Doctors: Best Practices, Cord and Powder Technique

Check out this video with some tips on Cord and Powder Technique

Doctor Testimonial: Dr. John Silberberg, Midpoint Dental

Dr. John Silberberg of Midpoint Dental in O'Fallon, Missouri recently purchased the Lava C.O.S.. He wrote the following about his experience:

"I am having a wonderful experience with the COS system. Every crown that has come back has been terrific. EVERY SINGLE ONE! I simply drop them onto the prep and haven't had to adjust the occlusion on one of the twelve that I have placed. I am stunned. the contacts have been great as well. There has been no "wobble" when seating them either. I am getting faster with the scans as well. I am still excited and am loving the new technology."

We are interested to hear your experiences as well.

Doctors: Tips and Tricks for Scanning for Models and Appliances

1. Experience and Protocol: Make sure you have had some experience with scanning full arch cases and be sure to review the full arch protocol.

2. Over Powder: Powder much heavier than you normally do for your restorative cases. A heavy coating of powder will allow you to scan much faster and pick up points easier.

3. Check your powder canister: Make sure your powder canister is full, this will help you apply a heavier coat of powder in a timely manner.

4. No Palate: Please remember that 3M can not support palate scans at this time.

5. Call 1-877-SCAN-LAVA (877-722-6528): Call Customer Support prior to filling out your Rx to set up the labs you will be using for this indication.

6. Choose “3M ESPE Models and Appliances” lab: Select this lab when you would like your C.O.S. models to go directly to your office.

Restorations that fit. Guaranteed.

The restoration fits. Or we pay.

The only 3D video capture system in dentistry today is now the only digital impression system to guarantee restoration fit.

The industry-first Lava C.O.S. Guaranteed Fit means that restorations using the Lava C.O.S. process will fit… or 3M ESPE will compensate the dentist and the lab (see details below). That’s how certain we are about the accuracy and precision of Lava C.O.S. restorations.

The guarantee applies to new certified Lava C.O.S. dentists and trained, certified laboratories. It is good for one year from Lava C.O.S. certification dates and applies to all approved indications for the Lava C.O.S.

Read the full guarantee and hear what other dentists are saying about the amazing benefits of the Lava C.O.S.

You’ll be impressed. We guarantee it.

Doctors: How to Scan a Full Arch

The Lava C.O.S. supports full arch scanning. Please review the video for our recommended protocol.

New Models Coming Soon!

We are pleased to announce Lava C.O.S. Model 2.0.

This includes:
- New Resin
- Customized model options
- Alternate model configurations

The new resin is a lighter color and has an altered opacity. It was specifically designed for dental applications. Also, the new resin has been optimized to improve the surface texture and detail. You may begin to see these models in January. They will be broadly distributed by the end of Q1. The only change that we recommend is that you use a red pencil to mark the margin if needed.

We will have more information on customized model options and alternate model configurations shortly!

Doctors: How to Activate a Lab on the Lava C.O.S.

To activate a lab:
1. Login to the COS using the doctor's Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Log In screen

2. On the home screen, press the Management button.
3. Select the Settings tab, if it is not already selected.

4. Press the Labs button to display a list of labs in your state and their status, “active” or “Inactive.”

Management screen > Settings tab > Labs

5. Touch the name of the lab you want to add. The name is highlighted.
Note: To arrange for models to be sent directly to the doctor, select the 3M ESPE lab.
6. Press “Activate/Deactivate” at the bottom of the screen to toggle the selected lab.
For more details, refer to your Lava C.O.S. User Guide.
To add a lab that is not on this list, please call Customer Service at 877-SCAN-LAVA.

How Much Will This Case Cost?

We have received questions from doctors and labs about how a given case will cost for scan and model fees. To help you, we have created cost calculators posted on the right sidebar of this blog. If you have further questions, please contact Customer Support.

Happy Holidays from 3M Digital Oral Care

3M Digital Oral Care wishes you a very happy and healthy holiday season! Please be aware that 3M Digital Oral Care and our model production partners will be closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Models will be printed on the next business day.

Doctors: Powder FAQs

How small are the particles?
The particle size averages 20 microns.

Is it safe?
The powder has undergone a thorough evaluation of its biocompatibility per accepted international and US FDA guidance and the conclusion is that the product is safe for its intended use. Information for safe handling can be found on the product MSDS which is included with the initial purchase or is available from the 3M website (www.mmm.com).

What approvals has the powder received?
The FDA has cleared the 510k for the powder as a class II medical device. The 510K letter is for the Lava C.O.S. system including powder and sprayer.

What is it made of?
The powder is predominantly titanium dioxide, a white material which is used in food coloring and in toothpaste.

Digital Margin Marking

Here's a quick overview of how to margin mark a C.O.S. case:

Doctors: Margin Annotation Tools

If you think the lab might find any part of the margin ambiguous, the Margin Annotation tools will help you make it clearer. You do this while reviewing the close-up video stills of the margin. Press the Stereo 3D Icon, put on your 3D glasses, and press the Margin Annotation Icon.

1. Hold your finger on the margin in the
ambiguous area.
2. Roll your finger on screen to align
crosshair on magnified margin edge.
3. Remove finger to place a yellow dot.
4. Add more dots as necessary.



To remove incorrect margin annotation:

1. Press the Removal Button.
2. Then touch the yellow dot to erase it.







Remember: To view the margin at 50X without placing dots, press the Magnifying Glass Icon!

How Models Are Manufactured

Patrick Dunne, Rapid Manufacturing Manager, explains the model production process:

Doctors: Lava C.O.S. . . .A Look at Our End

Check out the article by Jeff Saylors of Saylors Laboratory on Lava C.O.S. He offers a great perspective as to what happens after you scan.

Click Here for full article

Doctors: Save Time on Prescriptions by Using Defaults

You can use the Save as Defaults option on the prescription screen to save the current lab and restoration selections as your defaults. In this way you don’t have to re-enter the same information for each prescription.

Save As Defaults button

After you fill out a prescription, press the Save as Defaults button. That will save the entries you made for this restoration, including your notes, and the Lava C.O.S. system will add them to its Restoration list. The next time you fill out a prescription for the same type of restoration, these default restoration entries will be available as an option on the Restoration Types list box. Just select “Use Defaults” and press OK and the prescription is populated with your default choices.

Use Defaults option is now active on Restoration type box

Please note that the defaults are not shared across the Lava C.O.S. system. Each default is unique to: 1) the user, 2) the type of restoration, and 3) the lab. In other words, the same default restoration is not shared by different doctors, different labs, or different types of restorations.

For example, if Dr. Jane Smith sets up the default characteristics for crowns to be sent to ABC Laboratories, those defaults will be available as an option on the Restoration Type box only for the crowns she prescribes. Her business partner Dr. Samuel Brown, who shares the Lava C.O.S with Dr. Smith, will not have access to those same defaults. When he writes a prescription and the Restoration Type box is displayed, the Use Defaults option will be grayed out… that is, until he creates his own set of defaults.

Further, only one lab, ABC Laboratories, can be listed on Dr. Smith’s crown default prescription. If Doctor Smith also sends crowns to Acme Dental Lab, she will have to create another default prescription that lists Acme instead of ABC.

Models: Why does cross fitting restorations made on the SLA fail to fit on stone models?

My doctor and I are new to digital impressioning. We were both a little nervous so he took a traditional impression for the first few cases. I built up the case on the blue SLA model but then I checked it on the stone model and it didn't fit. I'm very concerned that this case is going to fail. How can the restoration fit on the SLA and not fit on the stone model?

With any manufacturing process, there is some variation. If you pour plaster and manufacture SLA in parallel, both models will vary slightly from the object that they are replicating. Some of this variation between the two objects will overlap, hence crowns made on SLA will likely not fit on plaster and vice versa. Both however will likely fit in the mouth, as both the plaster and the SLA are biased positive relative to the mouth. In stone, this bias comes from stone expansion and in SLA, we apply the bias digitally.

Tips & Tricks: Inspection Mode

Inspection

What is the First Step to a Successful Scan?
Many Lava C.O.S users find the Inspection feature an excellent tool to examine the prepared tooth when ready to scan. Simply select the Inspection Scan icon and Press your Start/Stop button. You will be able to clearly view the margin all the way around the prepared tooth, evaluate powdering levels, and determine whether you should make any adjustments. When finished, press your Start/Stop button and you will see the video image on your screen. You can review the video or press again to proceed directly to scanning. A few seconds to evaluate the field area will allow you to scan with confidence!

Did you know that your Lava C.O.S. can function similar to an intra-oral video camera?
You can scan up to 7 minutes with your Lava C.O.S. in Inspection to review with your patient. In order to engage the inspection camera, press so that it is illuminates a green background. Next, press the start/stop button and proceed to scan. After capturing the desired information, press the Start/Stop button and you will see your image in black and white along with a touch buttons at the bottom of your screen. Use these buttons to play, rewind, pause, or fast forward your video. You can even play the video for your patient in 3-D with the use of your stereo glasses! This feature can make a world of difference in patient communication and confirmation of your scan.


This tip was brought to you by your 3M ESPE Lava C.O.S. Training Team. For more tips, questions or support, reach out to your trainer or our Customer Support team:

Phone: 877-SCAN-LAVA
Email: cossupport@mmm.com.

Case Manager: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Case Manager?
The Lava Chairside Oral Scanner C.O.S. uploads case to the 3M Case Manager. Files are stored and routed through the various processes required to manufacture a restoration.

Why do I need to log into case manager?
Doctors:
Case Manager will allow you to see information regarding cases such as date, patient, and prescription. This can be used to reconcile your invoice.
Labs:
Case Manager will allow you to see the status of your cases from the moment that the doctor completes the digital prescription. If you are outsourcing the margin marking, this will be the best way for you determine if you have a case coming. Also, Case Manager will allow you to see the un-obfuscated information on your cases. This will allow you to reconcile your invoices from the margin marking labs.
If you are making a LavaTM Restoration, the Lava packages for your cases are also stored in Case manager and listed on your dashboard.

How do I obtain a Case Manager account?
All current accounts and labs have been set up with your email addresses. Contact Customer Service if you need additional accounts for your practice or lab. Customer Service can be reached at 877-SCAN-LAVA. After they set up your account, you will receive an email with a temporary password. The first time you log in, change your password. Some SPAM filters may intercept this email. If you do not receive it, please check your SPAM folder.

What if I forget my password?
If you forget your password, click on the “Forgot Password” link on the Case Manager log in page. You will be prompted for your email address. An email with a temporary password will be sent to that email address. If you have trouble, call 877-SCAN-LAVA and they can assist.

Doctors: Additional Scan Feature

The highly requested Additional Scan was a new feature incorporated into the Lava C.O.S software last fall. Many doctors are now using this feature to support their crown and bridge workflow!

When to use the Additional Scan Feature:
You may want to add more than one scan to the case information you send to the dental laboratory. For example, you may want to make a reference model with the temporary in place to show design intent, as you might do in the traditional impression process. It is important to note this is not for the purpose of adding an extra scan of the prep. Only the primary scan is available in the digital margin marking software and therefore the labs are not able to use the additional scan to identify the margin.

How to use the Additional Scan Feature:
1. Select the Additional Scan icon on the scanning toolbar.
2. Identify the location of the scan by touching either the maxillary or mandibular icon
that appears.
3. Perform the scan.
4. When done, approve the scan as you would any other scan. This scan is automatically added to the patient’s case data to be uploaded to the lab.
5. You can make an additional scan at any point in the scanning process; it does not have to take place either before or after any other type of scan.

Doctors: Upcoming Webinar on "Using a Chairside Oral Scanner for Full Arch Dentistry"

Using a Chairside Oral Scanner for Full Arch Dentistry
Presenter: Dr. Jack Ringer, D.D.S. CE Credits: 1
Webcast Begins: 8/26/09 8:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM PT



The Lava™ Precision Solutions Team is pleased to announce a one-hour live presentation with Dr. Jack Ringer.

Dr. Ringer’s presentation will highlight the powerful software update for the Lava™ Chairside Oral Scanner C.O.S. which improves the ease of use, speed and full arch capture of this digital impression system. Learn how Dr. Ringer has successfully integrated Lava C.O.S. into his practice and see the results of some of his advanced casework.

Click to Register