Assembly of 12 experts exemplifies company's dedication to dental lab market.
St. Paul, Minn. ? Jan. 30, 2002 ? 3M ESPE held it first Council of Laboratory Professionals meeting Nov. 10, 2001, at 3M Center in St. Paul, Minn.
The council is comprised of dental lab professionals from across the nation, including representatives of national dental labs and lab groups, certified dental technicians, and dentists heavily involved in indirect restorative dentistry.
3M ESPE assembled this dynamic group to assess ways manufacturers can better assist dental laboratories in the future; to evaluate industry trends; and to better understand industry needs and possible solutions through new technologies and market innovations.
Council members previewed new technologies in CAD/CAM, including equipment and materials, and discussed current issues and trends in the dental industry today.
For the past few years, 3M Dental has worked with dental labs across the United States to reduce remakes and other technique-related issues in impressioning, temporization, bonding, and cementation, and through educational programs by the 3M Dental representatives and lab technicians.
In addition, the former ESPE organization also had been active with labs; the new 3M ESPE business partnership has resulted in even more cohesive efforts in the dental laboratory. The dentists win by gaining access to new products developed as a result of increased research and development capabilities; the labs win because remakes are reduced and efficiencies are gained.
3M ESPE offers a solid line of conventional lab products featuring Sinfony Indirect Lab Composite and Rocatec Bonding System. More products are scheduled for release in 2002.
Areas of emphasis for 3M ESPE's future in the lab market will be with CAD/CAM systems and materials. Investments in research and development in this area will allow 3M ESPE to introduce several material options for dentists (through the dental laboratory) in the near future. 3M ESPE will continue to work with dentists and labs in a quest to provide a complete "system" of products that they can use in crown and bridge procedures.
3M ESPE manufactures and markets more than 2,000 products and services designed to help dental professionals improve their patients' oral health care. Trusted brands include Filtek Restorative Materials, Impregum Impression Materials, Pentamix 2 Mixing Unit, RelyX Cements, Prompt L-Pop Adhesive System, and Imprint II Impression Material. For more information on the complete 3M ESPE line of dental products, visit the 3M ESPE Web site at www.3MESPE.com, or call the 3M ESPE Technical Hotline at (800) 634-2249. 3M ESPE, a division of 3M Health Care Markets, was founded in 2001 when 3M Dental Products Division and ESPE Dental AG combined.
3M, ESPE, Sinfony, Rocatec, Filtek, Impregum, Pentamix, RelyX, Prompt L-Pop, and Imprint are all trademarks of 3M or 3M ESPE AG.
