Dental Asia March/April 2019

First Words
The New Age of Digitalisation and Innovative Solutions
There is no doubt that digitalisation has
emerged as a global trend. On social media,
influencers rave about the latest products,
gadgets, and innovave services currently
available on the market. It is no different
in denstry, as praconers the world over
usher in an excing and highly-ancipated
phase – the age of digitalisaon!
Let us take a look at impression taking; gone
are the days where we need to mix alginate
or polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) materials, loading
materials on dental impression trays while
waiting for the impression to completely
set - only to find out that we need to redo
the impression due to voids, bubbles, or just
being unable to take a complete impression
of the site we need.
Nowadays, digital dental impressions (DI) are
more commonly used in denstry not only for
prosthodoncs but also in orthodoncs, as
discussed by Dr. Frank Thiel, Vice President
R&D CAD/CAM and Orthodontics of
Dentsply Sirona (pages 29-32). Addionally,
my interview with Ms. Julie Tay, Senior Vice
President and Managing Director Asia Pacific
of Align Technology, emphasised the digital
transformaon in the field of orthodoncs
through their pioneering Invisalign clear
aligner system as they celebrate reaching
their recent milestone – six million paents
on Invisalign treatment (pages 24-27).
Fortunately, for this issue, Dental Asia’s
distinguished advisory board members
have contributed informative articles on
products and the dental pracce. Firstly, our
interview with Dr. Christopher Ho, Specialist
Prosthodonst and founder of CARE Denstry
(Australia), reveals the importance of building
a practice, finding the right team and
ulising the right tools and the applicaon
of digital denstry (pages 18-22). Secondly,
Dr. George Freedman’s article reviews
the different generations and the
benefits of the current 7 th generation
adhesive systems (pages 44-47).
Lastly, Dr. Fay Goldstep’s article provides
insight on the efficiency of glass ionomer
sealant for pits and fissures (pages 40-43).
Adding to the findings of Dr. Goldstep,
the user report by Prof. Dr. Mohan
Bhuvaneswaran furthers the exploration
of the high-performing and retentive
approach using glass ionomer filling materials
(pages 48-54).
On the subject of dental surgery, innovave
soluons such as the transcrestal sinus floor
elevation technique using the Osteo Safe
were discussed by Dr. Christophe Fores,
focusing on how it enhances treatment
plans by being ergonomic, fast, effective
and safe (pages 56-60). Moreover, the case
on the atraumac extracon of mandibular
third molars by Dr. Loris Prosper and
Dr. Nicolas Zunica, zeroed in on a dental
surgery product which allows minimal trauma
and significantly reduces post-operatory
discomfort (pages 34-38).
Our ‘In Depth With’ articles (pages 75-85)
and product highlights section
(pages 86-91) feature advanced game
changing dental products and innovative
soluons, revealing excing mes ahead for
the enre industry, as 2019 witnesses the
dawning of a new age of digital denstry.
Dr. Chala R. Platon
Assistant Editor
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ADVISORY BOARD
Dr William Cheung
Dr Choo Teck Chuan
Dr Chung Kong Mun
Dr George Freedman
Dr Fay Goldstep
Prof Urban Hägg
Prof Nigel M. King
Dr Ramonito Rafols Lee
Dr Kevin Ng
Dr William O’Reilly
Dr Ryan Seto
Dr Adrian U J Yap
Dr Christopher Ho
Dr How Kim Chuan
Dr Derek Mahony
Prof Alex Mersel