Nick Benjamin owns Peerless Dental Laboratory in Waltham, MA. A year ago, Nick started sending work to CAP by sending models to us. In the last few weeks, he took the plunge to get into scanning and design himself. In this video below, talks about his experience in working with us, and he even shows a recent Dental Wings design that he created and sent to CAP for fabrication. Thanks for the kind words, Nick!

With 3M’s recent steps to open up Lava to Dental Wings and 3Shape, we have been able to do some very interesting things at CAP. For example, we are now able to take a Dental Wings design file and split it to produce a Lava substructure and a wax overpress pattern.  We are really pleased with the full contour designs that we are getting from Dental Wings, so we love being ale to make a single design with this system and sending the data to be fabricated on two different machines – the Lava mill for the zirconia framework and the EnvisionTec printer for the wax pattern.  I put together a two minute video to show this to you. Check it out, and let me know what you think.

Screenshot showing Dental Wings Designing a Lava Substructure

We were honored to be selected by 3M to be the first lab in the US to test some new software from Dental Wings and 3M ESPE which enables us to design Lava substructures right in Dental Wings.  We are very excited about this new capability and have been using it every day for the last few weeks with excellent results.  In the next couple of weeks we will be able to accept Dental Wings design files from other labs who would like us to fabricate Lava copings and frameworks for them.  We will also be able to do this with 3Shape in the comings weeks, too.  If you have Dental Wings or 3Shape, please fill out the form below to participate in this program to be among the first labs to produce Lava restorations from your Dental Wings and 3Shape design files.

Designing a bridge in 3Shape. Click to enlarge.

Like most business in these tough economic times large capital expenditures have become more difficult. Currently, most lab owners looking at CAD/CAM for their laboratories are looking at two options:

1. Complete solution: scan, design and fabricate in-house
2. Design center: Scan and design in-house, and outsource fabrication

Since the fabrication systems (e.g. mills and wax printers) are typically the bigger expense, starting out as design center would be a good stepping stone for some labs. However, that’s still a very large step for most labs because most scan/design systems range between $30,000 – 40,000.

We’ve been looking for a way to bridge this gap for our customers, and we think we have a pretty interesting proposition. There is a lot of value for a laboratory to have control of their design. And since most of the cost of the design center packages available today are from the scanner, we have put together an innovative package for labs who want to control their design at a fraction of the cost. We’re creating a third option in the industry called a “Scannerless Design Center” (SDC), and here’s how it works:

We will supply you with:

• 3Shape design software
• Computer, monitor, mouse and keyboard
• 3Shape Training (1.5 days)

So, let’s take a look at this workflow if you were to become a Scannerless Design Center:

1. You receive a case from your doctor and create conventional models and dies.
2. You ship the models and dies along with a work order to CAP requesting the case to be scanned.
3. CAP scans the models and sends the scan data to the you via the Internet
4. You design your restoration in 3Shape
5. Once the design is complete, you submit it to CAP for manufacturing.
6. CAP manufactures the parts exactly you specified in your design.
7. The manufactured parts are fit to the dies and returned with the models for your to add your final artistry

The laboratory's cost of entry into CAD/CAM. Click to enlarge.

We are initiating a pilot of this program now. The cost of this package for those participating in the pilot will be a fraction of the cost of a full design and scan system. The benefit of this workflow that the lab will have full control of all design elements of your cases. We’re also going to offer better pricing on products that go through this workflow since the SDC is doing the design work.

This is the least costly stepping stone we could identify to help labs become involved in digital design. This workflow will enable you to save time and money and maintain full control of design.

If you are interested in this pilot or if you have any questions, please click here. And of course you can always call us at 877-977-7889.

If you’re planning to go to Lab Day East in New York next month, please be sure to stop by our booth.  It will be great to have a chance to meet you in person and discuss digital dentistry!

Date: April 10, 2010

Location: Grand Hyatt, New York, NY
Lab Day Exhibition Hall – Booth R-4

Drop off a business card for a chance to win a netbook.

There are about twelve thousand dental labs in the US. The average dental laboratory employs about 3 people. How can a small lab owner maximize profitability, shorten his work week and streamline manufacturing processes?

When analyzing the dollar value of manufacturing processes in a crown and bridge dental lab, a quick study will conclude that high quality ceramic application will yield the greatest hourly revenue. Keeping this in mind, if a lab owner were to develop a workflow to included outsourcing 8-10 models, dies and copings per day to a high quality outsource facility. When the daily outsourced parts are received, the lab owner can concentrate solely on ceramic application (and the obvious, relationship building). This work flow will maximize ones earning potential.

Let’s check out the math:

This business model provides a net profit of $1580 per day. If you are a small lab owner earning less than this, then you should be looking for opportunities to outsource lower value steps in the fabrication process. You simply can’t generate this much revenue or profit by manufacturing models, dies and coping.