Is there room in the Australian market for a new clear aligner system? Southern Cross Dental has three good reasons why it does.

By Danny Chan

Few dental labs, if any, can boast 35 years of experience servicing Australia’s orthodontic community or claim 10 years of providing treatment planning support and organising educational programs for clear aligner dentist providers. Southern Cross Dental (SCD) celebrated both milestones last year.

Just as the confetti begins to settle, the dental lab is already heralding their support of a new clear aligner system: TrioClear. This is exciting news coming from a lab that has reviewed and provided treatment-planning support for over 15,000 clear aligner treatment plans.     

TrioClear is a brand new clear aligner system, developed by SCD’s parent company, Modern Dental Group (MDG). The Group’s Hong Kong-based team is responsible for all the system’s development, case design and manufacture. 

“Although the product is new, it builds and improves on a number of concepts already in the market,” says Dr Albert Sharp, General Manager Clinical at Southern Cross Dental.

“The market for clear aligners is growing rapidly, and we see aligner treatment becoming a standard for most general dentists. We see a gap in the market for a truly great innovative aligner system, available at an affordable price made possible by the Modern Dental relationship.”

TrioClear offers a three-step clear aligner solution that uses clinical simulation software to accurately predict alignment and movement in advance. According to the company, TrioClear’s three-step solution allows more movement per step than most other systems. Allowing a quicker, high quality result with fewer attachments and stains.

The trays progress from soft to medium to hard, with aligner thickness (0.5mm-0.6mm-0.7mm) increasing in correspondence to days spent per set (4-7-10 days).

“The unique 3-step approach is the ultimate in patient comfort and predictability without compromising the results,” Dr Sharp enthuses.

“There is a huge comfort advantage for patients to start off with a softer layer before progressing to medium then hard. It really helps those ligaments stretch and initiate the bone remodelling in the most gradual way possible. Also, fewer attachments helps.”

Thanks to TrioDim Force, the aligners stay in place with few attachments. TrioClear uses carefully designed and placed TrioDim divot spots to create highly targeted rotation forces.

Despite offering similar benefits to other clear aligner systems on the market, Dr Sharp says SCD can provide support services to TrioClear at more competitive prices.

“In general, it is more competitively priced than other premium systems for a like case. To have our own line of aligners allows us more flexibility with pricing and promotions to our customers.”

SCD has had a long-standing relationship with Invisalign, providing both treatment planning and training support for the popular aligner brand. Dr Sharp was one of the first general dentists in Australia to be accredited for treating patients with the Invisalign System and for many years was the primary presenter for the Invisalign Training Course for GP dentists.

But the experienced clinician maintains that there is no conflict of interest.

“SCD is still a distributor, and a big fan of Invisalign, and we will continue to support that product. Trio Clear is a great alternative option for those dentists who wish to use that instead.”

Dentists and orthodontists can also look forward to a fast and efficient workflow. They may submit intraoral scans or traditional impressions to TrioClear, along with a prescription form they will need to fill. TrioClear would review the files, prepare a treatment plan and send it back for approval. The trays are 3D printed in medical grade FDA approved materials.

An optional advanced feature for root simulation – available to all practitioners with access to low dose CBCT technology – is offered for cases where predicting clinical crown movement is not enough. Ideal for cases that have poor root configuration or thin buccal bone, the feature allows predicting root movement and limitations with accuracy.

“The fantastic option to integrate a cone beam study of bone and root anatomy can help the dentist plan more accurately and safely,” Dr Sharp adds.

As Southern Cross Dental charts a new course in the clear aligner space, they have also opened up an avenue of choice for Australian dentists. If practitioners are looking for a reliable solution backed by the right expertise and experience, that’s what Dr Sharp says he and his team have put on the table.

“SCD has over 10 years experience in teaching and supporting dentists in the clear aligner space. We will continue to support their Trio Clear cases and provide options catering to their level of confidence,” he says.
​
“Some will prefer to do all the planning themselves. Other dentists will prefer some extra treatment planning assistance, and we have the expertise to guide them through this.”
 

As part of Ivoclar Vivadent’s International Expert Symposium, Prof. Dr Petra Gierthmühlen gave an online presentation titled “Digital Chairside: Myths and Reality”.
 
By Danny Chan
 
The webinar provides insight into the emerging technologies for chairside dentistry – mainly that which highlights the advantages of modern CAD/CAM materials and comprehensive digital workflows.
 
Dr Gierthmühlen is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Prosthodontics at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany. Her lecture takes a look at the current state of chairside milling that enables faster fabrication times with protocols that are adjusted to the respective CAD/CAM material.
 
Based on the digital treatment concept of the Heinrich Heine University, Dr Gierthmühlen provided scientific evidence for the clinical success of CAD/CAM materials and the corresponding preparation designs.
 
The webinar began with a single tooth restoration case, and moved to each new case with increasing level of complexities.
 
The first case, focusing on the chairside CAD/CAM enabled placement of inlays and onlays, shows the digital design of the occlusal anatomy and digital fabrication process.
 
Dr Gierthmühlen then provided comparison study between CAD/CAM fabricated onlays and press fabricated onlays – showing high survival rates and hardly any discernible differences in split-mouth study survival rate (100% press fabricated vs CAD/CAM fabricated 97.5%) after long-term performance (7 years).
 
For her next case, a Lithiumdisilicate Anterior Crown Restoration, the Professor presented on how chairside dentistry was employed to restore two fractured central incisors using a straightforward digital workflow.
 
Dr Gierthmühlen showed that reasonable aesthetic outcomes and high survival rates (based on long-term studies) were obtained for the endodontically-treated incisors.
 
The following case for Lithiumdisilicate Posterior Screw-retained Implant Restoration related to a patient who had presented with molars that needed to be extracted due to endodontical complications.
 
Using guided surgery along with chairside CAD/CAM dentistry, Dr Gierthmühlen showed how proper angulation of the implant and ideal screw channel axis were achieved in the digital workflow, with help from a newly acquired CEREC Omnicam.
 
Long-term clinical studies, based on a 7-year recall, showed the restorations remain in very good shape with no fractures at all.
 
The lecture also moved on to more complex cases – including that of a Lithiumdisilicate CAD/CAM Anterior implant crown.
 
Case: An implant that was placed to replace central incisor developed peri-implant mukositis and needed therapy to control the peri-implant infection. Once accomplished, the patient needed a new anterior crown as there was also misfit of margin within the old implant crown.
 
After removing the implant crown and scanning the peri-implant tissue to get an outline for the restoration, scan posts were inserted to determine location of implants. The scan posts were then transferred into software for production of zirconia abutment. At the try-in of the abutment, zirconia abutment was scanned to produce the chairside implant crown for this zirconia abutment.
 
The 5axis-milling machine PMOne produced a very precise crown margin.
The fit and form was excellent in blue and try-in stage followed by surface characterization, to create a beautiful final restoration.  
 
Finally, the lecture moved on to the highest level of complexity: Full Arch cases.
 
Case: Patient treated more than 5 years ago presented with caries lesions; dramatically changed occlusal anatomy; dentin exposure on teeth; and suffering from hypersensitivity due to erosion.
 
To obtain orientation, Facescan was used to capture digital orientation of patient’s upper/ lower jaw, then on position of teeth to get full orientation of new vertical dimension of occlusion to design reference for tooth shade.
 
Digital mock-up and try-in was also used to develop a digitally milled prototype. This high-predictability, 100% digitally simulated workflow lets the patient decide whether he wants to proceed with treatment, based on the digital results.
 
The digital lab-side CAD/CAM workflow – because chairside CAD/CAM was not available at the time – was able to restore occlusal anatomy and function for patient in both upper and lower jaw and increase his vertical dimension of occlusion.
 
The 5-year clinical result shows high predictability for the complex full arch case: there were no fractures, gingival recession, or debonding in lower jaw. The patient also retains a similar smile line.
 
This is an excerpt of a webinar presented at the International Expert Symposium (IES). The IES is a digital platform Ivoclar Vivadent launched to host a series of free live-steamed and on-demand webinars.
 
For more information, visit: www.ivoclarvivadentacademy.com
 
 
 
 
 

What would a safe practice look like in the post-pandemic future? Vatech Australasia gives a tour of its “human-oriented innovations” to help dentists transition into the New Normal practice.
 
By Danny Chan
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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dental practice has been navigating various measures put in place to safeguard the health and wellbeing of their patients and staff.
 
In so doing, they are coming to terms with what has been called the New Normal, which involves a rethink of how a practice is being managed daily – with particular emphasis on hygiene and infection control.
 
During this critical transitionary period, Vatech Australasia has provided a list of essential products and services – from its comprehensive range of “human-oriented innovations” – to assist the Australasian dental practice on the road to recovery.
 
Extra-oral x-rays the way to go – Vatech’s Premium Panoramic Solutions
 
To minimize the risk of transmission, several global organisations, including the American Dental Association, have recommended the taking of extra-oral radiographs where possible – because as the Association puts it, “intraoral techniques may induce coughing”. The Royal College of Surgeons of England suggested that “oblique lateral (extraoral) radiographs may be employed where this facility is available.”
 
Vatech’s OPG units are built to assist with easy and efficient radiographs.
 
In times like these, their fast-scan times, versatile capture modes (partial pano, bitewing, bitewing left, bitewing right, etc.) and easy patient positioning features do more than simply promote efficiency. They allow your staff to get accurate diagnostic results while minimising contact with patients, hence reducing their exposure to infection risks.
 
Vatech’s proprietary Insight Pan feature, with its 41 multi-layer PANO technology, provides depth-added information. It is the classic example of how technology can help to reduce the number of intraoral x-rays taken without compromising your diagnostic ability.
 
Less referrals improve patient safety – Green CT
 
The Green CT is Vatech’s kid- and eco-friendly 3D CBCT. Its Green Technology –embodied by its low-dose, fast-scan and superior image quality – is something that every dentist can appreciate.
 
As a child-friendly imaging equipment, the Green CT allows rapid scans and flexible patient positioning without compromising image quality or patient comfort. Again, this translates into an overall fast and efficient radiographic workflow that minimises patient contact.
 
As importantly, having a Green CT unit installed in-house has the added advantage of eliminating patient referrals to radiography centres. Apart from the obvious convenience factor, having an in-house 3D imaging facility dramatically reduces your patient’s exposure to infection because they don’t have to travel to multiple places for their dental treatment.
 
Breath of fresh air – EzPure UV
 
On 7 July, the World Health Organisation acknowledged emerging evidence of airborne Covid-19 transmission, following an open letter signed by 239 scientists in 32 countries, urging the agency to take the matter more seriously.
 
The issue of in-office air-quality contamination is now new, but the COVID-19 airborne threat would likely be more acutely felt by dental patients in the coming months and years. 
 
Designed with the dental environment in mind, the Vatech EzPure UV is an air-purifying solution that helps to protect against the invisible enemy.
 
Equipped with 4 UVC lamps, the germ-fighting innovation boasts a high and efficient treatment capacity at 120m^3/hour. It uses Ultraviolet Radiation at controlled wavelengths to perform intensive microbicidal and virucide activity on numerous microorganisms.
 
More importantly, it is safe for use. The shorter wavelengths of the UVC means the rays are particularly effective at killing airborne pathogens, yet are safer for people because they are absorbed by the proteins in the outer layer of dead skin cells before reaching the DNA in the living cells.
 
An article in the World Economic Forum looking at the occupations most exposed to COVID-19 risk, unsurprisingly, found dental hygienists to have “one of the riskiest non-hospital jobs during a pandemic”. Dentists are near the top of the list.
 
By using Vatech EzPure UV, you are protecting your most important resource – you and your staff.
 
Pro-active and advanced customer service – Remote check-up
 
In keeping with social distancing protocols, Vatech is providing advanced services including remote check-up service.
 
Even before their customers turn to them for help, the company has taken the pro-active approach by contacting them and assisting them regarding the safe use of their products. This is important during the lockdown period when certain equipment may be used less frequently or have missed their maintenance cycles.
 
Through the remote check-up system, Vatech has been checking the usage history of its products and offering tips on using their products in a smarter and safer way.
 
“It is important for manufacturers to develop ‘untact’ (online) service methods to maintain high quality service regardless of any sudden challengeable situation,” says Esther Lee, Managing Director at Vatech Australasia.
 
The ‘untact’ service, enabled by smart digital devices and advanced technologies, is a new concept of facilitating customer encounters without the need for face-to-face contact.
 
Accessible training – E-learning Centre
 
To promote contactless training, Vatech has established its E-learning Centre on Facebook exclusively for its users.
 
“Facebook is easily Australia’s most widely used social network, which more than 80 per cent of Australian adults visit. We wanted our users to visit our learning platform easily with less sign-up barriers, so established our E-Learning Centre on this popular site,” says Roy In, Sales & Marketing team manager at Vatech Australasia.
 
Through the easy-to-navigate online Centre, dentists can find software demonstration videos of actual clinical cases such as implant treatment, TMJ, wisdom tooth extraction, and so on. They can also find positioning guide videos to capture X-ray images more clearly and safely.
 
Taking the necessary precautions
 
During the launch of the Vatech Assurance Program last year, Esther was commenting on how the company was taking the preventive approach in product training.
 
“The idea is to build a training program that helps dentists predict what may go wrong and taking necessary precautionary steps to make sure that they don’t,” Esther explains. “Why wait until it’s too late if you can nip it in the bud?”
 
In the same way, Vatech is playing a constructive role to their partners and customers during the pandemic crisis.
 
They are highlighting the ways in which their innovative products and services can usher the Australasian practice into a COVID-Safe work environment, and by providing the kind of reliable support that is badly needed in a time of uncertainty.
 
Just like their maxim for maintaining an Vatech equipment, a COVID-Safe practice is ultimately one that takes the necessary precautions – now, before it’s too late.
 
For more information, contact Vatech Australasia (1300 789 454).

Combining ergonomics, reliability and aesthetics in a very competitively priced package, Swident’s Friend Easy has all the makings of a BFF

By Danny Chan

The dental unit has been an indispensable tool of a dentist’s trade since the dawn of the teeth-fixing profession. Gone are the days when dental patients received treatment in modified versions of barber chairs. Today’s dental units come in an assortment of colours, constructions and configurations. Amazingly, an ever-growing dental armamentarium has done nothing to diminish the central role played by the dentist’s chair, whether as the surgery’s centrepiece equipment or in the daily functions of the practice. To say that the dental unit is a dentist’s ‘best friend’ is hardly an exaggeration. 

Just like a friend, choosing a dental unit comes down to a personal choice. There is no one-size-fits-all chair, which explains why dentists still agonise over chair selection in a seemingly saturated dental unit market. Still, every now and then, you come across a dental chair that strives to serve a broader market – offering more ‘friendship benefits’ than what the price tag suggests.

Swident’s Friend Easy is the aptly named treatment unit that combines the key attributes of ergonomics, reliability and aesthetics in a very competitively priced package. In other words, it has all the makings of a BFF.

If a Europhile lurks inside of you, you’d be pleased to know that the Swident chair boasts Swiss Precision and Italian Design. Swident is a manufacturer and designer of innovative products that are durable and easy to maintain.

Dr Peter Wilkinson, Owner of Wilkinson Orthodontics, is someone that found all the attributes he wanted in a Swident chair. Last year, the Specialist Orthodontist celebrated 15 years of establishing his Gold Coast practice that offers traditional outside braces, Incognito lingual braces and Invisalign.

Operating out of two purpose-built practices – one located on Ashmore Rd in Benowa and the other on Discovery Drive in Helensvale – Wilkinson Orthodontics has grown from a team of four to its current strength of 22. 

Opened in October 2019, the Helensvale Practice is a double-storey, 450-sqm Specialist Clinic with five clinical chairs located on the lower level and two consultation rooms upstairs as well as an onsite dental laboratory. Having an onsite and dedicated orthodontic lab technician allows the practice to offer custom-made appliances and the ability to make immediate onsite adjustments as needed throughout treatment.
 
The Gold Coast practice purchased their first Swident Friend Easy chair from Ampac Dental in 2018 before moving to the Helensvale location. They installed another two Swident Friend Continental delivery system chairs the following year after the new building had opened.
 
Dr Wilkinson’s reasons for making both purchases boil down to the unit’s user-friendliness and straightforward functions:
 
“Due to our clinic being open, we needed a compact chair that was aesthetically pleasing since they are always on show. Functionally the chairs are simple to use and, according to our dental maintenance technician, parts can be easily sourced.”

Whether you choose the Traditional or Continental delivery system, the Swident unit comes equipped with a well-balanced arm that provides smooth manoeuvrability. The operator has access to a control panel with four distinct user programs that manages all of the unit’s functions.

The dentist table on the Swident Friend Easy is equipped with Luzzani triplex syringe; one high-speed fibre optic line, one low speed line and space to accommodate a scaler. An optional second fibre optic line can be configured. The unit also comes with: Faro LED dental light (optional wall or ceiling mounted lights are available); pneumatic foot control that allows progressive regulation of the micro motor as well as spray and chip blower.

Regarding patient comfort, Dr Wilkinson compliments the ergonomic design: “The patient headrest easily adjusts and supports the neck. It is easy to adjust the lay down position and program this into the touch pad.”

To fit into his open-planned clinic, Dr Wilkinson wanted a chair that has a small footprint and "wasn’t bulky”.

"The Swident chair ticks this box as well as being aesthetically pleasing," he attests.

The smaller price tag of the Friend Easy was also a decisive factor, says the Orthodontist:

“Initially price played a large factor in the process. In Orthodontics we don’t require a lot of the features available on most dental units. Ampac dental were able to customise our order and provide us with a dental delivery system that suits our requirements at a competitive price.”

The Gold Coast Orthodontist says the purchase decision was helped by Ampac’s “exceptional customer service and support” from the outset.

“Their product knowledge and punctuality in communicating from enquiry to installation has been excellent. They tailored a package to suit our needs with no aggressive sales pitch – they really put us first as customers.”
​
Dr Wilkinson’s satisfaction with the Swident chairs and Ampac’s service is instinctively conveyed by his consideration to replace the practice’s existing chairs with new Swident units in the future – when the former units have reached the end of their lifespan. Sounds like another dentist has made a new best friend.
 
 

Gallant Autonome is a fully integrated dental unit that practice owners with limited floor space have been dreaming about. 
 
By Danny Chan
 
The feature “plug-and-play” has never been used to describe the attributes of a dental unit – until now. That’s right. Imagine a dental unit that practically works out of the box, with no complex installation process necessary. The Gallant Autonome is a dental unit that does not require connections to air supply mains; vacuum mains; water supply mains; and sewerage system. The truly standalone unit includes a built-in compressor, suction system, aspirator and container for secretions. Housed within a soundproof cabinet, the oil-free compressor and suction system is exceptionally quiet.


Judging by the main features alone, there are two scenarios that immediately spring to mind where this chair would be a great fit:
 
Scenario One: If space comes at a premium cost to you, this high-tech Italian dental chair offers a unique space-saving solution that can also potentially save thousands in annual rental expenditure.
 
Scenario Two: If new space for a non-plumbed suite suddenly opens up in your clinic, you no longer need to engage a plumbing expert to extend the existing pipe-works into the room – which entails yet more savings. All this dental unit needs is an Australian standard 240-volt power plug.
 
Tecnodent is the Italian chair maker of Gallant Autonome. Founded in 1966, Tecnodent has a long tradition of chair designs for the dental/medical market that are renowned for their fine Italian craftsmanship. Tecnodent purportedly pioneered several innovations, including: Seamless upholsteries, knee-break seats (Linda Chair); as well as memory foam moulded upholsteries without seams.
 
In case you’re not entirely familiar with Tecnodent, perhaps you would be with the ensemble of European brand-name products that the unit comes integrated with:
 
Dürr Dental: Amalgam separator CAS 1; filter and place selection valve; Dürr Comfort assistant block with large and small suction hoses and extension capacity with any instrument; intraoral camera; modular suction tips; suction hoses (11mm/17mm)
 
Bien Air: Brushless micromotor
 
Satelec: Ultrasonic handpiece
 
Luzzani Dental: Suction unit with a bactericidal filter mounted in the hydroblock ; Minilight 6-way syringe with hot/cool water, air and spray.
 
Ekom: Oil-free compressor with a stainless-steel body, 5-litre corrosion-resistant tank and an automatic condensate drain
 
Tecno cer: Ceramic swivel spittoon bowl with flush and electric glass refill
 
Mectron: LED polymerization light
 
These branded wares are housed within a 10mm-thick, glass-reinforced polyester shell, alongside other modular parts like: 2-litre clean water system; 6-litre water tank; 5-litre capacity for secretions.
 
The sleek modern appearance of the chair is accentuated by the glossy surface of the ceramic cuspidor with anti-bacterial coating and luxurious Italian upholstery. Available in two versions, dentists can select between the “Sting” dental chair (available in suspended and floor-mounted models) or “ECO.next” dental chair (floor mounted version). Both versions offer a great selection of colours and upholstery to provide users what the company calls “chromatherapy”.
 
For all its whiz-bang tech and pleasing exterior, the biggest drawcard of the Gallant Autonome is undoubtedly the fully integrated solution it offers. That is certainly the feedback from Dr Kevin Morris, Specialist Periodontist at Northern Periodontics & Implants.  Dr Morris worked as general dentist for 15 years before becoming a Specialist and currently co-owns NPI, a six-location group practice with two other periodontists.
 
He purchased the Gallant Autonome from local reseller INZ Dental for his second permanent clinic location in South Morang, an old 200-sqm residential house that was converted into a single-chair practice. To avoid damaging the rental property with a view for future expansion, Dr Morris found the Gallant Autonome tailored for his needs.
 
“I believe INZ Dental is at present the only supplier of fully integrated dental chairs in Australia that features built-in suction and compressor.”
 
“With this chair, under-floor plumbing is not necessary which represents some savings in terms of build cost.”
 
Pleased with his purchase, Dr Morris is impressed by the “great chair ergonomics and operator comfort”, while surprised by the small footprint, being “only slightly larger than a “traditional chair””.
 
The periodontist is just as complimentary about his buyer’s experience:
 
“(INZ Dental) is a very attentive and responsive company. Their after-sales support is excellent and they offer honest advice. The price of the chair is VERY (emphasis Dr Morris’) competitive. The installation was fast with minimal delays. The chair looks great and was well installed.
 
“I like to support emerging businesses to ensure that there is competition in Australia. Both Borys and Nadiya (owners of INZ Dental) are fantastic to work with.”
 
As well as great support, he reiterates the main feature that makes the Gallant Autonome the ideal chair:
 
“I believe the chair can fit a normal size dental clinic very easily. The fully integrated system, along with all the equipment, is compatible with Australian connections.”
 

Passionate about identifying and treating the root causes of dental problems that often extend beyond the oral cavity, Dr Joseph Da Cruz has the ideal cone-beam unit for the job.
 
By Danny Chan
 
From addressing headaches and migraines to TMJ pain to obstructive sleep apnoea, the dentist developed his own methodology and Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) to treat a multitude of health problems – some of which are cases that he says have commonly been misdiagnosed or areas where dentists have trouble understanding the full extent of.  
 
He is Founder and Principal Dentist of Wholistic Dentistry, a Queanbeyan practice which philosophy is predicated on the view that “the current perception of the dental field, viewed both by medical physicians and the broader community, is narrow and does not reflect the true capacity that dentistry can offer patients.”
 
Dr Da Cruz believes that dentists have much to offer in the diagnosis and treatment of fundamental structural issues in the human body that affect the nervous system and the rest of the body. He is currently involved in non-invasive dental treatment, focusing on interrelated conditions of malocclusion, TMD and sleep disordered breathing using functional appliance therapy. His work is facilitated through use of the Splint, Orthopaedic, Myofunctional dental Appliance (SOMA).
 
Based on occusion signalling as well as growth and development patterns, the appliance was created to correct issues pertaining to translation of the lower jaw. Central to the clinician’s treatment philosophy is the need to calm the nervous system and relax muscles. SOMA as well as the integrated, single-phase treatment approach – developed in collaboration with Dr John Diamond – is unique to Dr Da Cruz’s work.
 
As someone who frequently operates outside the purview of general dentistry, the holistic dentist adopts cutting edge technology to help stay ahead of the curve. The tech savvy dentist owns a fully equipped in-house lab powered by Sirona Cerec McX5, in addition to the KaVo Key Laser 3, Seiler Revelation Dental Microscope, MyRay cone-beam flatbed unit and ICAT cone-bean x-ray that he has been using for over 13 years.
 
The latest addition to his diagnostic toolbox is the Green 21, Vatech’s top-end cone-beam innovation that he purchased in 2018. Dr Da Cruz says the unit’s top-notch image clarity and large FOV makes it one of few CBCTs out there that can rise to his exacting diagnostic demands.
 
“You need a large FOV that allows you to see more of the neck, which is important in my field. The issue is not necessary the airway or sleep apnoea but it could be a neck issue, TMJ or a big tongue so it helps to see all of it in crisp detail.”  
 
The Green 21 offers a wide range of selectable FOV that helps to limit patient radiation exposure, and allows users to capture only the region of interest. Users can select between 21x19, 17x15, 17x11, 12x9, and 8x8 fields of view. The large 21x19 FOV is designed for complete diagnostic imaging, covering the airway as well as ENT regions.
 
For his type of work, Dr Da Cruz says the image quality of a cone-beam machine is non-negotiable. One of the reasons he picked the Vatech x-ray unit has to do with the Korean company’s superior optical sensors, which is constructed from in-house components – all the way from CMOS design to viewer software. The Green 21 utilizes a proprietary 49.5 um high-resolution x-ray sensor, which makes it one of the finest pixel and highest resolution CBCTs available on the market today.
 
Dr Da Cruz relates how in just one year of using the Green 21, the machine already helped with the early detection of a patient’s tumour. “From the clear image, I could detect that she had bone loss which led to further investigation and discovering the tumour.”
 
“It’s so gratifying to know that you’ve made a difference to someone’s life, especially in this case because she went on to have twins,” he beams, “plus this was a peculiar jaw problem with potential for misdiagnosis.”  
 
Besides top-notch sensors, the dentist attributes Green 21’s high resolution images to the ease with which patients are positioned with minimal movement during capture – thanks to a sturdy and patient-friendly chin-holder – and 64-bit image processing capability. The latter feature greatly improves anti-aliasing and scaling with far more accurate rendition, as compared to 32-bit images. Having invested in six new computers that can support this advanced imaging feature, Dr Da Cruz says the financial outlay was well worth the returns: “It literally pays for itself.”
 
One of the key features of the multi-modality CBCT is its ability to automatically generate up to six images – Panorama, PA Ceph, Lateral Ceph, SMV Ceph, and Waters' View Ceph – in one scan. With a few simple clicks, the system can capture images for craniofacial, maxillofacial, and orthodontic treatment planning.
 
“Not only does the (Green 21) help you to formulate treatment plans more accurately, it practically sets up the conversation with your patient.”
 
“When patients cannot visualise the treatment plan, you need to do it for them. The quality of the images therefore becomes an integral facet of this conversation.”
 
It also helps to have an in-house unit when attending to overseas or interstate patients that simply do not have the time to shuttle between the practice and an imaging centre. The convenience factor is a major plus for Wholistic Dentistry’s visiting implant surgeon, who can access the x-rays on the spot and make decisions on the fly.
 
The Green 21’s volumetric analysis and measurement tools are indispensible for documentation and making accurate comparisons over time, whether for showing patients or teaching other dentists. A powerful tool for airway volume analysis, the Green 21 features the 2-click airway region selection; automatic airway volume measurement; as well as simultaneous analysis for both TMJ. 
 
“The type of research and clinical work that I do is rather new. Proper case documentation is very important for establishing the feasibility and success rates of my treatments, some of which are presented as case studies in my lectures.”
 
“The Green 21 is essential for advancing evidence-based dentistry in my practice as a remarkable teaching and communication tool.”
 
Dr Da Cruz’s success dealing with complex cases – some of which were referred to him after having received little or no help elsewhere – has attracted interest from the orthodontic and broader dental communities in Australia, India, China and the US, where he recently held a two-day speaking seminar with progressive orthodontist Dr Barry Raphael in New Jersey.
 
“Beyond surgical treatments, dentists can provide treatment for conditions previously thought unconnected to dentistry – as my work in the last 43 years would testify. I’ve been treating my practice like a research lab over the years accumulating a string of success stories showing positive results from repeatable treatment modalities.”
 
Happy with his purchase decision and Vatech’s customer support, he adds:
 
“Whether to investigate the airway, neck, jaw or teeth, I want the best quality x-ray machine that provides long-term comparative metrics for my work now and into the future.”
 
“The Green 21 has been – and will be – that machine for me.”
 
 
 

SDI embraces broad-ranging reforms while staying committed to local manufacturing
 
By Danny Chan
 
There comes a time in the life of every company the need to reinvigorate and refocus its business for the future. This applies to even the most successful companies from Netflix to Amazon to Apple, all of which have famously undergone major transformations to keep up with technology, customer trends and market changes.
 
In the dental orbit, change is afoot for one of our industry’s most celebrated companies: Australia’s very own SDI is in the midst of a big transition. If you have been paying attention, you would already have noticed significant changes made to its product images, brochure design and packaging – right down to logo design. They stem from a total rebranding exercise that extends from SDI’s corporate look and feel through to all of the company’s major product lines and marketing collateral.
 
More than a cosmetic makeover, Adrian Atyimas, SDI’s Sales Manager for Australia and New Zealand, says the company is implementing ongoing and broad changes across the business spectrum: 
“SDI is committed to continuous improvement and optimising outcomes and has identified several opportunities across the business to achieve these goals; from changing reporting structures and streamlining production processes to creating new roles and functional teams, recruiting new talent and harnessing and upskilling the talent that lies within.”

“As a global business we are implementing technology to standardise information sharing and processes to enable us to simplify communication and logistics within and external to our business. We are bolstering the foundations of our business in order that we achieve our short, medium- and long-term vision: Pioneering and driving the science of dentistry.”

It is not an exaggeration to claim SDI as one of the most beloved homegrown companies in the region; its evergreen product lines always find a ready and appreciative audience in Australian dentists. To the Aussie dental community, SDI will always be the company that gave us such familiar brands like Pola and Riva. Even as these products continue to thrive at home, we forget that they are also well received overseas. Until, of course, we are reminded that 90% of SDI’s indigenous production is exported and sold into 110 countries.

The Pola professional teeth whitening range, for example, continues to lead both here in Australia and across several global markets, most notably the UK. Adrian adds that Pola’s Australian marketing gained considerable traction from cross-platform exposure this year:

“Our partnership with the Miss Universe Australia pageant has enabled us to market the Pola brand through social media channels to combat ineffective, poor quality and misleading OTC products, whilst educating the importance of visiting the dentist for a professional whitening result,” Adrian says.

Meanwhile, the Riva range of GIC’s continues to grow with Riva Light Cure, which he adds, is “a real standout in innovation providing clinical, economic and processing benefits underpinned by several unique features.”

Referring to their composite range as “the sleeping giant of (SDI’s product) categories”, Adrian highlights two aesthetic lines: Aura, the simplified high-end range; and Luna, the company’s universal vita shaded range.

“Both these lines have a growing clinical following both across Australia and New Zealand and across other key global markets.”

Of course, the biggest question regarding SDI’s ongoing reforms is whether they will impact Australian dentists and if customers can expect new offerings?

Adrian began his response by emphasising the company’s proud Australian roots – backed by their insistence to locate an R&D base in Melbourne.

“We have a world class, highly trained and educated team of scientists that are continuously working on our pipeline of new products.”

Beyond R&D, Adrian believes that being a local manufacturer actually delivers “tangible benefits” to Australian customers:

“We can provide products with the longest possible shelf life and minimise backorders. Without expensive import costs, we are able to pass on the savings directly to our customers to provide exceptional value across our range of manufactured products.”

The local advantage also applies in the arena of continuing education, where SDI harnesses its global network of clinical educators to host regional education and product training courses, featuring the likes of Professor Laurence Walsh, Dr Marcelo Alves, Dr Andrew Brostek, Professor Edward Lynch and most recently Dr Linda Greenwall.

“Our aim is to provide education and training supported by the latest clinical science whilst providing new techniques and clinical protocols to overcome clinical challenges and improve and optimise clinical outcomes.”

As for new product rollouts, he effuses: “We are currently launching our latest flowable composite Aura Easyflow to complement our Aura restorative composite range. The range offers easy shade matching, strong mechanical properties and high visibility on radiographs.”

“We are also launching Zipbond, our new Universal Adhesive, that offers protection against clinical variability by providing consistent bond strengths across all dentine and enamel bonding techniques.”

Not forgetting the company’s better-known product lines, other upcoming releases include categories like Glass Ionomer Cements (Riva), teeth whitening (Pola) and small equipment.

“However, these new innovations remain ‘top secret’ at the moment. Suffice to say, we will have some exciting new products to announce over the coming years.”

Circling back to SDI’s proud “Australian Made” stance in light of its ongoing transition, we ask whether it’s strategically viable to continue making products locally. Despite wide-ranging challenges facing Australian manufacturing, the answer remains emphatically positive:

“We absolutely pride ourselves in being Australian Made and to clarify, we manufacture our products on-site in Bayswater Victoria from the raw ingredients right through to product dosing and packaging,” Adrian attests.

“We remain viable for several reasons: We are a learning organisation that embraces continuous improvement; we continue to innovate our product offering; and we are able to produce high quality products that are able to and continue to be globally competitive. As a further insight we actually manufacture for overseas companies under their own brands.”

When I interviewed SDI’s CEO Samantha Cheetham in 2016 – two years after she assumed the mantle from her dad and SDI Founder, Jeffery Cheetham – she briefly mentioned that her team would be preparing SDI for “the next level of growth” but couldn’t reveal too much at the time.
 
Fast forward to present: With SDI’s transition in full swing, Adrian sheds light on the broad impetus:
“In such a global marketplace with disruptive technologies and changing business models, companies need to be always looking ahead to the next change in order to remain relevant to all stakeholders,” he explains.
“Any company that wants to remain relevant in the current global business environment must review its strategic direction on a regular basis.”

These future-oriented improvements, the ANZ Sales Manager insists, will by no means alienate SDI’s entrenched customer base:

“Whilst we have changed our Vision and Mission statements, we have not moved away from the founding principles that have guided our great company to where we are as a global manufacturer of high quality dental products.”
“If anything, we have simply better articulated our vision: Pioneering the science of dentistry and our mission; to innovate dentistry for better health.”
 

Impression Healthcare Limited introduces Seazona – an online portal for ordering custom-fitted oral devices. 
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By Danny Chan
 
Offering custom-fitted oral devices at your dental practice can add tremendous value to the service menu. At the same time, it can also become a headache if:

1. The ordering process is cumbersome;
2. Communication with the lab technicians isn’t smooth or
3. Product quality is erratic due to poor oversight or dubious quality control.

 
Those apprehensions may be down to the fact that most dental labs specialising in crown and bridge prosthetics only ‘dabble’ in the delivery of specialty oral devices. For their oral device orders, some labs operate more like courier services, dispatching cases to and collecting them from an overseas facility, with the more responsible ones adding a cursory checkpoint before the case returns to the dentist.
 
For practices that prefer teaming up with labs that solely focus on oral devices, then an outfit like Impression Healthcare Limited certainly fits the bill. IHL is a Victoria-based company that specialises in the delivery of some of the most popular custom-made oral device products on the market, including: Sports Mouthguards; Night Guards for Teeth Grinders; Teeth Whitening Trays; and Mandibular Advancement Splints and Devices.
 
And if their product specialisation isn’t enough to put your mind at ease, the fact that IHL is a fully Australian owned and run lab that only delivers locally made wares might. As an added measure of trust and stability, the ASX-listed company consistently sets the bar for price competitiveness and fast turnarounds.
 
IHL’s continuing efforts to build on top of its esteemed reputation, says George Leighton, Group Marketing Manager, Impression Healthcare Limited, keep it responsive to changing production and customer trends.
 
“Our systems and processes are under constant scrutiny, enhancement and improvement to ensure the highest quality product is produced for all our customers with both overall unit cost and production timeline in mind.”
 
“We understand that production timeline is an important factor for dentists and thus running a fully staffed Australian-based lab ensures both efficiency and security for dentists across Australia. We use Australian lab technicians and products are made here in our Melbourne Lab. This ensures that we are able to quality check throughout several stages of production along while ensuring we are being as efficient as possible.”
 
Insistence on quality materials and timely deliveries, George says, has been the company’s trademark difference. Adding a digital feather to her cap, IHL recently rolled out an online ordering portal to enhance the customer’s buying experience.
 
The new order management software portal system, named Seazona, allows dentists a convenient platform to log on and place orders 24/7. Once signed in, dentists can easily access and manage their customer account: See invoices, check prices, view orders’ progress within the lab (including a due date) and track all shipping data in real-time.
 
Once the impression has been taken or scanned, the dentist only has to order the product through the online portal and the rest is pretty much taken care of. It’s even easier for dentists utilising digital scans: They simply order the desired product and upload the scan – no shipping required. 
 
For all traditional impressions, the customer service team would organise for impression courier pick-up. With Seazona, the dentist can keep tabs on the progress of their order throughout all production stages. The finished product would then be sent back to the dentist and ready for fitting on patient.
 
The Seazona portal is available for ordering IHL’s entire range of popular oral devices. While athletic and sports mouthguards enjoy brisk sales in the lead-up to winter sports season, George says the company’s year-round best sellers are their Night Guards, Occulsal Splints and Mandibular Advancement Splints.
 
One of IHL’s most popular and successful products is the affordable Silensor-sl® anti-snoring device. Manufactured in Melbourne, the product boasts quality-grade material that precisely conforms to teeth and gums for a comfortable fit – the key criteria for a successful patient outcome. According to Impression Healthcare, this popular oral device has “helped over 4 million people stop snoring”.
 
Designed for bruxers to wear during sleep, The Knight Guard is a custom-fit night plate available in a variety of thickness and soft/hard materials so that dentists are better equipped to treat individual symptoms.
 
“Our products are not only comfortable and easy for the end customer to use. With Seazona, we complete the ‘peace of mind’ purchase for dentists by making it simple to place their orders while ensuring a highly customisable solution for their patients along with order and production tracking.”
 
In the rare circumstance that the product does not fit properly, George says dentists can find assurance through their helpline manned by local lab technicians.
“Besides having  your orders processed and delivered faster than if dealing with an overseas supplier, our customer service teams are integral and central throughout the entire process and always on standby to answer your requests in a timely fashion.”
 
If that still doesn’t work – which again, George stresses, is a remote possibility – the company is more than happy to receive another impression from the customer and remake their product at no extra charge.
 
For more information on Impression Healthcare Limited, please call 03 9090 7993 or email to admin@impression.healthcare.
 
 

By keeping it real with customers, ICONA believes their “thoroughbred” dental equipment will soon catch on

By Danny Chan

When you buy new dental equipment, are you looking for a piece of hardware that has specific features, good value-for-money, a certain look factor or reputable brand? While these provide a great place to start your research, other longer-term factors include interoperability, future upgradeable options, after-sales support, build quality and spare parts availability.

Interestingly, your product research is not dissimilar to due diligence undertaken by an equipment dealer scouting for new brands and products to represent in their local market. In fact, some like ICONA Pty Ltd take pride in having a meticulous curating process – bringing to market products with qualities that they believe can enhance the Australian practice.

Unlike the “supermarket” class of equipment dealers, ICONA carries a narrower band of product lines, therefore do not have the luxury to ‘test’ market sentiments or chop and change products that don’t pan out.

Having less wiggle room, however, means that ICONA is very choosy about which products they represent from the outset. Using horse racing analogy, ICONA’s Managing Director Richard Tankersley, says the company is focused on grooming “one to three thoroughbreds that we know – and can support – well.”

Their ‘less is more’ product-centric focus extends across giving suppliers the due diligence that they expect from ICONA; to being focussed on the IP of that product; to their sales team becoming “absolute specialists of the product” – not least manifested through their support of product users.

ICONA’s carefully sourced thoroughbreds include a familiar name – Midmark (USA) – as well as big European brands like Fedesa (Spain) and Airel (France). Although still relatively unknown in Australia, Fedesa is the sixth largest manufacturer of dental chairs in the world.

Besides sleek European designs, Australian dentists checking out ICONA’s dental chairs for the first time may be exposed to noteworthy features that are: Not widely available; typically available in higher-end units; or entirely original.

The Fedesa Astral is a flexible dental unit package that can be customised to fit your needs – offering continental or conventional delivery, or a delivery cart. Boasting German Hanning Electro-mechanical motors, the smooth chair movements offer easy and quiet switching between three memorised positions as set by operator, in addition to three default positions.

The Airel PE8 dental chair features a balanced instruments arm that may be easily reconfigured to support left or right-handed dentistry, both positions providing easy operator and patient access to instruments. Allowing for two/four-handed treatment procedures, the Airel K2 is a compact treatment unit that belies its robust framework and seamless ergonomics, including a non-return articulated arm with long hoses to work in any position.

Both French units feature what appears to be original design elements: Triple articulated headrest that with a single button, locks in position to support the patient’s head at multiple angles, including a convenient side-facing position as well as the option of a ceiling mounted delivery system.

That some of these brands do not resonate at home is not a major concern, Richard says, as word gets around pretty quickly, and he believes Australian dentists are savvy enough to spot a good deal.

“It only takes customers who are adventurous enough to give “new” brands a try and that’s how we will continue to attract and grow a community of Australian followers,” he enthuses.

An example of an adventurous buyer without prior knowledge of the chairs is that of Carnegie Dental Group, a practice located on Princes Highway in Melbourne. After paying a visit to ICONA’s Clayton showroom, the dentists were surprised at the excellent build quality, bundled features and reasonable price point of the Fedesa Astral chair and purchased a unit on the spot. Following up on the client months afterwards, ICONA sales rep Jessica Shehata, was told the dentists have been so enthusiastic about the new chair, they were “fighting over” who gets to use the room.

Another buyer is Bill Oberdan from Max Oral Surgery, based in South Australia, who flew in to visit the Melbourne showroom. Within about 15 minutes of seeing how the Airel PE8 chairs worked, he was convinced enough to buy two units.

“These kinds of testimonials,” says Roy Conyers, ICONA’s General Manager, “are critical for us because it tells us that you can’t go past a good product. Once the word spreads, more buyers naturally follow. There’s no need for hard sell.”

Adding that the Fedesa Electra with its kneebreak design is a great option for surgeries and mobile dental vans, Roy says that, once again, two Electra units were recently purchased by a Queensland surgery purely through word of mouth recommendation.

ICONA’s reputation as a reliable Australian supplier was initially forged as Midmark’s sole regional agent, facilitating the American manufacturer’s market presence and technical support through its establishment of a nation-wide distribution network. ICONA has secured a partnership with Medical Equipment Services (MES) to supply its extensive tech support expertise in the Victoria region, in addition to about 15 key resellers scattered throughout the country.  

Beginning as Midmark agent and now having entered the next phase with European representation, the one thing that sets ICONA apart, Richard asserts, is having an impactful corporate culture centred on building open and honest relationships.

This positive culture permeates every facet of ICONA’s business: Upstream to their overseas manufacturers; midstream between the company’s management and staff; and downstream through distributors to dentists and their patients.

The same way ICONA products are promoted through positive word of mouth, Roy says the grapevine is used to relay the dentist’s perspectives on ICONA’s customer service and after-sales support.

“We take a long-term view of all our relationships because they are geared towards establishing trust and stability,” Roy adds. “It’s important to us that our customers feel well supported throughout their equipment ownership – and hopefully think of us when the time comes for them to upgrade.”

“We’re in the equipment business where our customers only change or upgrade their products in 7, 15 or 20 years,” Richard interjects, “The open and transparent relationships that we have established with manufacturers, distributors and customers testify to our corporate DNA.”
​
“Everyone that we work with knows that ICONA is committed to support and assist them for the long haul.”
 

Find out how NSK’s Dentalone (a.k.a. “Dentist’s Office Mobile Cart”) performs in the field for expanding mobile dentistry company 
 
By Danny Chan
 
Imagine how much more exciting and fulfilling your dental work would be if your “clinic” is not confined to the four walls of the surgery but could literally be transported to wherever your expertise is in demand. That was one of the motivations that led Caitlin Wainrib to start a risky business venture in mobile dentistry but as the interview for this article progressed, it soon became clear that it wasn’t the main one.
 
Resisting well-meaning opposition from family and friends, the gutsy Oral Healthcare Therapist set up Mobile Dental Clinics Australia (MDCA) not simply to free herself from the physical confines of a clinic – though she admits feeling “a little claustrophobic” at times – but in response to a growing realisation that certain demographics were underserviced by dental professionals, particularly that of aged care home residents.
 
Caitlin felt the dental plight of seniors living in aged care facilities more acutely than most, as it was the subject of her thesis as a Bachelor of Health Sciences undergraduate. The subject got personal when her own grandmother who was in respite care found it “practically impossible” to receive timely or affordable help for a broken tooth, despite her accessible location in Metropolitan Melbourne.
 
Although the world of mobile dentistry couldn’t have been more distant or foreign at the time, Caitlin was determined to unravel its possibilities from a logical standpoint that “mobile dentistry provided the most straightforward and affordable solution for delivering critical dental services to those who were missing out on them”.
 
To say that Caitlin made good on her research findings would be an understatement. They practically laid the foundation for a business that grew from a modest three-person team in 2016 to a nation-wide mobile dentistry network that today employs 80 staff, including over 30 dentists. Besides providing convenient and affordable dentistry to aged care facilities – which account for 90% of the work they do – MDCA also delivers much-needed oral care services to schools, workplaces, remote areas, prisons and many more places with limited dental access.
 
A significant portion of Caitlin’s research was devoted to finding the right type of equipment that could support the rigorous demands of an itinerant dental team. Taking a less trodden path also meant that she couldn’t turn to peers or Internet forums for help when technical issues arose for her mobile-specific dental equipment, hence it was imperative for her to locate a reliable supplier that could provide critical technical support at the drop of a hat. After trying out several products and suppliers, hitting several bumps along the way, the dental entrepreneur says she has found the ideal equipment and supplier in NSK.
 
The Japanese dental MNC, better known as a high-end handpiece manufacturer, is also the maker of Dentalone. Marketed as “the dentist’s office mobile cart”, Dentalone is created as a portable multi-instrument equipment box for dentists who practice on the go. More specifically, Dentalone caters for operative or preventive dentistry in the field such as humanitarian, home care, schools, army and hospitals.
 
Inside Dentalone’s compact luggage-like cart, the practitioner has access to a wide range of NSK’s high precision instruments including: Illuminated LCD control panel Multi Pad; autoclavable brushless NLX nano micromotor; integrated multi function ultrasonic scaler Varios170 with LED light; VA2-LUX-HP handpiece; 3-way air/water/spray syringe with LED light; saliva ejector; 500ml water tank; and 1-Litre waste container.
 
For an outfit like MDCA that on any given day, dispatches eight mobile dental teams to disparate locations with unpredictable weather and work conditions, via various modes of transport (including vans, ferries and planes), Dentalone has proven itself to be a rugged and reliable companion on the road.
 
“There’s no doubt that we work the (Dentalone) units very hard, pushing it to the limit. For a travelling dental team, we need them to be robust and the instruments must hold up despite the “rumble and tumble” nature of our work,” Caitlin attests.
 
“The fact that they have “survived” bears testimony to Dentalone’s excellent build quality.”
 
The MDCA teams are booked solid six months in advance so any last-minute cancellations due to equipment failure would entail huge financial costs plus it’s not as easy or feasible to reschedule patients when the operation sites are not permanent. Facing such stringent demands, the reliability of NSK’s products and support team is not taken for granted, Caitlin stresses:
 
“In the three years that we’ve been using NSK handpieces, not a single one has broken down and we use more than a hundred units of them. The robustness of these products is critical to the smooth delivery of services that we render on a daily basis.”
 
In terms of technical support and customer service, Caitlin sums up NSK’s performance in one word: Phenomenal.
 
“Whenever an equipment breaks down, we get instantaneous response from NSK’s technical team. Where necessary, they will even courier a part to be delivered the next day just to service your product.”
 
“We have had bad experiences with other suppliers and all I can say is that to compare their ineffectual after-sales support with NSK’s is like comparing apples and oranges – there’s just no comparison whatsoever!”
 
MDCA is currently trialling a more portable iteration of NSK’s mobile dentistry innovation known as Viva 8. Caitlin says of the nifty lightweight model, tipping the scales at 9.5kg:
 
“The fact that they are able to pack an entire surgery into a box that only weighs 9.5kg is a marvel, yet we benefit from its practical application every day. When you’ve got young women lugging these carts onto planes and ferries, having to load and unload them, the increased portability is a much appreciated feature.”
 
Ultimately, whatever improved convenience must be passed on to the patients themselves, Caitlin says, not forgetting the roots of her calling to start MDCA.
 
The same way the licensed pilot made a point to absorb the costs of flying out to under-serviced locations, she emphasises the need for the business to remain true to its volume-based model: “Make less per patient but see more patients.”
“I believe that if you practice ethically and professionally, success will surely follow. If I had gone into business with expectations of becoming a millionaire, I don’t think I would have derived as much job satisfaction and fulfilment as I have.”