Digital Workflow for the Lava C.O.S. System.

New digital system blends the lines between laboratory-based and dental office-based CAD/CAM systems to digitally record tooth preparations.

The Lava Chairside Oral Scanner blends the lines between laboratory and chairside CAD/CAM systems. The dentist records the tooth preparation intraorally with a digital impression instead of using a traditional impression. The immediate feedback of the digital impression affords the opportunity to correct model deficiencies before the patient leaves the office. Digital impressions avoid the tedious technique of final impressions with the added benefit of a more comfortable patient experience. A number of conventional steps are avoided with the digital impression technique, such as time-consuming, conventional impression techniques, pouring models, trimming dies, and packaging, shipping, and tracking the models. The digital workflow of the Lava COS system results in an efficient and accurate technique for the fabrication of Lava zirconium crowns and fixed partial dentures.

Check out the full article by Dr. Fasbinder

Dennis J. Fasbinder, DDS, ABGD
Clinical Professor of Dentistry Director, Advanced Education in General Dentistry University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Reference: Fasbinder, Dennis, In Practice Clinical Brief, "Digital Workflow for the Lava COS System, October 2009, V5, Issue 9

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: 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.