WOBURN, Massachusetts--SensAble Technologies, a provider of haptic devices and touch-enabled modeling solutions, has announced the availability of a new version of its SensAble Dental Lab System.
The system is an integrated CAD/CAM solution to scan, design and fabricate a wide variety of dental restorations. Through its expanded capabilities for full contour crown & bridge restorations, as well as new features that speed the design and production of removable partials, Version 2 offers dental labs another way to "go digital."
The SensAble solution enables labs to deliver more kinds of restorations from a single system, made with greater precision, increased efficiency, and consistency. SensAble showcased version 2 of the system March 24-28, 2009, at the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany.
Although dental restorations fabricated using CAD/CAM technology are expected to grow 75 percent by 2013, economic concerns are forcing dental labs to prioritize system flexibility and rapid return on investment in their purchase decisions.
The SensAble Dental Lab System creates metal and flexible partials, as well as full contour crown and bridge. Its key components--a 3D scanner, design system, resin printer, and case management software--have been integrated to produce accurate, consistent results in a streamlined workflow.
Version 2 can increase lab productivity by providing the digital tools to design a wider range of fixed and removable restorations and the freedom to handle "real-world" cases that can be challenging and time consuming.
"Our SensAble system paid for itself in just four months, and after completing over 5,600 cases with it, we are so much more productive that I could never go back to our old workflow," said John Aitchison, CDT, principal at Minot Dental Laboratory.
"We can digitally design and wax a 3-unit bridge in less than 10 minutes, when hand waxing used to take 90 minutes. One technician designed a PFM coping literally in 45 seconds. After designing, we simply press a button to create the anatomical coping. Because we're working digitally, it allows our lab to ensure consistent results across the entire staff, from the most experienced technicians to those newer to our team. As a result, we were able to promote three technicians into ceramicist positions, because they're freed from mundane hand-waxing work. I jokingly tell everyone that if they took away my SensAble system I'd have to close the lab, and I'm only half-joking," Aitchison said.
SDLS Version 2 Highlights include:
Crown and Bridge
* Full contour, including pressables: Design in less time, with more flexibility and then fabricate in the material of your choice: Press over Metal, Press over Zirconia, monolithic ceramic, full metal, and Porcelain Fused Metal.
*Integrated Heraeus digital tooth library: Renowned for its esthetics and natural-looking morphology, streamlines digital design and enables labs to deliver more naturally shaped and fitting restorations in less time.
*Automated features that speed design: Full anatomy. Then automatically derive anatomical copings in seconds. Quickly adjust tooth morphology for precise fit using touch-enabled bite registration and contact guides.
Removable Partials
* New features for streamlined design: Faster, more automatic joining of meshes and connectors.
* Additional control: Independently adjust survey draft angles and block out for more complex cases.
* Streamlined fabrication including batch processing
The award-winning SensAble Dental Lab System uses force-feedback haptics in which technicians hold a touch-enabled stylus instead of a computer mouse-- working with virtual wax-up tools to literally "feel" the on-screen model as they apply, smooth, and carve "digital wax."
This approach mimics the traditional method of hand modeling dental restorations, allowing technicians to digitally design with speed and precision while keeping artistry and manual dexterity.
"If labs do their homework, they will see that nothing else in the market comes close to the SensAble Dental Lab System for productivity and flexibility," said Bob Steingart, president of SensAble Dental Products.
"We are continuing to expand the range of restorations possible from this one system, and are fully committed to giving dental labs the easiest to use, most versatile CAD/CAM system available. I challenge labs to find a system that lets them leverage their technology investment--or provides a better ROI--than the SensAble system."
System configurations and availability
Version 2 of the SensAble Dental Lab System is sold as either:
1) A Scan/Design configuration for labs that want to design in-house but outsource production. Labs can also choose to outsource completely by sending a stone to a SensAble Authorized Production Center.
2) A complete SensAble Authorized Production Center configuration for labs that want to produce their own restorations, and also want the option of providing production services for other SensAble Scan/Design customers. This configuration adds a production management console, 3D resin printer, and related accessories.
Version 2 of the SensAble Dental Lab System is available worldwide and sold directly by SensAble and through select resellers.
For more information, phone (781) 939-7457 or visit SensAble Technologies.
To read more about SensAble Technologies, go to SensAble Technologies.
To comment on this product, go to PennWell Dental Community site.
References available from company upon request.
