We have been developing a process for producing our CAP FZ crowns in the form of a screw-retained implant supported crowns. This restoration has a titanium base that interfaces with the implant and also has a shoulder that provides the necessary strength for the screw head. This titanium base is fused to the CAP FZ crown which has a screw access hole. This crown has all the same translucency, detailed anatomy, and intrinsic color from our MultiShading process as our conventional CAP FZ restorations. In addition, at 1100 MPa flexural strength we are offering a 5 year guarantee against breakage. Being able to eliminate a custom or stock abutments from the process eliminates a significant amount of cost. See our pricing page for details.
We have published a new video showing step by step instructions on how to finish CAP FZ full contour zirconia. Using this technique, you can enhance the intrinsic multishading of the CAP FZ to maximize the aesthetics of this full zirconia restoration. You can view the video on our CAP FZ product page under the “Stain and Glaze” tab, on our YouTube channel, or right here on our blog. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Tais Clausen, 3Shape CTO and co-founder, scanning in vivo with the new 3Shape Trios at IDS
I had an opportunity to get a close look at the Trios at IDS today. It is a very impressive device with a very rich user interface, especially considering this is the first version of the software for this system. The system is extremely easy to use. I was able to pick up the device and scan a quad (model) in 24 seconds my first time. Here’s a quick bullet summary of the system:
This is not a point and click system. You simply wave the device over the teeth and move freely to capture data.
You can look in the mouth or on the screen. If you are looking in the mouth, an audio prompt will let you know if you have gone astray in your scanning.
The data capture is very quick, and high resolution data is available within seconds of completing the scan
In order to mitigate issues with the operative field changing during the scan (e.g. blood, saliva, tissue covering the margin), there is a feature that locks in the inital scan of the prep so that if you go back over the prep later as fluid or tissue covers the margin, the initial scan is locked in to preserve the margin.
Scanning protocol is similar to other systems: Scan the operative arch, opposing, and then the bite. The bite is captured by performing a buccal scan of the patient’s closed bite.
The high-resolution data is instantly available to be sent to the lab. There is no centralized processing of the data.
The data is available in the industry standard open format: STL.
There is even a version of the scanner that is integrated into a chair.
3Shape Trios integrated into a dental chair
Trios integrated into chair
And now for the best part… here is the demonstration video from the show floor. Enjoy!
In order for us to evaluate the level of aesthetics that are possible with CAP FZ full zirconia crowns, we recently made a full arch study case. This case is made of all CAP FZ crowns with no porcelain. This sample received rave reviews at Lab Day Chicago where we showcased CAP FZ at our booth. Here are some high resolution photos so you can see the case for yourself. (Click the images to enlarge them.)
CAP FZ - Full contour zirconia occlusal view. Click to enlarge.
CAP FZ - Full contour zirconia anterior view. Click to enlarge.
We are very proud to be featured in LMT magazine this month in a full page artice! The article focuses on our use of video for customer training and communication. We love making these videos, and it’s very flattering to be recognized by LMT for this work. There is even an image from our latest Sledgehammer versus CAP FZ video.
The article is in the printed edition, but you can also see it online here.
We have recently launched CAP FZ, a highly esthetic full contour zirconia crown. One of the key attributes that makes this material look so great is its superior translucency. I hear a lot of discussion about having to trade off translucency for strength with zirconia. CAP FZ has flexural strength of 1100 megapascals, and relative to other materials on the market, this is plenty of strength. Now, I’m a very data-driven person, so I like numbers a lot, but I found it hard to understand what 1100 megapascals really means in the real world.
I had recently seen an interesting test involving a hammer and a couple of crowns, so I was inspired to run a similar test on CAP FZ just to get a feel for its strength. I shot a quick video with CAP team members who hit PFM and CAP FZ crowns with a hammer on a 2×4 board. As you probably guessed, the PFM broke apart. The CAP FZ crown, however, just drove straight into the board and came out completely unscathed. After showing the video to a few people, someone said they thought we hit the PFM harder than CAP FZ, giving it an unfair advantage. I took this comment as a challenge, and decided that I need to modify the test as follows: drop heavy object onto each crown from the same height in order to deliver a consistent force each time. So, this weekend, I grabbed my 17 lb sledgehammer and went into the office, marked the wall at 2.5 feet, and went to town on some crowns!
We have made thousands of restorations with 3Shape for CAP customers, and we love the system. Over the course of the last year, our customers have been asking us how they can scan and design their own cases, and now we can help you make the transition into the digital lab. We have recently become an Authorized 3Shape Distributor, and we’re already helping our lab customers make the transition. The exciting thing about 3Shape is not only the system that it is today, but also how quickly it is evolving. In their latest release, Dental System 2010, 3Shape has added:
Virtual articulation – see your case in virtual articulator and the software can automatically adapt your designs based on animated virtual excursions.
SmileDesigner – Save significant time on multi-unit cases by designing all units simultaneously. Major time saver.
Mirroring – This feature copies existing anatomy from the model or a designed unit to the other side of the arch. Another major time saver.
These are just a few of the several dozen new features in the latest release. We will be posting new videos showing off some of the new features of the 3Shape system. If you are interested in the 3Shape system or just have some questions about it, feel free to give us a call at 877-977-7889.
CAP FZ with MultiShade. This is the final stained product, but you can see photos of the case before staining at cap-us.com/fz
Full contour crowns have been appearing from various providers positioned as a replacement for full gold crowns. The crowns we have seen on the market don’t meet the esthetic bar that our laboratory customers demand, so we went on a search for the best zirconia and the best shading process. After a year of researching and testing various materials and shading processes, we are proud to introduce a beautiful new product: CAP FZ. This is a highly esthetic, MultiShaded full contour zirconia crown offered at a VERY competitive price.
If you send us models, we will design the crown using our gorgeous anatomical library in 3Shape. Alternatively, if you have 3Shape or DentalWings, we can accept your design files. Then we mill the crown and shade it using our MultiShade process to apply separate shades to the cervical, body, and incisal areas. You will receive the case ready to stain and glaze – no need for porcelain application. This is the most esthetic full contour zirconia we have seen throughout all of the products and processes we have evaluated over the course of the last year. The above image shows the final stained and glazed product, but you can visit cap-us.com/fz to see the unstained, unglazed product as it will be delivered to you.
We have priced these units very aggressively so you can offer a competitive and profitable restorations to your dentists. See our pricing page for details. BENEFITS:
Great esthetics
1100 MPa flexural strength
Great alternative to Full Gold Crowns, PFG’s and pressed ceramics.
The strongest all ceramic crown available
Huge cost saving for labs and dentists.
Available in 16 Vita shades
Uses conventional cements.
More than twice the strength of e.max or any other pressed ceramics.
CAP FZ can help your business:
Increase your product line with no additional investment.
Very profitable business model
Reduces labor 80 – 90%
Order CAP FZ and receive a restoration ready to stain, glaze and ship
We are pleased to announce a new addition to our product offering – titanium substructures for porcelain fused to titanium restorations. This product is starting to get some traction due to three factors coming together today:
The cost of gold is now approaching $1400 per ounce – up 550% from ten years ago. Titanium is one of the most common elements on Earth and therefore, you can now offer your dentists an alternative at a low, stable price.
Insurance companies are reimbursing porcelain fused to titanium restorations at levels between noble and high noble PFG restorations. (ADA code: D2794)
Today’s CAD/CAM technology now enables us to mill titanium rather than casting it. Porcelain can bond to milled titanium much more reliably than cast titanium.
10-year history of the price of gold. Source: Kitco.com
We have been very busy fine tuning our processes to ensure these copings and frameworks fit precisely every time. We have milled over 300 units so far in collaboration with a dental laboratory. We have learned a lot along the way about how to get a precise fit and the proper protocol laboratories need to follow to get an accurate and aesthetic result.
In the 1990′s, the industry had attempted to utilize titanium substructures, but had a few challenges. First, titanium was cast which increased the likelihood of overheating leading to bond issues. Now that we are able to mill the material with very high accuracy, we have much higher process control. Second, the ceramic materials available for PFT in the 1990’s we would see systems that were not as well developed nor aesthetic. Now there are many companies investing in the development of porcelain systems to bond to titanium and with this competition there are several that will meet the aesthetic challenges of today’s ceramists.
In addition to the economic benefits mentioned above, your dentists will also see the following benefits:
Titanium is radiolucent, so your dentists will be able to see the tooth through the PFT restoration.
Titanium is the most bio-compatible material available: Titanium does not release ions and does not trigger allergic reactions in the body. It has proven to be very effective in human medicine and dentistry.
Titanium has low thermal conductivity: The patient can enjoy hot or cold food without experiencing dental pain. Titanium has a thermal conductivity of 15 times lower than gold, causing the patient to feel lower sensitivity to hot or cold.
CAP offers a lifetime guarantee against breakage of titanium frameworks.
We will be running an educational seminar on Nov 19 focused on showing lab owners and managers how they can leverage CAD/CAM in their businesses. These system are helping the lab industry improve product quality, consistency, turnaround time, and access to new materials. However, it can be very overwhelming to investigate the options that are available today and to sort through how a transition into CAD/CAM is going to benefit your business. We aim to provide some clarity to this by discussing the following:
The pros and cons of open vs. closed systems
A smart approach to starting to work with CAD/CAM without taking major risks
Live 3Shape demonstration
Ideal CAD/CAM workflows for different size businesses
This informative meeting will take place on Friday November 19th at 2:00 PM. The location will be the
Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA for a nominal fee of $25. Two CE credits will be provided.
The meeting will be following by a cocktail reception where you can mingle and network with your peers.
Please register early as attendance is limited. Preregistration is required. Click the button below to register now.
