Happy Holidays from 3M ESPE

Everyone at 3M ESPE would like to wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday! We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you in the New Year.

3M ESPE Marks 50,000th Lava™ Chairside Oral Scanner C.O.S. Case

Increased productivity and outstanding fit drive popularity of system for doctors and labs


Since the launch of the 3M(TM) ESPE(TM) Lava(TM) Chairside Oral Scanner C.O.S. in 2008, dentists have been won over by the system's productivity and accuracy, which enable them to efficiently create precise fitting restorations. Successes for the scanner have been mounting worldwide, and 3M ESPE recently observed the 50,000th case completed with the device.


Read the full press release marking this occasion here:
http://tinyurl.com/2affwhw

In'Tech Holiday Schedule

Please note the following holiday schedule:

In'Tech will be open Monday 12/20 through Friday 12/24. All cases should be processed for that week.

The following week, In'Tech will be closed Monday 12/27, Wednesday 12/29 and Friday 12/31, while open on Tuesday 12/28 and Thursday 12/30.

Have a very safe and happy holiday!

Digital Age Dentistry

The premier issue of Digital Age Dentistry, a special supplement, was distributed with the October issue of Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry as well as the inaugural October issue of Inside Dental Technology, both published by AEGIS Publications. This special supplement provides background on and practical examples of today's digital dentistry and its potential to enhance your delivery of oral healthcare with articles authored by Dennis J. Fasbinder, DDS (CE-accredited), Brian K. Schroder, DDS, and Chris Brown, BSEE, as well as John F. Weston, DDS. Click on the link below to view the digital edition of Digital Age Dentistry.

www.editiondigital.net/publication/?i=47769

FREE Webinar: Optimizing the Dentist/Technician Relationship Using Digital Impressions

The art of taking dental impressions will never be the same. Hear real-world and practical experiences from a general dentist and lab owner perspective of how the Lava™ C.O.S. has positively impacted their processes and business relationship.

If you missed the live version of this informative webinar featuring Dr. James Grant and Don Albensi, CDT, now is your chance to view the archived session.

www.lavacoswebinar.com

How to Avoid a Common Scanning Problem

If you encounter fields that are not powdered as well as they could be, the problem may be your sprayer. It’s easy to fix this problem if you follow a few simple rules:


Sprayer Handling and Maintenance

• Change the tip after each patient.

• Clean and make sure the tip is dry before each use (especially in humid climates).

• Remove the bottle after each use; remove and cap it each night.

• Don’t lay the sprayer down on its side; use one of the holsters.

Holster

• If the flow of powder slows or stops, check the powder in the bottle. If the level is low or the powder is clumped, get a fresh bottle.

• If the sprayer tip is clogged, clean it with a wire brush.

• The hole in the center of the manifold (below) can become clogged, so check it periodically and clean if necessary. Use a wire brush or compressed air.

Manifold

• Reminder: It is permissible to blow compressed air into the center hole of the manifold, but DO NOT blow compressed air into the metal tip of the sprayer when it is connected to the device or into the hole where the tip slides into the sprayer. That can force powder back into the sprayer’s tubing.

• Make sure the battery is installed correctly. (If you’re unsure how to install it, see your Sprayer User Guide.)

And remember to use proper powering techniques:

• Powder the field lightly. Don’t squeeze the trigger too hard; think “light dusting,” not “blizzard.”

• Always keep the sprayer upright when spraying. When powdering the upper arch, twist the tip, not the sprayer.

• If the powder gets wiped off between scans, re-powder.

• Air dry the field. More than once, if necessary.

Finally:

Refer to your Sprayer User Guide for details on cleaning and maintenance.

Q: Where are my Lava™ Design Software 4.0 files?

A: Don’t worry, they’re still there.

Recently 3M ESPE released its new Lava™ Scan ST Design System Software 5.0. How that affects you and your lab depends on whether your lab upgraded to the new software.

Section of Lava Package Column from Case Manager

If your lab upgraded to Lava Design Software 5.0, the “lava4” part of the Lava Package name will be replaced with “lava5.” You will still be able to access already downloaded 4.0 files, but all future files will be designated as Lava Design Software 5.0 files.

If your lab has not upgraded to Lava Design Software 5.0, you will still be able to see and access your Lava Design Software 4.0 design files, of course, but you will not be able to access Lava Design Software 5.0 cases.

New Lava™ Lab Software 2.6 for Chairside Oral Scanner

Lava™ Lab Software 2.6 for Chairside Oral Scanner is now available for Lava™-certified labs. The improvements include:

--Visual indication of the location of the articulator hinge
--New shortcuts to make positioning the model quicker and easier
--Reset Zoom tool to make the size of the articulator and model fit the view
--Request Assistance menu choices to email trailer, request make-it-work help
--More flexibility when searching for cases


For more details, see What's New in Lava™ Lab Software 2.6 for Chairside Oral Scanner.

You can also refer to the User Manual for Lava™ Lab Software 2.6 for Chairside Oral Scanner, which is available as a PDF file on the new software, or contact Customer Support.

View Cases Online

Case Manager is a simple but useful tool that gives you the capability to display data for your cases that were scanned with the Lava™ C.O.S.

Dashboard - Display and sort cases

The Case Manager Dashboard is your window into the case data. Use it to display cases by month and to view case details, including prescriptions, which can be saved and printed. You can sort cases by any of the Dashboard’s six columns of data:

• Date prescription signed
• Doctor name
• Patient name
• Patient Date of Birth
• Number of Restorations
• Case/Prescription number

When you hover the cursor over certain columns, Case Manager displays more useful information, for example, the case’s restoration type and tooth number.

View the prescription for a case

We think you’ll find Case Manager to be both valuable and easy to use. If you have not yet received your user Case Manager name and password – or if you have any questions about Case Manager – please don’t hesitate to call Lava C.O.S. Customer Support at 1-800-634-2249.

Doctor Training: How to Scan a Full Arch

This training video explains the proper protocol for scanning an entire arch, which can be a relatively easy process if you follow some basic rules.

Each sextant of both mandibular and maxillary arches is described and illustrated by a 3D animation of the wand's scanning path.

Labs: Where is the Margin on Lava C.O.S. models?

Lava C.O.S. models have a 300 micron reinforcement band (shown in blue). The margin (in yellow) is at the top of the band. Any material that covers the band violates the margin and puts a successful restoration at risk.

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.