

A rubber dam was placed and the 

neighbouring teeth were protected with 

Teflon tape. Then the posterior partial 

crowns were seated in pairs on the 

prepared upper teeth using the adhesive 

cementation technique (Figs. 15a-b). 

After the restorations had been cemented 

in the patient’s mouth, we checked the 

dynamic occlusion with the help of Occlusal 

Indicator Wax (Kerr) (Figs. 16a-b). The wax 

did not show any premature contacts. 

Fig. 15a 

Fig. 15b 

Figs. 15a-b: Ceramic partial crowns seated with 

the adhesive technique 

Fig. 12b 

Figs. 12a-b: Adhesive cementation of the 

restorations in the upper anterior jaw 

The upper and lower front teeth as well as 

the lower posterior teeth were permanently 

restored. A few minor adjustments still 

needed to be made on the occlusal surfaces 

of the temporary upper restoration. 

Third treatment phase: Permanent 

upper posterior restoration 

We removed the indirect restorations 

in the upper posterior region and took 

impressions of both jaws. A centric 

jaw relation record was made using 

thermoplastic sticks (GC Bite Compound, 

GC). The upper jaw model was positioned in 

the articulator on the basis of an arbitrary 

facebow record. With the help of the two 

thermoplastic bite records, the lower jaw 

model was mounted in the articulator in a 

joint-related orientation. 

Fig. 13a 12a 

Fig. 13b 

Figs. 13a-b: Examination of the static and dynamic 

occlusion with ReFu wax 

Fig. 14: The pressed ceramic restorations prior to 

placement 

Fig. 16a 

Fig. 16b 

Figs. 16a-b: Examination of the dynamic occlusion 

using an occlusal indicator wax 

Brux Checker foil 

The patient was given a Brux Checker foil 

and instructed to use it for two nights 

(Figs. 17a-d). This allowed us to make sure 

and record that the restorations were free 

from any interference during sleep and 


User Report 

bruxing. In most cases, no subsequent 

grinding adjustments are necessary. 

Fig. 17a 

Fig. 17b 

Fig. 17c 

How durable are IPS e.max Press and 

IPS e.max CAD restorations? 

In a study by K. A. Malament, IPS e.max ® 

CAD/Press performed the best out of all 

the dental glass-ceramics tested, with a 

survival rate of 99.75% over a period of 

just more than ten years. 

Within the framework of this study, 

6000 all-ceramic restorations have been 

placed since 1983. Four different types of 

ceramics have been evaluated: 

- Dicor/Dentsply Sirona (n = 1504) 

- In-Ceram/Vita (n = 330) 

- IPS Empress (n = 2133) 

- IPS e.max Press or CAD (n = 2364) 

Records for Dicor have been kept since 

1983, for In-Ceram since 1990, for IPS 

Empress ® since 1992 and for IPS e.max 

since 2005. 

• Long-lasting; hardly any failures after 

25 years 

• Excellent conversion of wax-ups into 

ceramic crowns 

• Easy to use 

• Easy to colour 

• High accuracy of fit 

• Controlled function, also in bruxers 

• Affordable costs: Glazed monolithic 

crowns 

• One material for virtually every 

indication DA 

Fig. 17d 

Figs. 17a-d: Brux Checker foil (left: initial situation; 

right: after the restorative treatment) 

Summary 

Minimally invasive restorations measuring 

0.3mm - 0.6mm in thickness placed with 

the adhesive technique have shown to be 

a reliable treatment option in our practice. 

We have been working with the described 

method since 1993. Particularly in young 

patients showing a substantial loss of 

enamel, we know of no other comparable 

long-lasting and minimally invasive 

treatment approach. 

Note 

Ivoclar Vivadent does not recommend that 

IPS e.max Press and IPS e.max CAD are 

used in patients with bruxism. Nevertheless, 

our experience has shown that if all the 

functional and parafunctional aspects are 

properly considered, no complications are 

to be expected in bruxers. 

Surpassed expectations 

Despite the shortest observation period of 

just over 10 years (128 months), lithium 

disilicate restorations made of IPS e.max 

Press and IPS e. max CAD showed the 

highest survival rate of 99.75% in this large 

scale survey1. According to K. A. Malament 

the materials fulfilled and even surpassed 

all the clinical practice requirements. 

Clinical data confirms success 

The performance of IPS e.max has been 

scientifically monitored since the inception 

of the product. The study results of 

notable experts from around the world 

have contributed to the compilation of an 

excellent data base. The average survival 

rate for both lithium disilicate and zironium 

oxide is 96%. The IPS e.max Scientific 

Report contains a summary of all the 

available in vivo and in vitro study results. 

IPS e.max Press – why is it the gold 

standard? 

• Biocompatible 

• Biomimetic 

• Minimally invasive 

• Extremely strong 

Reference 

1. IPS e.max, Scientific Report, Vol. 03/2001- 

2017 

About the authors 

Dr. Diether Reusch, 

Dr. Reusch & Partner 

Dr. Jan Strüder 

Dr. Reusch & Partner 

MDT Paul Gerd Lenze 

Synthesis Dental 

Laboratory 

DT Sascha Fasel 

Synthesis Dental 

Laboratory 

54 


User Report 

Monolithic, Time-Efficient Front Tooth Restoration 

with the Best Light Dynamics 

By Dr. Julio Gomez Paris, Santa Fe, Argentina 

Often, patients desire 

time-efficient 

CAD 

CAM restorations that 

simultaneously feature a 

natural play of shade and 

light. This requires materials that are 

suitable for both monolithic, time-saving 

CAM-based production and characterised 

by excellent light dynamics. VITABLOCS 

TriLuxe forte feldspar ceramic (VITA 

Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) 

is such a material. The third VITABLOCS 

generation has an integrated, finely 

Fig. 5: After prosthetic stabilisation of the posterior 

region, the mock-up was prepared 

Mock-up and scanning process 

The patient was symptom-free from a 

functional point of view. The habitual 

intercuspation showed no deviation from 

the centric condylar position, which is why 

impressions of the upper and lower jaws 

were taken, and models were produced and 

articulated by means of a bite registration. 

In the articulator, the bite was raised by 

one millimetre and a functional aesthetic 

wax-up was performed. With a silicone 

Fig. 6: The substance was removed in a controlled 

manner and as minimally invasive as possible 

Fig.1: Initial situation: Due to abrasion and 

erosion, an irregular contour of the incisors had 

developed 

Fig. 2: Multiple recessions had led to an uneven 

alignment in the gingival garlands 

Fig. 3: The functional aesthetic mock-up was 

transferred with a silicone key 

Fig. 4: The composite mock-up during the check of 

the dynamic protrusion 

nuanced shade and translucency gradient 

that can be efficiently and precisely 

processed, thanks to its finely structured 

ceramic. Using the design software, the 

restoration is placed in the virtual blank 

so that the play of shade and light can be 

controlled individually for each patient. 

Dr. Julio Gomez Paris (Rosario, Santa Fe, 

Argentina) uses the example of a total 

reconstruction with veneers to show how he 

was able to efficiently create a restoration 

with this polychrome material. 

Assessment and material selection 

A 72-year-old woman came to the practice 

because she was not satisfied with the 

aesthetic appearance of her teeth. The 

clinical inspection revealed severely 

abraded and erosively damaged anterior 

teeth with exposed root areas. The patient 

wanted to have the lost hard tooth substance 

reconstructed while rehabilitating the 

aesthetic zone with veneers. The desired 

situation was simulated on the computer 

using patient photos and discussions with 

the patient. For efficient, natural dental 

aesthetics, VITABLOCS Tri-Luxe forte was 

chosen as the material. 

Fig. 7: The scanned preparation in the upper jaw 

in the CAD software 

Fig. 8: The virtual construction of the upper jaw 

veneers from VITABLOCS TriLuxe forte 

Fig. 9: The virtual construction of the veneers in 

the lower jaw 

Fig. 10: Characterisation 

was done using the stain 

system VITA AKZENT Plus 

56 


User Report 

Fig. 11: The veneers produced with CAD/CAM 

support in the upper jaw immediately after 

adhesive integration 

Fig. 12: The veneers in the lower jaw directly after 

the adhesive integration 

Digital construction and production 

After local anaesthesia, a mock-up guided 

gingivectomy and controlled preparation 

were performed. The preparations were 

scanned and the data record transferred 

to the inLab CAD software (Dentsply 

Sirona, Bensheim, Germany). There, the 

maxillofacial veneers were first designed 

for the patient based on the mock-up 

scan and fabricated using the inLab 

MC X5 grinding unit (Dentsply Sirona, 

Bensheim, Germany). After finishing with 

a fine diamond and a rubber polisher, the 

characterisation and the glaze followed the 

VITA AKZENT Plus stain system. 

Final result: Total reconstruction 

After a successful try-in, the veneers 

were conditioned with hydrofluoric acid 

and silane. The preparations were etched 

Fig. 18: The excellent light dynamics of the 

material enables a highly aesthetic result 

with phosphoric acid, and the universal 

adhesive Scotchbond Universal was 

applied. Adhesive attachment was carried out 

with RelyX Veneer (both 3M, Seefeld, Germany). 

The restoration of the lower jaw 

incisors was done in the same manner. 

The patient was satisfied with the efficient 

and highly aesthetic result. To relieve the 

stomatognathic system and protect the 

restoration, a front canine-guided splint 

was additionally made for the night. At 

a follow-up after one and a half years, 

absolutely stable conditions were found. DA 

Fig. 13: In the upper jaw, the gingivectomised 

areas were already healed 

About the Author 

Fig. 14: A front canine-led splint was integrated 

after the total reconstruction 

key and temporary composite material 

(Protemp 4, 3M, Seefeld, Germany), this 

idealised situation was transferred to the 

patient’s mouth and a fine adjustment 

made directly. The final situation was 

scanned for virtual construction with 

the CEREC Omnicam (Dentsply Sirona, 

Bensheim, Germany). Initially, the posterior 

region was first treated with crowns and 

partial crowns made of VITABLOCS TriLuxe 

forte in the shade 1M2. After the bite had 

been stabilised in the posterior region, the 

veneer restoration could be started. 

Fig. 15: After one and a half years, the conditions 

were absolutely stable 

Fig. 16: The incisal edges harmonised with the 

curve of the lips 

Fig. 17: The efficiently fabricated veneers 

appeared absolutely natural 

Julio C. Gomez Paris 

is a dentist and dental 

technician who runs 

Pluss Dental Centre 

in Rosario, Argentina. 

Since 1996, he has 

been director of 

Higher Institute of 

Dental Mechanics IMD in Rosario. As a 

dentist, he is trained in implantology, 

aesthetic restorations, and endodontics. 

An interest in digital dentistry led him 

to roles of CEREC mentor in 2016 and 

educator for Dentsply Sirona in 2018 in 

Latin America. 

As the son of dental technicians, he 

specialises in porcelain restorations 

and light and colour management. He 

has been an opinion leader in CAD/CAM 

materials for VITA Zahnfabrik since 2015, 

and in materials for indirect restorations 

for 3M since 2019. 



REPAIRING SCREW RETAINED HYBRID 

PROSTHESIS 

By Eugene Royzengurt 

Implant-supported screw-retained prosthetics are fairly 

common in the industry and can be fairly comfortable and 

effective to the patient when done correctly. However, as 

with any type of restoration, it may need to be serviced or 

repaired. In this particular case, a repair was necessary on 

a lower hybrid. 

Fig.2 

Fig.1 

There are many reasons why this type of restoration may fracture, 

from insufficient planning to improper fabrication. Often it is 

difficult to pinpoint the exact reason. In this case, I assumed it was 

a combination of improper bar design, being that the teeth were 

placed buccally to it and the use of porcelain teeth which caused 

the lack of chemical bond between the teeth and acrylic (Fig. 1). 

Since this restoration was not completely destroyed and we were 

able to place the teeth in position without any issues, there was no 

need to take a pickup impression and the bite. The restoration was 

pieced back together and adhered temporarily with cyanoacrylate 

glue (Fig. 2). Implant analogues were placed on the bar and 

tightened with long screws. PVS (polyvinyl siloxane) material was 

used to create a soft tissue model around the analogues to ensure 

that the fit is not compromised with the surrounding stone as well 

as not damage the bar. 

Fig.3 

At this point the denture is boxed and beaded with the help of a 

magnetic boxing tape and putty material. The model is poured in 

type 3 gypsum (Fig. 3). Generally, when fabricating a new screw 

retained restoration, type 4 gypsum is used, but since the bar is 

already fabricated there is no need for it. 

Model is trimmed to proper size and mounted to the verticulator. If 

that is not available, a simple putty matrix can be used. One issue I 

have had with only using putty to create the matrix is the flexibility 

of the material which can cause some movement and errors. 

Nowadays, I recommend using one of two things to minimise that 

issue. Firstly, place the acrylic to the acrylic separator on the 

58 



with 50 micron aluminum oxide at 2 bar pressure (Fig. 6). 

Denture is steam cleaned and desiccated with hot air. GC metal 

primer is applied to the bar surface and allowed to evaporate. Wash 

layer of Gradia gum opaque is placed over the metal structure and 

cured in Labolight duo for 90 seconds. Second layer of opaque is 

applied; at this point, we do not cure the opaque but sprinkle acrylic 

fibres over it, allowing the fibres to be trapped inside the uncured 

wet opaque surface. Once the fibres cover the entire surface, the 

denture is cured in Labolight duo for another 90 seconds (Fig. 7). 

Fig.4 

Fig.6 

Fig.5 

occlusal and incisal surface of the teeth and then place either GC 

pattern resin or crown and bridge the temporary material over the 

teeth. Once the material has set, make sure you are able to remove 

it from the teeth and place it back. Adapt the putty matrix with or 

without the verticulator over the denture surface (Figs. 4-5). 

We are now able to separate and prepare all the components. 

The porcelain teeth are removed, cleaned, and the basal surface 

sandblasted. The acrylic and opaque are removed from the bar up 

to the point where its structure is no longer unstable. Two other 

implant analogues are placed and tightened with long pins. Heat 

shrink tubing is placed over the pins and analogues in order to 

protect the surface during the sandblasting. Teflon tape is placed 

on the far side of the denture; the area closest to the repair is 

covered with latex-based separator. The case is sandblasted 

Fig.7 

The restoration is placed back on the model (Fig. 8) and the auto 

polymerising acrylic is either poured or packed into the matrix. In 

this case, Nature-Cryl Pour acrylic mixed is used to the packing 

consistency. The denture is placed into the curing unit for 20 

minutes at 120°F (49°C) and 25 PSI (pounds per square inch). 



Fig.8 

In general, once a denture repair is completed, we will simply 

polish it, disinfect, and return for delivery. However, with screw 

retained restorations it is better to seal the acrylic base surface 

with light cure glaze in order to reduce plaque adherence. Once 

again, the analogues and pins with heat shrink tubing are placed 

over the components and the case is sandblasted, steam cleaned 

and desiccated with hot air (Fig. 9). No bonding agent of any kind 

is placed over the acrylic surface. In order for the Optiglaze coating 

to bond well to the marginal area of the composite tooth, we used 

GC composite primer to increase the bond. Optiglaze coating is 

applied over the entire acrylic surface of the denture and at the 

dentin enamel junction region of the porcelain tooth. The denture 

is light cured for 90 seconds. Denture is cleaned, disinfected and 

sent out for delivery (Fig. 10). 

Simply repairing a denture may not be the best option for every 

case; we need to consider the underlying factors and future 

prognosis, as well as the physical and financial abilities of the 

patient. In this case, we were dealing with a 91-year-old patient on 

a limited monthly income. Even though we could have made a new 

denture and corrected some of the problems, we were limited by 

the aforementioned factors. Technicians may consider this repair if 

faced with a similar situation. DA 

About the author 

Fig.9 

Mr. Eugene Royzengurt has been 

working in the dental industry 

since 1996. He began as a 

Dental Assistant, later becoming 

an In-house Laboratory 

Technician, specialising in 

Removable Prosthodontics. 

Mr. Royzengurt’s education 

includes a degree in Denturism, 

Associate Degree in General 

Science, as well as certifications 

in Dental Radiology and Dental 

Assisting. He has published several peer review articles on the 

subject of Removable Prosthetics and is currently lectures in 

the United States and internationally. Mr. Royzengurt has been 

a member of the Dental Technicians Guild since 2013 and also 

currently holds a position as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor 

at the American Denturist College. He currently resides in 

Sandy, Utah, where he owns Apple Dental Laboratory L.L.C. 

Fig.10 

60 


In Depth With 

exocad ChairsideCAD Matera: 

New Release Enables Single Visit Dentistry with 

Unsurpassed Indication Spectrum 

with intraoral scans and construction data. 

In addition, patient photos and 3D facial 

scans can be used in combination to create 

a comprehensive fully digital representation 

of the patient. 

exocad ChairsideCAD is an open device- and manufacturer-neutral CAD/CAM software for clinical 

environments. With the new add-on module Smile Creator, now available with ChairsideCAD 2.3 Matera, 

highly aesthetic restorations can be virtually planned simply, quickly and predictably by combining patient 

photos and 3D situations 

exocad GmbH has recently released 

their latest software version, ChairsideCAD 

2.3 Matera. ChairsideCAD, the first 

hardware-neutral CAD solution for the 

clinical environment, was first launched last 

year. With the new release, the company is 

now offering the widest range of indications 

in the market for chairside CAD software 

while covering the broadest spectrum of 

integrated devices. The software is intuitive, 

so users can easily, economically and 

reliably deliver aesthetically demanding 

restorations in a single patient session. 

from various measuring systems and used 

directly for optimal design of the occlusal 

surface. The DICOM Viewer impresses with 

its outstanding speed when loading CB/CT 

images, which can be visualised together 

The Implant Module enables the design 

of abutments, screw-retained crowns and 

bridges. The software and its modules 

are integrated on exocad’s proven and 

robust software platform, which has been 

successfully used for more than 10 years. 

This has several advantages: ChairsideCAD 

Matera always runs reliably—even with 

complex restorations—and follows the same 

intuitive operating workflow as all exocad 

software applications. The wizard-driven 

user guidance allows precise results to be 

achieved quickly and with impressive quality. 

The combined platform with the world’s 

leading CAD laboratory software exocad 

DentalCAD also opens up unparalleled 

possibilities for digital collaboration with 

With the new ChairsideCAD 2.3 Matera 

modules, the software can intelligently 

expand the individual practice’s offerings. 

Smile Creator is the ideal tool for 2D / 3D 

aesthetic planning of restorations, ensuring 

predictable results. Model Creator is suitable 

for creating physical models from digital 

impression scans. With Jaw Motion Import, 

patient-specific jaw movements are imported 

With the new ChairsideCAD 2.3 Matera modules, the software can intelligently expand the individual practice’s 

offerings. With the new Implant Module, abutments and screw-retained crowns as well as bridges can be 

designed quickly and easily 

62 


In Depth With 

ChairsideCAD covers the broadest 

spectrum of integrated devices. This 

gives dentists more freedom in their 

choice of hardware, as the software 

can be seamlessly integrated even 

when a diverse range of devices is 

used. Therefore, a large number 

of intraoral scanners can easily be 

combined with nearly any 3D printer 

or milling unit 

tens of thousands of laboratories. If so 

desired, each step of the digital workflow 

can be outsourced to a preferred laboratory, 

allowing dentists to save time and rely on the 

expertise of their partner. 

Further highlights of the new Matera release 

include: 

- Greatest flexibility in the selection of 

scanners and milling machines while offering 

simplified integration. 

- Perfectly integrated production system: 

The positioning of the reconstruction 

in the milling blank takes place directly 

in the CAD workflow. Predictable results 

can be achieved quickly, especially 

when using colour scans and multilayer 

materials. 

- Control multiple milling machines directly 

from within the exocad software. 

- Seamless integration with exocad’s guided 

surgery solution exoplan. 

- Improved photorealistic representation of 

the finished restoration. An interactive 3D 

preview can also be exported as a web link 

and viewed in all popular browsers—even 

on mobile devices—without the need to 

install software. 

ChairsideCAD was recently awarded the 

prestigious Cellerant “Best of Class” 

Technology Award in the USA for its 

unique, open software architecture, and 

was the first CAD software ever to win this 

award. The independence from devices and 

manufacturers is a significant advantage. 

“Dentists are free to choose their hardware 

because our software seamlessly integrates 

itself into a heterogeneous device 

environment, so that users can easily 

combine different intraoral scanners with 

almost all 3D printers and milling units— 

whether in their own practice or with a 

laboratory,” explained Tillmann Steinbrecher, 

CEO of exocad. 

“We are delighted to receive the Cellerant 

award and pleased that the independent jury 

recognises our software as pioneering digital 

technology in the clinical environment”, added 

Larry Bodony, President of exocad America. 

“This award encourages and drives us to further 

develop our open software architecture. “ 

ChairsideCAD 2.3 Matera is now available in 

the EU, USA (currently without the Implant 

Module), Japan, South Korea and Australia. 

Since 2018, exocad has named its releases 

after current European Capitals of Culture 

and has selected the Italian city Matera for 

this year’s title. DA 


In Depth With 

Integrated and Powerful Digital Imaging Tools 

for Implants and Orthodontics 

Designed for general dentistry, implants, 

periodontics, prosthodontics, and 

oral surgery, CS 9600 extraoral 

scanner from digital imaging solutions 

provider, Carestream Dental, allows 

metal artefact reduction, face scan, cephalometric 

imaging, extraoral full mouth series imaging, and 

workflow automation. Its premium intraoral scanner, 

CS 3700, delivers accurate intraoral scans 20% 

faster than previous generations. 

One-stop access 

3D imaging from CS 9600 gives clinicians everything 

they need to maximise their CBCT system, including 

powerful tools for endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and 

orthodontics. All 2D/3D images and CAD/CAM data are kept within 

CS Imaging Version 8 software, a centralised imaging hub that meets 

the needs of any practice size, providing one-stop access to data. 

option for evaluating digital models and creating 

virtual orthodontic setups in just minutes. 

Faster intraoral scanning 

CS 3700, the newest premium intraoral scanner 

from Carestream Dental, delivers accurate intraoral 

scans 20% faster than previous generations, while 

eliminating the need for unpleasant impression 

materials. The Quadrant Snapshot feature of the 

accompanying software, CS ScanFlow, automatically 

extracts up to five 2D intraoral images from the 

scanned data set. Images include left buccal, right 

buccal, centre, upper occlusal and lower occlusal, 

as well as a five-in-one composite image. 

Implant and orthodontic planning 

A prosthetic-driven implant planning module within the software for 

CS 9600 combines surface scans and CBCT scans, and adds virtual 

crowns and implants to create more accurate implant planning in 

an integrated digital workflow. Users can create accurate digital 

models for orthodontics applications with CS Model, eliminating 

hassles and costs of plaster models. CS Model+ offers another 

Improving case acceptance 

To improve patient communication and provide 

more transparency for treatment costs, 

Carestream Dental is announcing updates to 

its orthodontic practice management software, 

CS OrthoTrac v15, that features a new financial 

estimator tool. Treatment coordinators often 

need to manually calculate estimates of various 

payment scenarios on paper. With this interactive 

tool, out-of-pocket patient costs can be estimated 

in real time, reducing manual errors and providing 

patients with more clarity and expectations of 

their financial commitments. DA 

64 


Product Highlight 

NSK 

Comfortable Treatment of Periodontal 

Pockets and Peri-Implantitis 

EASY TO USE. 

EASY FOR ALL. 

Used in the treatment of periodontal pockets and peri-implantitis, 

biofilm eraser Perio-Mate from dental handpiece manufacturer 

NSK allows gentle cleaning of periodontal pockets while avoiding 

injury to soft tissues and root surfaces. Its ultrafine water spray 

and glycine-based Perio-Mate powder team up to eradicate biofilm 

in periodontal pockets in just 20 seconds. 

Thanks to years of experience in analysing fluid dynamics, gained 

while developing turbine technology, NSK has devised a safe and 

efficient spray pressure method that enables fast and precise 

removal of plague biofilm from subgingival areas. 

Perio-Mate’s slim nozzle allows easy access to narrow areas such 

as between molars. Its fine, thin, and flexible plastic nozzle tip are 

incorporated with semi-transparent materials, promoting greater 

visibility during procedures. Its user-friendliness enables thorough 

access to soft tissues, ensuring comfortable treatments. 

VITA LUMEX ® AC 

ONE CERAMIC. FOR ALL CERAMICS. 

# VITA LUMEX 

NEW! 

THE FIRST 

PRESS CERAMIC WITH 

VITA SHADE MATCH TECHNOLOGY 

Perio-Mate’s powder control ring makes fine-tuning powder flow 

simple and intuitive with quick fingertip adjustments. Clinicians 

can remove biofilm and address peri-implantitis even in sensitive 

periodontal pockets and around implants gently and efficiently. ■ 

#VITAAMBRIA 

www.vita-zahnfabrik.com 

facebook.com/vita.zahnfabrik


Busch 

Twist Polishers for Composites 

dentists and technicians efficiently, reliably, 

and excellent master their tasks. 

Even on rough surfaces, these flexible 

polishers nestle perfectly to the area 

being polished, particularly in the case of 

individually designed occlusal surfaces. 

Typically, pink diamond-interspersed 

twist polishers are used first, with final 

polishing being performed by their light grey 

counterparts, which have a finer grit size. 

Twist polishers for intraoral polishing of 

composites from dental bur manufacturer 

Busch supplement an existing range for 

precious and non-precious metal alloys, 

ceramics, and zirconia. Now run by the third 

generation, Gert and Wolfgang Busch, the 

company uses advanced CAD technology 

in the production of instruments that help 

The polishers, which are reusable, can be 

disinfected, cleaned, and sterilised. Other 

polishers available from Busch include 

a 4-step polishing disc system for gold, 

composite, and amalgam. The company also 

manufactures diamond-coated instruments 

for the cool grinding of orthodontic and 

denture acrylics. ■ 

MGF 

MGF Compressors for the CAD-CAM Dental Industry 

X Line, a ‘pure air’ 

range developed 

for continuous 

compressed air 

consumption, 

offers efficiency, 

high performance, 

reliability, and 

exceptional 

silence in a 

50/25 PRIME X compact package. 

In dental labs, where milling and grinding 

machines require a constant flow of 

compressed air, the range of compressors 

from Italian manufacturer MGF meets these 

needs perfectly. 

The ability to provide a continuous flow 

of clean compressed air (24/24) at high 

operating pressures of up to 8 bar fulfils 

the current ISO air purity standards. With 

excellent low noise (as low as 53 dB/m), 

the compressors are suitable for human 

ambient. 

In terms of flow rates, the X Line performs at 

80 to 375 litres per minute at a pressure of 

7 bar. This includes the new CS COMPACK X 

unit, a unique screw compressor with a high 

performance of 260 litres per minute at 10 

bar. This air quality conforms with ISO 8573- 

1 standards required by the most CAD-CAM 

manufacturers. 

MGF has been producing compressors for 

more than 30 years. The superiority of its 

products is a result of testing sessions run 

with CAD-CAM manufacturers in the field 

under real operating conditions. Distributed 

in more than 60 countries around the world, 

MGF products are leaders in technology and 

silence. ■ 

X Line offers efficiency, high performance, reliability, and 

exceptional silence in a compact package 

66 


Fontona 

Harnessing the Power of Light 

Medical laser maker, Fotona, leverages on its strong research 

capabilities in the release of a new generation of compact dental 

lasers, SkyPulse. 

With an advanced, highly customisable, and user-friendly 

interface, SkyPulse is powerful and easy to use. Clinicians can 

select pre-set treatment options with a simple touch, or adjust 

treatment parameters with a single swipe. 

Equipped with both SSP (Super Short Pulse) and 

SWEEPS (Shock Wave Enhanced Emission 

Photo-acoustic Streaming) technology, 

SkyPulse Endo specialises in cleaning, 

debriding, and disinfecting root canal 

systems, including lateral canals and dentinal 

tubules. 

Optional attachable diode modules in a range 

of wavelengths can also be used in surgical 

procedures for greater precision, bloodless 

operating fields, and sterilisation of the surgical 

area, while reducing post-surgical pain. 

Compact and portable, with a light 

and flexible delivery system, SkyPulse 

delivers professional results for even the 

most demanding dental practice. ■


SISMA 

Printing high dimensional precision dental prosthesis 

with EVERES Vario 

EVERES Vario from Italian manufacturer 

SISMA is a professional 3D printer based on 

DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology, 

which is designed and built to offer a user 

experience that has never been explored 

before. 

The features remain consistent for the 

EVERES family including the self-alignment 

and self-reset of the building platform, 

resin tray that does not degenerate with 

the photo-hardening process, high printing 

speed, and automatic loading and unloading 

of the resin. 

Zero Tilting Technology (ZTT, patent 

pending) 

During the printing routine, the vat is set 

fixed in the machine while the glass tilts 

after each layer has been printed. This helps 

prevent a suction effect as well as to reduce 

mechanical stress, layer after layer, on the 

object being formed. 

Smart Building Platform (SBP, patent 

pending) 

It allows self-alignment and self-zeroing 

of the building platform at every printing 

cycle, eliminating any human calibration 

intervention. The automatic detachment 

function also eliminates the risk of the newly 

printed items breaking. 

Vat bottom in PTFE 

The use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 

in the bottom of the vat, an inert material in 

the exothermic photo-curing process, allows 

for a non-degenerative printing. This grants 

a high-dimensional precision together with 

high repeatability and reliability of the process. 

EVERES resins are available for prosthetic 

bases, temporary dental bridges and 

crowns, dental casts, dental models, and 

surgical guides.■ 

RolandDG 

Ease Meets Precision 

Since launching its first DWX mill for 

precision milling of dental prosthetics in 

2010, Roland DG has helped digitalise 

workflow for many dental labs around the 

world. Recently, Roland DG has developed 

the new DWP-80S dental 3D printer to assist 

in the production of dentures. The DWP- 

80S allows precise 3D printing of custom 

trays, base plates frameworks required for 

dentures. 

By rigorously analysing the precision and 

fit required for digital dentures, DWP-80S 

then intelligently determines how dentures 

are printed, and chooses the ideal number 

and layout of support joints while adjusting 

for material shrinkage factors. Dental 

components, which previously required 

advanced skill, can now easily be made 

by anyone. 

The newly developed Quick Denta software 

comes pre-configured with optimum 

parameters for printing a variety of denture 

applications in three simple steps. This 

is done by following the workflow wizard. 

Denture applications can be produced 

immediately following set-up, eliminating 

the need for editing time or attaining 

expertise using 3D printers. 

A proprietary projector lens design cures 

the new resin with UV light to form precise 

denture applications of various shapes and 

sizes. The 80mm square work area is ideal 

for multiple custom trays, base plates and 

frameworks to be printed simultaneously. ■ 

68 


#exocadInsights 

exocad Insights 2020 

GLOBAL EVENT FOR 

DENTAL TECHNICIANS 

AND DENTISTS 

Hello, 

digital experts 

Nice to 

meet you 

Knowledge. Inspiration. Networking. The Event of the Year. 

Be there when the international exocad community meets at a top class event! 

Gain insights into the benefits and services we offer as a leader in the development of CAD software. 

Experience lectures by renowned experts, industry partner shows, solutions for specific case studies as 

well as software sessions with our exocad specialists and take advantage of the evening event with dinner 

and live music to exchange knowledge with colleagues. 

March 12 and 13, 2020, Darmstadt, Germany 

Book your ticket today! 

exocad.com/insights


Ivoclar Vivadent 

Cervitec Liquid in a New Delicate Mint Flavour 

Cervitec Liquid from Ivoclar Vivadent now 

features an enhanced formula, with its 

composition optimised for an improved 

taste. The new delicate mint flavour has 

been well-received, even by taste-sensitive 

individuals. A recent survey conducted 

by Ivoclar Vivadent amongst around 150 

test subjects finds that Cervitec Liquid 

makes oral hygiene routine a pleasant and 

refreshing experience. 

The ready-to-use alcohol-free mouth 

rinse for professional oral hygiene in 

dental office and at home is formulated 

with xylitol, provitamin D-panthenol and 

0.1% chlorhexidine. In fact, 97% of the 

respondents in the survey liked the scent 

of Cervitec Liquid. 

Participants also rated the taste and feel of 

the liquid positively, with 86% rating it as 

being very mild to mild. At the same time, 

89% reported that their breath felt clean 

and fresh after rinsing. Around 90% of the 

respondents said that they would continue 

using Cervitec Liquid in the future and 

recommend the product to someone else. 

In fact, two thirds of the group already knew 

that they could buy Cervitec Liquid from 

pharmacies. 

Rinsing with Cervitec Liquid is recommended 

for patients before and after implant, 

periodontal or orthodontic surgery in order 

to control bacteria in the oral cavity. It is also 

recommended for patients with a high caries 

risk, impaired oral hygiene or bad breath. 

Children over the age of six years may use 

Cervitec Liquid. ■ 

Amann Girrbach 

NEM Milling More Precise Than Ever 

Processing, managing, and cleaning – 

laboratories can now redesign their future 

with the first Ceramill Matik Full-Service Unit 

from Amann Girrbach. The 3-in-1 principle 

of this machine type provides dental 

technicians with unprecedented flexibility, 

time savings and convenience. 

The option of dry milling CoCr blanks on a 

NEM basis extends the material spectrum of 

the Digital Native Automation Service Unit 

by another valuable component. A solid 

rigid steel holder, specifically developed for 

processing NEM blanks, ensures steady and 

stable processing. 

As a logical continuation of the robust 

monocoque design of the CNC unit, the 

steel holder compensates the high energy 

required for this demanding type of material, 

which is applied to the workpiece via the 

spindle and milling cutter. 

A high-torque and high-frequency spindle 

is used, which has energy-efficient and 

smooth-running properties. In combination 

with the compact, vibration-free architecture 

of Ceramill Matik, even brittle materials such 

as NEM milling alloys can be processed with 

high precision and fine surface quality. 

In addition to perfect fits, laboratories will 

benefit from machine-guided workflows 

for cleaning, maintenance, and service. 

Tedious research in manuals is a thing of 

the past with the Ceramill Matik. Instead, 

a digital wizard guides the user unerringly 

and intuitively through the machine’s 

management system, creating time and 

room for the essentials – dental expertise 

itself. ■ 

70 


Show Preview 

Dental South China 

International Expo 

to celebrate 25 th 

Anniversary 

Dental South China International 

Expo is celebrating its 25 th 

anniversary from 2 nd – 5 th 

March 2019 at Area C of 

China Import and Export Fair 

Complex in Guangzhou, China. Over 1,000 

exhibitors from 25 countries and regions, 

and 60,000 visitors will gather to showcase 

and learn about the latest advancements in 

the dental industry. 

A new milestone 

As a presentation and communication 

platform for exhibitors and visitors to 

exchange information and experiences, 

Dental South China International Expo 

is a highly anticipated event in the 

dental industry. Exhibitors bring with 

them innovative products and cuttingedge 

technologies, from premium dental 

equipment to general medical devices. 

Over 25 years, the grand scale and prestige 

of Dental South China International Expo 

has left a deep impression on visitors as it 

helps facilitate exchange of knowledge and 

spread the word about the latest dental 

innovations to audiences around the globe. 

Since 1995, the number of exhibitors 

has increased from 34 to 999, and the 

exhibition has grown more than 50 times 

in size to its present scale of 57,200m 2 

(about 10 football fields) in 2019. Last 

year’s record high of 58,000m 2 features 

eight grand halls, with five pavilions 

from Germany, U.S., Korea, 

Taiwan, and Nanhai, Foshan. 

Avant-garde technological 

innovations from the different regions 

are showcased through conventional and 

digital platforms. 

Symposiums for every topic 

Besides acting as an arena for the 

showcase of the latest developments in 

dental technology, Dental South China 

Expo also encourages continuing dental 

education, allowing a cross-pollination of 

clinical studies and breakthroughs. 

Hundreds of symposiums have been held 

here. Professors and dental experts present 

their latest medical research, clinical 

advancements, first-hand experience 

with new dental technology, as well as 

strategies on practice management. This 

year, attendees will learn about medical 

innovations, technological developments, 

case studies, and running practices 

effectively from over 100 symposiums. 

Clinicians can look forward to a hands-on 

implant and orthodontics workshop, where 

they can put theory into practice. 

Smart applications for an enhanced 

experience 

For a better show experience, Dental South 

China International Export has launched a 

series of intelligent application platforms. 

For example, the pre-registration business 

card identification gives exhibitors and 

visitors access to the exhibition hall without 

the need to fill up paper forms, while 

conference e-registration give visitors the 

flexibility to preview symposium schedules 

online, select courses, and purchase 

conference tickets in their own time. 

Attendees can skip the queue and enter the 

venue directly by swiping a QR code. For 

better communication between exhibitors 

and visitors, an instant messaging 

platform named “Go for Meet” has been 

launched. By simplifying time-consuming 

on-site registrations, Dental South China 

International Export hopes everyone will 

have an even better show experience than 

before. 

The 25 th anniversary of the Dental South 

China International Expo is both a 

milestone and a new starting point. Dental 

South China International Expo welcomes 

all dental professionals to the dynamic city 

of Guangzhou in 2020 to stay abreast of the 

latest developments in dental technology. DA 


Show Preview 

Dentistry Advancement and Technologies 

To be held from 3 rd – 5 th 

April 2020 at the Sunway 

Pyramid Convention Centre 

in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 

the 5 th edition of Malaysia 

International Dental Show (MIDS) will shine 

a spotlight on “Dentistry Advancement and 

Technologies”. 

On Day One, there will be a discussion 

on whether clear aligners are replacing 

braces, along with a forum on career 

pathways towards specialist qualification, 

and an evening series on the business side 

of running a clinic. 

Day Two will see a talk by Dr. Eduardo 

Mahn on integrating dynamic smile 

analysis, tooth form selection and facial 

form in the new digital era. In the evening, 

endodontists will gather for a symposium 

on the management of root canal failures. 

The final day sees Prof. Dr. Chiang Tao’s 

talk on laser surface treatment, which 

explores the link between implant and 

bone regeneration, while Dr. Ha Kien Oon 

will share his experience on achieving both 

function and aesthetic in implant dentistry. 

Workshops & Exhibition 

Besides learning about the latest 

technology, attendees can also take 

part in workshops, such as one-on-one 

simple, aesthetic, and minimally invasive 

composites, and try their hands on the 

latest dental innovations at the exhibition 

hall. 

Staying Up to Date 

An attendee from last year, Dr. Zaidah 

Ibrahim, said, “I’ve experienced everything 

about the show, from meeting suppliers, 

to attending the CPD lectures. I find the 

sessions on implants and composites 

helpful. 

“I think it’s important for businesses to 

learn and be updated on different implant 

materials. I’m impressed with the 3D 

printers and it’s been a benefit learning 

straight from the suppliers. 

“I’d definitely recommend the event and 

will be back next year.” DA 

The 5 th edition of Malaysia International Dental Show will 

run from 3 rd to 5 th April, 2020 

72 


Show Review 

Fact or Fashion? 

Held on 10 th November 2019 

in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 

Journey in Digital Dentistry: Fact 

or Fashion, brought together 

155 dentists and dental experts 

for a packed day of programmes into the whys 

and hows, dos and don’ts in digital dentistry. 

The highly anticipated dental event focused 

on the use of CAD/CAM in restorations as 

well as on integration. 

Organised by Core3dcentres, the event aims 

to encourage participants to embrace and 

adopt digitalisation through workshops. 

“It is the now, and not the future,” said 

Ms. Eileen Ng, business manager of 

Core3dcentres. In 2018, Core3dcentres 

partnered with digital manufacturing 

platform Carbon to provide groundbreaking 

3D printing systems. It also 

continuously invested in new technologies 

to stay relevant to the needs of dentists 

using their products. 

As part of the programme for the day, Dr. 

How Kim Chuan shared how an integrated 

digital solution looks like, from CBCT 

surgical guide to full mouth restoration; 

while Dr. Henry Ho and Dr. Jun Hwang took 

a multidisciplinary case to show how digital 

technologies can be applied holistically. 

Other topics include digitalisation in 

implant dentistry, same-day surgery, and 

the production of splints and in-house clear 

aligner cases. As part of the five sessions 

in the morning, Dr. Hussein Wakeel shared 

his thoughts on why it makes sense now to 

switch from traditional to digital dentistry. 

In the afternoon, Dr. Neoh Leong Seng 

contributed his insights on the challenges 

of digital versus analogue. 

74 


Show Review 

Dr. Lee Boon Soon 

Dr. Lee Soon Boon graduated as a gold medallist in 

his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University 

of Malaya in 1989. He later obtained his Master’s 

Degree of Science in Implant Dentistry from 

the University of Warwick, England. Dr. Lee was 

president of the Malaysian Dental Association in 

2009 and 2010. He is currently vice president of 

the Commonwealth Dental Association based in the 

United Kingdom. Dr. Lee is the only certified trainer 

for Blue Sky Bio computer-guided implantology in 

South East Asia 

What change has digital technology 

brought to implant dentistry? 

Digital technology ensures that the implant 

is in the correct 3D position. The digital 

implant software is able to achieve this 

predictability and consistency as compared 

to the past, where we used freehand. With 

the move towards digital, there’ll be fewer 

implant failures or aesthetic problems. 

who have already experienced the benefit 

of this digital technology to share it with 

their colleagues. 

What would you say to dentists who 

still prefer analogue? 

If we don’t use these available digital tools, 

such as guided surgery systems, we put 

ourselves in a disadvantaged position. 

How do you stay connected and 

relevant to the evolving needs of your 

patients? 

One way is to attend a digital dentistry 

conference. Connect with people with 

the same interest in harnessing digital 

technologies. This could be through social 

media or CAD/CAM publications. 

to the patients. While the initial outlay for a 

digital set up can be on the high side, I’ve 

been able to, on average, break even with 

25 cases. 



I’ve never discounted analogue. It’s been 

around for so many years. I’ve been doing 

analogue all this while. It’s only for the 

past one year that I’ve moved away from 

analogue, towards digital. And having gone 

through digital, you’ll never want to look at 

traditional impressions anymore. You’ll find 

more joy and satisfaction from your work, 

and get great results. 

How have perceptions held by clinicians 

towards going digital changed in the 

past two years? 

The initial set-up for digital workflow is 

always on the high side. On average, I 

would be looking at 20 to 25 cases to break 

even — which is actually not too difficult 

to achieve. 

How will this one-day course benefit 

participants? 

The level of dentistry in this country will be 

elevated. If everyone accepts and believes 

in this technology, that will help them 

towards achieving clinical goals, such as 

having fewer implant failures and implant 

aesthetic problems. 

What other topics in digital dentistry 

do you think Core3D should consider 

for the next symposium? 

There could be more in-depth discussion 

on digital orthodontics. 

In the past two years, there is a push 

towards going digital, how is the 

response from clinicians? 

The response has grown tremendously 

over the last two years. The level of digital 

implementation in clinical practice remains 

small, so there is a lot of room to grow. It’s 

also the duty and prerogative of clinicians 

Dr. Neoh Ein Yau 

Dr. Neoh Ein Yau graduated from Universiti Sains 

Malaysia in 2006. He served in the public sector 

with the Ministry of Health for three years. During 

his stint as a dental officer, he developed an interest 

in endodontics, offering treatment to patients who 

want to retain their natural teeth. His work involves 

re-establishment of damaged teeth back to their 

shape and function with chairside CAD/CAM. 

What do you hope participants will 

remember from your lecture? 

My lecture is about chairside solutions — 

delivering the restoration within the same 

day. When it comes to CAD/Cam chairside 

sessions, we now have restorations that 

fit superbly, with minimal adjustment 

or discomfort to the patient. I hope 

participants can begin to embark on digital 

dentistry, and to enjoy themselves. 

What change has digital technology 

brought to implant dentistry? 

When it comes to CAD/CAM chairside 

sessions, there is predictability and 

precision — the fittings of your restorations 

are superb, and there is minimal discomfort 

Are there any topics within digital 

dentistry that you think Core 3D should 

have for the next symposium? 

When I was at CAD Asia, I was astonished 

by how the acrylic base can be printed 

within the same day with the teeth. That is 

something I wish Core 3D would explore. 

Dr. Henry Ho 

Dr. Henry Ho obtained his Bachelor of Dental Surgery 

from the National University of Singapore in 1996. 

He was awarded his Masters in Dental Surgery 

(Prosthodontics) from the National University 

of Singapore in 2002 as well as his membership 

in restorative dentistry of the Royal College of 

Surgeons (Edinburgh). He is presently a partner of 

a group practice restricted to implant dentistry and 

prosthodontics. He lectures and conducts handson 

courses both locally and overseas on implant 

dentistry and prosthodontics. 


Show Review 

What do you hope participants will 

remember from your lecture? 

My lecture with Dr. Jun Hwang is about how 

we treat our patients in a multi-disciplinary 

approach, integrating different aspects 

using a digital system. When you stop 

compartmentalising your management, 

and instead, bring all the different 

disciplines into one using digital software, 

there is greater accuracy and predictability. 

What was the biggest challenge in 

going digital? 

I think the biggest hurdle for many of us is 

straying beyond our comfort zone, whereas 

the younger generation are taking to digital 

like fish to water. 



If you’re going to have younger associates 

in your practice, then I think you should 

invest for the future generation. If you’re 

willing to adopt using a phone, there’s no 

reason why you can’t change your mindset 

about digital technologies. It’s also 

about becoming more streamlined in the 

management of patients. On the lab side, 

technicians prefer to get intraoral scans 

as they’re easier to work with — more 

accurate and versatile. 

Mr. Rodolphe Saidnattar 

ASEAN Business Development Manager, Roland DG 

Are there any topics within digital 

dentistry that you think Core 3D should 

have for the next symposium? 

We can talk about the material to use, get 

to know the machines, and find out how 

you can manufacture denture prosthetics 

yourself. 

What do you think of this symposium 

that Core3D has organised? 

It’s a good initiative. In Malaysia, while 

many dental professionals may have the 

machines, they do not necessarily know 

how to get the most out of them. This is 

where symposiums like these help. When 

you come and get some hands-on practice 

at a workshop, you’ll be able to use the 

machines at their full potential. 

How would this one-day course benefit 

the participants? 

I hope that the sessions opened the 

attendees’ eyes to the possibilities they can 

have for their practices. I’ll say being good 

at what you do is not about luck. Just like 

how love is opportunity plus preparation, it 

is only when you see the possibilities before 

you, and are prepared for it, then you will 

know the direction that you should go. 

Ms. Prita Andersen 

Senior Commercial Product Manager, 3Shape 



Core3D Centre is our reseller in Malaysia. 

We work closely with them. 3Shape is 

a manufacturer. We’re responsible for 

making sure that everyone — dentists 

and everyone else in the dental world 

— is trained in the latest technology. 

By doing digital, dental practices will be 

revolutionised. We will also be improving 

how we care for the patients. 


participants? 

We hope that the knowledge and experience 

from inspiring speakers who went digital 

helped those who have yet to understand 

the improved healthcare patients can have. 

As Dr. Khairul Anwar shared, before the use 

of digital technology, a restoration might 

take about 20 hours. Now, it only takes 

two hours. You’re saving labour and time, 

and the patients do not have to wait as 

long. The patients also usually find digital 

impressions more comfortable. 



If you fear technology, I’d encourage you 

to talk to dentists you trust, and who have 

made the leap. I’m sure if you talk to Core 

3D, they’ll be happy to give you a hands-on 

session. Just like before you buy a car, you 

can do a test drive. 

It’s also a matter of improved patient 

experience. With the digital scanner, it’s 

cleaner, more comfortable, and faster. 

Marco Cervini 

Asia Pacific Operations Director, CIMsystem 



As a CAD/CAM software technology 

provider, it is important for us to continue 

to explain and educate the end user on 

digital dental technology. At the moment, 

there is a lot of information out there in the 

market, some of which may be confusing. 

We hope that by being better informed, 

dental professionals can better understand 

the technology. 



The world is changing, and you must 

change. Go with the flow, adapt to new 

technology. 


participants? 

It is an opportunity to learn and understand 

that there’ll be some things that we have 

to change. Aside from learning about how 

companies such as CIMsystem provide 

software, you can also find out about 

materials, hardware, and what’s new on the 

market. DA 

76 


2020 Events Calendar 

FEBRUARY 

14 – 16 MDA SCATE 2020 - 27 th MDA Scientific Convention & 

Trade Exhibition 

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia 

Venue: KLCC - Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre 

www.mda.org.my 

20 – 22 155 th Chicago Midwinter Meeting 

Chicago, IL - USA 

Venue: McCormick Place West Building 

www.cds.org/meetings-events/midwinter-meeting 

MARCH 

2 – 5 Dental South China 2020 - The 25 th Dental South China 

International Expo 

Guangzhou - China 

Venue: China Import & Export Fair Panzhou Complex 

www.dentalsouthchina.com/En 

13 – 15 ADX20 Sydney 

Sydney - Australia 

Venue: ICC - International Convention Centre 

www.adx.sydney 

14 – 15 AADS 2020 - Advanced Asian Dental Summit 

Manila - Philippines 

Venue: Manila Hotel 

aads2020.com 

APRIL 

24 – 26 IDEM Singapore 2020 - International Dental Exhibition 

and Meeting 

Singapore - Singapore 

Venue: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre 

www.idem-singapore.com 

JUNE 

5 – 7 SIDEX 2020 - The 17 th Seoul International Dental 

Exhibition & Scientific Congress 

Seoul - Korea, South 

Venue: COEX (Seoul Convertion and Exhibition Center) 

www.sidex.or.kr 

9 – 13 APDC 2020 - 42 nd Asia Pacific Dental Congress 

Colombo - Sri Lanka 

Venue: BMICH Convention Center 

www.slda.lk/apdc2020/index.php 

AUGUST 

14 – 15 The 2020 Dental Expo 

Auckland - New Zealand 

Venue: ANZ VIaduct Events Centre 

www.dentalexpo.co.nz 

SEPTEMBER 

1 – 4 FDI 2020 - Annual World Dental Congress 

Shanghai - China 

www.fdiworlddental.org/events/fdi-world-dental-congress 

23 – 26 IFEA 2020 - 12 th World Endodontic 

Congress 

Chennai - India 

Venue: Chennai Trade Centre 

www.ifea2020india.com 

OCTOBER 

8 – 10 ICOI World Congress 2020 - 

International Congress of Oral 

Implantologists 

Sydney - Australia 

www.icoi.org 

8 – 11 DAMA 2020 - Dental Aesthetics Meeting 

in Asia 

Singapore - Singapore 

Venue: Marina Bay Sands 

www.dama.sg 

78 


Giving Back to Society 

Dentsply Sirona Supports Densts in Guatemala 

Dr. Ana Lucrecia Arias Ramirez checks the teeth of a 

child from the Chimaltenango region of Guatemala 

On 25 th September and 2 nd October 2019, 

more than 40 kids aged between three to 

eight received dental care during a dental 

mission carried out by Canadian based 

non-profit organisation Project Somos 

at the Maxillofacial Centre in Antigua, 

Guatemala. 

Guatemala is one of the poorest countries 

in the western hemisphere with high rates 

of malnutrition and infant mortality. About 

half of the children under five suffers 

from stunted growth and poor health due 

to chronic malnutrition, according to the 

World Food Programme. 

Julien Dumont, global development 

manager of Project Somos, said, “These 

children live in homes similar to shelters 

with dirt floors, so their hygiene isn’t up to 

the same standards that we are accustomed 

to. More often than not, because of lack of 

resources and education, people here go to 

the dentist when there is no other option 

than extraction.” 

The dental mission team 

All patients received a panoramic X-ray or 

OPT, and a clinical examination to determine 

the rate of decayed, missing or filled teeth. 

Many were treated for cavities with fillings, 

some were given fluoride applications, and 

some received root canal treatments. 

Dr. Luis Ramirez 

“We are pleased to help support Project 

Somos, and the amazing work they are 

doing for children and families who 

desperately need oral care in this part 

of Guatemala,” said Daniel Nobs, senior 

clinical education manager of Consumables 

at Dentsply Sirona, who sponsored the 

dental mission. DA 

Improving Oral Health in Rural Kenya 

Dentaid’s Kenyan team leader, Sally Reading, with 

fellow volunteers 

In Kenya, the dentist to population ratio is 

1:40,000, but the recommendation from 

the World Health Organisation is 1:7,500. 

In fact, much of the dental equipment 

available in some rural areas is aging and 

difficult to service due to the lack of both 

skilled engineers and spare parts. In the 

years since it was first set up, Dentaid, a 

dental charity, and its volunteers have 

provided thousands of rural Kenyans 

with oral health treatment and preventive 

education. 

Sally Reading, who first went on a Dentaid 

trip to Kenya in 2010, said, “Most of our 

missions have been focused on extractions 

and getting people out of dental pain, but 

I’ve also seen many patients with rampant 

caries or severe periodontal disease. 

Therefore, we are now turning our focus 

towards preventive treatments and longterm 

oral health education.” 

And the recent donation of a portable 

Cavitron Select ultrasonic scaler from 

Dentsply Sirona came at a good time. 

Compared to 2018, when only four scaling 

treatments could be carried out, the team 

was able to complete 322 treatments in 

2019 with the use of the Cavitron. 

“Being portable, it makes life much easier, 

especially when I am working in outreach 

clinics in rural areas. My patients find 

treatment with the Cavitron more comfortable 

too, and they don’t experience too much 

sensitivity. This encourages patients to 

return for treatment, which helps with our 

preventive message,” said Reading. DA 

Many patients come with bleeding gums or 

in desperate need of basic dental cleaning 


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