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HERNING, Denmark: Owing to technological innovations in CAD/CAM devices, such as intra-oral scanners, digital systems are quickly becoming an important and integral part of the modern dental office. Dr Simon Kold, a dentist at the Herning Implant Center, an implant treatment centre in central Denmark, has worked with CAD/CAM technology since June 2011.
Using TRIOS, a digital impression solution from 3Shape, a specialist in 3-D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions, Kold has designed and fabricated inlays, crowns and bridges over the past year.
“TRIOS provides many advantages,” said Kold. “It avoids uncertainties and potential errors that can occur with traditional impression taking and casting in plaster. Precision becomes significantly higher.” Laboratory evaluations comparing 3-D scans with traditional impressions have shown that the scans are more precise. The sources of errors can be reduced by up to 70 per cent.
Kold also emphasised the great satisfaction in working with the technology. He believes that his preparations have improved significantly since he started working with TRIOS.
“It has always been challenging to define an adequately precise margin line and this puts greater demands on preparation skills. Now I find it easier to assess the quality of my impression because I can see the preparation right away in 3-D,” Kold said. “It’s easy to use 3Shape’s TRIOS, but naturally, one needs to learn how to scan optimally. On the first day, we scanned six patients in a row, with a number of 3Shape representatives on-site giving instructions. After that, we were ready to work on our own.”
According to the company, impression taking with TRIOS is significantly faster and cheaper, as the system provides the opportunity to work digitally throughout a whole case. It enables dentists to scan in 3-D in less than 3 minutes. In addition, many laboratory procedures can be carried out, including production of a digitally designed model. Another option with TRIOS is to make model-free crowns in full zirconium and IPS e.max (Ivoclar Vivadent).
Kold also stated that he thinks that the purchase of a TRIOS device should be regarded as an investment in the future. “The scanner will naturally represent a significant investment, although one saves time and the cost of impression materials. However, TRIOS offers many options for developing the clinic. In the USA, labs are starting to train technicians to follow fully CAD/CAM workflows. In a few years, both labs and clinics will be much more digital. It’s a new era one needs to be a part of,” Kold concluded.
As reported by Dental Tribune ONLINE, the company’s TRIOS Color digital impression solution, which was launched at this year’s International Dental Show in Cologne, recently received the “Best of Class” Technology Award from the Pride Institute.
