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: Scanning Tips

Navigating Screen Options

Did you know that you can navigate through the scan procedure without reaching to your touch screen?
Press the Select button on your wand handle and look for the green hand icon to appear on the Lava COS screen
Use the Left and Right arrows to move the cursor to your desired field.
Press Select again to engage your option
It’s that simple!

Watch Help Text for Scanning Suggestions

Short cues are available to guide you through the digital impression.
Look for them at the bottom of your Lava COS screen!

Lava Lab Products for Chairside Oral Scanner Available at Shop3M.com

The Lava Chairside Oral Scanner is the entry point to the digital workflow and is a digital impression system that will enable the high-speed capture of accurate and precise impressions. Lava C.O.S. uses breakthrough technology that allows for quick, real-time 3D video capture of the tooth anatomy.

This significant technological advancement will deliver precise-fitting restorations while taking quality oral care to a higher level for your patients. Dental laboratories can easily utilize models from this workflow in nearly all standard processes in conjunction with the Lava C.O.S. lab tools.

Check out Shop3M.com for these products and more!

Labs: Update to the Lab Software for the the Lava C.O.S. Coming Soon

This minor update contains a few new features:

Lava™ Design View Manipulation Controls
If you have been used to using the Lava™ Design software to rotate, pan, and zoom your models, you will be happy to know that you can use the same controls now in the C.O.S. Laboratory software. Just tap the SPACEBAR key on your keyboard and you can use the mouse to manipulate the 3D scan data:
• Left mouse button = Rotate model
• Right mouse button = Pan model
• Middle mouse button = Zoom model

When you are finished with your view manipulations, just tap the SPACEBAR key again to return to the normal edit mode. Note that all of the previous ways to manipulate the model still work.

Email Trainer
We now provide a way to directly E-Mail a laboratory trainer that can help you with your margin-marking questions. Just choose File -> Request Assistance -> Email trainer.

If you are in the margin-marking step of the software, you will be able to annotate and attach pictures to your E-Mail. If you are in the Bite Plane or Die-Cut steps, then you will just be prompted to type a note.

Request Digital File Clean Up
This is the command formerly known as Request Analysis and is used to submit your case to 3M to correct field or scan issues from the doctor (as applicable). Just choose File -> Request Assistance -> Request Digital File Clean Up, and the case will be sent to a 3M technician for review and correction. Please include a descriptive note of the problem area to expedite the process.

This update will be rolled out over the weekend. For guidelines on how this update will work click here.

Labs: Upgrading the Laboratory Software for Lava C.O.S.

3M will be upgrading all installations of the C.O.S. Laboratory Software. The software will handle most of the work for you, but there are some things you will need to do.

1. You will see a dialog appear asking if you want to download the new version of the software. Click Yes.2. You will see the download progress bar move until the download is complete. Then the Run Update button will become available. Click that button.
3. The software will warn you that the upgrade process will require shutting down the application. If you need to save your work, click No and save first. Otherwise, click Yes to begin the installation immediately.4. The software will shut down, and the installation process will begin. Click the Next button 3 times to begin the installation.
6. Double-click the shortcut on your Desktop for the 3M ESPE Lava(tm) C.O.S. Laboratory Software. You should now see that the software version is 2.5.1 on the login screen. Your update is complete!

If you run into any problems during this update process, feel free to contact customer support at 1-877-722-6528.

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!