November 2015 Ebook PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN ORTHODONTICS A Global Presence 3D Printing Allows Company to Serve Customers Around the World Crowned with Success Changing digital dentistry with an Objet 3D Printer Chewing Up the Competition Denture Manufacturer Improves Customer Satisfaction Picking Up Speed Objet 3D Printer Enables Full Integration of Digital Workflow
A Global Presence 3D Printing Allows Company to Serve Customers Around the World ASO International, a leading Japanese orthodontic laboratory, has enjoyed steady growth since its founding in 1982. Beginning as a one-man dental laboratory in downtown Tokyo, the company now has 46 business bases serving nearly 70 percent of the Japanese orthodontic market. But approximately 10 percent of the company s business comes from serving orthodontists in overseas markets, a number that Toshimasa Aso, CEO of ASO International, plans to increase with the help of 3D printing technology from Stratasys. Aso first learned about this new method of orthodontic engineering in 2001 at the American Association of Orthodontists conference in Chicago. At the show, he was introduced to an Objet Eden260V 3D Printer that was particularly well adapted for orthodontic work. Upon returning to Japan, Aso further explored the potential of 3D printing and shortly thereafter purchased an Objet Eden 3D Printer for the Japanese office. Little did he know then that it would play a major role in helping the company broaden its presence worldwide. We are ready to target the top end of the global market. The Objet Eden260V from Stratasys will be key in helping the company to achieve this goal. Toshimasa Aso, CEO, ASO International, Inc. 3D printed model to be fitted with orthodontic appliance TECHNOLOGY Building a Global Business Today, the use of digital technology has allowed the company to operate in ways it was never able to before. Toru Kawakami, general manager for the company s CAD/CAM division explains, We can receive STL data from anywhere in the world and then create models using our Eden260V 3D Printer. Now we can work with an orthodontist located just a few miles away or one that is located 5,000 miles away. Our ability to serve more customers has grown exponentially. The technology has also allowed the company to increase efficiency by streamlining its production process, as well as increase the number of orthodontic solutions it can offer customers, such as lingual jig trays. 3D printing also allows the company to do most of its development work in-house, thereby minimizing the need to outsource, while maintaining its high quality standards. Digitized computer model prior to creation on 3D printer Toshimasa Aso, CEO of ASO International ebook Orthodontic practice 1
TECHNOLOGY Finally, physical models can be stored as digital files which eliminate large amounts of storage space as well as the associated costs. This approach has resulted in other cost savings as well says Kawakami. We have centralized the collection of all models from orthodontists at our Tokyo headquarters. Sending scanned 3D data instead of physical models to customers produces significant savings on transport costs, while eliminating the risk of damage to the models in transit. New Technology Equals New Opportunities But the use of 3D printing technology has even greater implications for the continued success of the company and its global ambitions. The use of cutting edge technology allows us to capitalize on new and emerging opportunities. Orthodontists always approach us with new ideas, asking us to do new things. Without new technologies like 3D printing, we wouldn t be able to meet their expectations and grow our business, comments Aso. We are ready to target the top end of the global market. The Objet Eden260V from Stratasys will be key in helping the company to achieve this goal. Toru Kawakami, general manager of ASO International For more information about Stratasys systems, materials and applications, call 888.480.3548 or visit www.stratasys.com OP Poured gypsum model (left) and 3D printed model (right) 2 Orthodontic practice ebook
Crowned with Success Changing digital dentistry with an Objet 3D Printer Digital dentistry is rapidly being adopted, propelled by continuously increased CAD/CAM productivity and advanced 3D printing capabilities. ScanSystems brings dental labs new opportunities for increasing their productivity and expanding their customer base leveraging Objet 3D Printers. The Challenge ScanSystems offers the market a technology-leading dental scanner for 3D scanning of gypsum models. This enables labs to prepare teeth virtually and design temporary crowns directly from scans of conventional models, completely omitting the need for a physical model. Labs can now provide dentists with cost-effective temporaries and more easily secure the final crown. Adaptation of digital methods is increasingly defining the success of dental businesses, and the labs that move to meet this challenge will be the labs that grow. Choosing the right 3D printing system is one of the most critical business decisions a lab can make. With the high quality dental solutions provided by ScanSystems, it was clear that the organization was now in a position to grow. An added incentive was that ScanSystems needed to streamline its business and required a 3D printing system that could enable faster throughput without compromising its high standards and without costly expansion of its technician staff and facilities. The Solution The Objet Eden260V 3D Printer provided the ideal solution for Scan- Systems, as it enabled us to improve the quality of our dental restoration manufacturing and placement, said Ing. Barone Sandro, general manager, ScanSystems. The 3D Printing System enables us to manufacture digital stone models rapidly that guarantee dentists a high level of precision in the placement of dental restorations. This is very difficult to achieve using traditional freehand techniques. ScanSystems now has a fully digital workflow with resulting improvements in design time, production yield, and increased business Objet 3D Printers surpass all norms for speed, precision and detail printing. With fully automated dental models now being manufactured, we have completely optimized our productivity. Ing. Barone Sandro, ScanSystems At a Glance Challenges Fast throughput High accuracy and excellent detail quality Minimum technician staff expansion and facility changes Solution Objet Eden260V 3D Printer with high resolution and fine detail output Results A complete digital workflow for in-house dental model fabrication A dramatic reduction in dental design process time Significant improvement in daily production yield per dental technician Optimized resource allocation and lower operational costs Rapid return on investment driven by an increase in business activity TECHNOLOGY ebook Orthodontic practice 1
TECHNOLOGY ScanSystems technicians now design models for an extensive range of indications, including models directly from the company s own scans or from gypsum scans. This enables ScanSystems to produce all lab models locally and among its dental lab partners completely bypassing traditional manufacturing procedures that are slower and more expensive. Using the Objet Eden260V 3D Printer, ScanSystems is able to print models with exceptionally fine details and an outstanding surface finish all necessary for ensuring the high degree of accuracy required by its team and dentists. The Result By using the Objet Eden 3D Printer, ScanSystems has a complete digital workflow for in-house fabrication of models, abutments, coping/crowns and bridges of any size or combination. With efficient in-house manufacturing and many new indication possibilities, we can now present a greater variety of dental solutions to our dentist clients, said Sandro. ScanSystems can now affirm production capability for every restoration order that comes in. With the Objet 3D Printer as part of our digital dentistry workflow, Scan- Systems has dramatically reduced the design process time and has optimized its resources by bringing non-technicians into the workflow that they had never before thought possible, said Sandro. This has sky-rocketed the daily production yield per dental technician. ScanSystems investment has been rapidly returned through an increase in business, faster throughput and operational cost reductions. ScanSystems selected an Objet Eden260V because of its ability to print fine details and an outstanding surface finish for dental models such as these The company has achieved a complete digital workflow for dental model fabrication For more information about Stratasys systems, materials and applications, call 888.480.3548 or visit www.stratasys.com. OP 2 Orthodontic practice ebook
Chewing Up the Competition Denture Manufacturer Improves Customer Satisfaction The China market for dental prostheses has grown rapidly in recent years, reaching 4.35 billion in 2012. In order to remain competitive, KTJ Dental Technology Group is keen to employ technologies that shorten the production cycle, and produce custom dental models with greater accuracy and lower costs. The Objet Eden260V 3D Printer helps us optimize the dental A well-known high-end dental laboratory and a pioneer in digital dentistry in modeling process by producing high-quality models, rapidly China, KTJ specializes in the fabrication and precisely. 3D printing is critical for digital dentistry. of various dental prostheses, including those for aesthetic dentistry. KTJ s goal Kevin Shi, Manager of Digital CAD/CAM Center, KTJ Dental Technology Group of reducing its production cycle is vital: For the dental industry in China, technologies that reduce lead times are critical for maintaining competitiveness and satisfying customers. Patients and dentists are more than willing to pay for services that reduce waiting times by even just a day. KTJ s in-house 3D printer streamlined the customization of dental models, a crucial aspect of digital dentistry TECHNOLOGY Optimizing the Dental Prostheses Fabrication Process In order to meet the needs of its customers, KTJ needed technologies that would allow for rapid production, a high degree of customization and low costs at the same time. Several rounds of negotiations and research finally led them to the Objet Eden260V 3D Printer for KTJ s CAD/CAM Digital Center, which plays a key role in the dental prostheses fabrication process. Choosing from four materials specifically designed for the dental industry, the center uses its Objet Eden260V 3D Printer to print dental models with exceptional detail and real simulation. KTJ technicians and engineers use the Objet Eden260V 3D Printer in its dental modeling process, which is a critical part of dental prostheses production. After a patient s digital data is collected through intraoral 3D scanning, a technician places the patient s digital data in CAD to create a printable STL file. The patient s dental model is then 3D printed from the STL file. Finally, the 3D printed model is used as a base to test fitment of a variety of dental prostheses. KTJ s 3D printer secures the perfect fit for each patient s individual dental anatomy and conditions The staff at KTJ Dental Technology Group ebook Orthodontic practice 1
TECHNOLOGY The Objet Eden260V 3D Printer has reduced the time required for KTJ s dental modeling process. Combining 3D scanning and CAD/CAM designs, it rapidly prints dental models for fitting dental crowns, bridges and fixtures. Additionally, it produces surgical guides and other prostheses that are intended for short exposure to patients mouths. Digital dentistry has revolutionized the dental modeling process. Using the Objet Eden260V, a patient s dental restoration can now be completed in just one day, said Kevin Shi, manager of KTJ s Digital CAD/CAM Center. Customization with Precise Parts Digital dentistry requires a high degree of customization because each patient has unique dental anatomy and dental conditions. 3D scanning and imaging allows the Objet Eden260V 3D Printer to produce dental models accurately, simulating patient s real dental conditions, while helping dentists make the best treatment decisions. All of these features help eliminate fit issues and patient discomfort caused by inaccuracies in restorations created by traditional modeling, creating higher patient satisfaction. Shi explained, Customers are now happier with our treatments as it causes less pain and discomfort, and they can even take the dental models home as gifts. Digitalizing the dental modeling process has dramatically reduced KTJ s operational costs. In the past, KTJ mailed dental models to customers for testing, which was costly and slow. Making adjustments greatly increased the amount of time customers needed to wait to receive their final prostheses. Now, all of these costs have been eliminated because the 3D printer allows designs to be shared digitally and instantaneously. The Objet Eden260V has boosted our business with a streamlined modeling process and lower costs while making our customers happier. It s a big smile for everybody, said Shi. The Objet Eden260V 3D Printer helped eliminate fit issues and patient discomfort caused by inaccuracies in restorations The ability to make quick adjustments to models significantly lowered KTJ s operational costs For more information about Stratasys systems, materials and applications, call 888.480.3548 or visit www.stratasys.com. OP 2 Orthodontic practice ebook
Picking Up Speed Objet 3D Printer Enables Full Integration of Digital Workflow TECHNOLOGY Protec uses 3D printing to produce dental restorations Vancouver-based Protec Dental Laboratories has worked hard to keep its staff and equipment up to date to ensure it produces the highest quality dental restorations. So it was natural for Protec to utilize 3D printing combined with digital imaging to become a fully digital dental lab. The adoption of digital CAD/CAM procedures levels the global playing field by providing cost reduction opportunities and higher product quality. The Challenge Off-shoring of dental restorations to low-cost countries poses serious competition for many dental labs. Manual operations are too slow and labor-intensive to compete in today s fast-paced dental restoration market. Meeting customer demand and maintaining fast service is another challenge. We realized we could not deliver models and restorations fast enough without owning the entire manufacturing process, said Neal Russell, general manager of Protec Dental Laboratories. The Solution The Objet Eden260V 3D Printing System enables a seamless digital process from oral scanning, through CAD/CAM design to 3D printing. Using the Objet Eden 3D Printer, Protec technicians manufacture an extensive range of models directly from intraoral scans, physical impression scans and gypsum scans. The high quality precision printing of the Objet 3D Printer allows Protec to accurately and rapidly manufacture dental models. The exceptionally fine details and outstanding surface finish of the Objet Eden ensure a high degree of accuracy as required by Protec s dentist clients. The in-house Objet 3D Printing System has improved our competitiveness and turnaround times. Neal Russell CDT Protec Dental Laboratories Ltd. At a Glance Challenges Create digital models Reduce model fabrication times Maintain high dental model accuracy while increasing fabrication throughput Solution Objet Eden260V 3D Printing System Results Fully automated digital workflow for fabrication of dental models Increased throughput without adding dental technicians High precision production of dental models with fine details Improved customer service, with faster delivery times ebook Orthodontic practice 1
TECHNOLOGY The Result The new in-house 3D printing capabilities based on the Objet 3D Printer enable Protec to bypass its former slow and expensive outsourcing procedures. Protec can now deliver products faster and at lower costs, and maintain its competitive position even as the market gets tougher. The Objet 3D Printing System has enabled Protec to introduce nontechnicians into the manufacturing workflow, enabling dental technicians to focus on the higher-end tasks. The result is a significant productivity increase by the lab technicians. As a result of the increased productivity, Protec can now provide a wider range of dental solutions, with higher accuracy and improved turnaround times. Neal Russell, general manager, Protec Dental Laboratories For more information about Stratasys systems, materials and applications, call 888.480.3548 or visit www.stratasys.com. OP 2 Orthodontic practice ebook