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Monthly Archives: November 2017
Home / November 2017
Are you Maximizing Bond Strength Between Ti Bases and Zirconia?

We all know that bonding a Ti Base to zirconia in the lab eliminates the risk of having cement left uncleaned intraorally by the clinician. In a study, Gordon Christensen concluded this overflow of cement left uncleaned when cementing intraorally to be the number one cause of implant failure. As a result, this makes a great case for doing the cementing outside of the oral cavity, thus making the use of Ti Bases a most viable option.

Labs must know more about the cement process
So now that the cement process is moving into the lab there are some details we should be aware of. First, we MUST follow cement manufacturers instruction to the “T” to insure long lasting bond. In addition, prior to bonding check all the bonding components for expiration dates. If any of the components have expired, the bond strength will be compromised.

How do we maximize bond strength?
Many implant companies manufacturer Ti bases in one or sometimes two different heights. For instance 3 and 5 MM. In a study concluded a couple of decades ago 3M findings that minimum height for a Ti inserts to be 5 MM. I appreciate 3M for this research, however, the industry took this to mean that 5 MM is sufficient for all cases. I believe this thesis to be incorrect. For instance, many implant placements are in areas where there is severe bone resorption. It’s not unusual to have restorations that are 12-15 MM or taller. When cementing a 5 MM base into a 15MM restoration there are significant mechanical problems, especially when looking at lateral forces. This is not dissimilar to a preparation to crown ratio. In conventional C&B one would never expect a 3 to 1 ratio to last long term and we should feel the same about Ti Bases and zirconia.

Just how strong is the bond?
If we are to bond two parts together using proper materials and process the number one factor in bond strength is based on total surface area. The more the better. This fact, along, plus the known problem of debonding over time is an indication of the need for a taller Ti base that is 65-75% the height of the final restoration. Shorter than this is a compromise is optimal or potential bond strength.
As a result, Open Implants has developed a Ti Base with a cement interface that is 10 MM tall. In addition, OI has developed this component with circumferential cut lines to be shortened as needed, to 8, 6, 5 or 4mm. There is a corresponding DME file for each height available in both Exocad and 3Shape. We now have the opportunity to produce the ideal screw-retained restorations that will be less prone to problems such as breakage and or debonding.

Learn more about engaging and non-engaging Titanium Bases at openimplants.com/titanium-bases

Found the one?

By: Tamara Nazzal

Many dental labs have discovered the one – one analog that can be used both digitally or traditionally.  These analogs simplify inventory management for your lab and reduce costs.   Open Implants products were designed by dental technicians for dental technicians.  Our team saw a way to improve the analog and they did!  Analogs have not seen much in the way of innovation for years but the Open Implants team is proud to present our analog and its unique features. Watch the video to learn more.

We are proud to offer these Analogs at a great price, too.

» Get your analogs at the e-store

Simplify your inventory with analogs that can be used both digitally and traditionally.
Easily customize analog height by cutting along grooves
Specially designed “O-ring” to snap the gingival tissue model into place
Trust in our precision milled stainless steel interfaces
For digital models:
– Lower height designed to reduce cost of printed model
– Snap analog into place from the bottom of the digital model
– Debris groove ensures great fit
Groove design provides additional stability for digital or conventional models

 

From lab owner to innovator

Author: Tamara Nazzal

Frederic Rapp, CEO of Open Implants (OI), is dedicated to bringing innovation to the dental industry. In his own lab, which he has grown to be the third largest in France, his operations are highly automated and lean. I have asked him to share more background on what drives him to make change in the industry.

Q. What is your background? How did you get into the dental industry?
I was born into the industry thanks to my father. Two years after completing a mechanical engineering degree, I took over my father’s lab in France and grow it from a two person lab to a 70+ people as of today. Having a degree in engineering has been terrific as it provided knowledge on so many applicable laboratory problems and solutions.

Q. How did you get the idea for Open Implants?
I was an early adopter of CAD/CAM technology in the lab. In conjunction with these technologies there where so many areas on implant prosthetics that were either highly compromised or nearly impossible to produce using CAD/CAM. With a Mechanical engineering background superior solutions were so obvious. Through both frustration and understanding how to improve implant components and workflow and to ultimately improve quality of patient care I cofounded Open Implants.

OI solves so many problems. I took the approach to engineer components for ease of use, improved outcome and biocompatibility. Many manufacturers are designing parts with emphasis on reducing their manufacturing costs. Not OI. For instance, we now fabricate a scan body that has a titanium interface and a PEEK scan top. It comes fully assembled and is much more durable than the all PEEK scan bodies that are readily available in the market. From experience, I know that all PEEK scan bodies once damaged cause havoc in the lab as abutments and crowns can be rotated when finished.

Q. Designing and manufacturing products is a big change from running a lab. I am sure your degree in engineering helped. How did your background help you make that transition?
Producing about 4000 cases a month, many being implant supported, we continuously see the limitations with other products. And yes, my degree has helped us design more ideal components.

I designed these products with the help of colleagues and together we have over 50 years of combined experience as lab owners and we have likely treated more than 80k implant cases.

Digital opens up the world of possibilities for labs. We wanted to provide labs with components for efficient workflows that can provide state of the art restorations with fewer hours of labor using cost effective components form a single source.

We use the most advanced technology to make our products. The machinery that turns our parts are the most precise in the world.

Q. What makes Open Implants different?
A few things for sure. First, we wanted customers to be able to produce prosthetics with a single high quality system. Going to the implant manufacturers makes for different digital workflows being applied on a daily basis. This is confusing for staff and confusion contributes to mistakes. Using so many different suppliers also makes it complicated to manage inventory, as well as, managing pricing as most manufacturers charge radically different prices for similar components. This is also not lean and therefore, much more costly to produce.

Next, we designed all our parts for ease of use, biocompatibility and added features that cost us more to produce but make it more streamlined and predictable for both labs and dentists.

Q. Where is the industry going?
The industry is headed to more chairside crown production. That said, the growing implant market will remain a lab produced restoration for the foreseeable future. Having set up 2 labs using lean manufacturing principals we understand what is needed to provide high quality implant supported restorations at a fair price point. Labs that practice lean process and optimize workflows will control pricing and the future of implant supported prosthetics. This will be far more easily achievable when working with a single quality implant component manufacturer.

Learn more at openimplants.com/products

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