How to Return to the Standard in Posterior Restorations

The breakthrough technology that makes it simple and affordable to fabricate restorations using the material most dentists agree is the best.

Produced by the Editors of Dental Lab Products in partnership with espite advances in material science and impression and milling technology, no Sorestorative why is gold option used has so infrequently? replaced gold in terms of quality, biocompatibilityo a large extent, you orcan blame performance. the rise of computers and Tthe decline of the world economy. Over the past decade, advancements in technology and D indirect restorative materials have opened up a wealth of new options for dentists. Patients can now receive restorations that are stronger, more aesthetically appealing and longer lasting than ever before. Much of this progress occurred via the rise of today’s Few things are cutting-edge CAD/CAM systems, combined with the better certain in economics, precision offered by new digital impression technologies. But the rapid ascension of computer-assisted design and but we can always manufacturing came with a price. Through all the advance- count on the value ments, one age-old dental material was left behind: gold. of gold rising during Gold as a restoration material has fallen by the wayside for a number of reasons, none of them clinical and most of them difficult financial financial. When the CAD/CAM dental industry was in its times. Between 2002 infancy, it was quickly determined that the milling machines and 2012, the price necessary to render these complex designs into finished products were large and expensive. And the largest and most of gold shot from expensive were the ones that milled metals. The untested new $250 per ounce to technologies naturally gravitated to materials less expensive to $1,700, making it cost mill, like zirconia and lithium disilicate (e.max). Meanwhile, around the time these new manufacturing prohibitive for dental methodologies were developing, the price of gold began labs to keep in stock. skyrocketing. The price became so volatile that dentists could Benefits of Gold for never know how much their restorations would cost. Offering patients a flat fee became virtually impossible. And there was Posterior Restorations no system for milling gold, so it could only be worked by hand, Enhanced marginal integrity adding time and expense for those who wanted to continue Gold implants consistently using the precious metal. display a better marginal fit Thus a combination of technological convenience and when compared to other uncertain global financial markets led to gold’s rapid materials. This likely plays a role in their superior longevity.1 withdrawal from the world of .

Non-antagonistic The malleable nature of gold Bringing gold back creates a gentler fit on the enamel at the implant’s eturning gold to its rightful position as a viable and margins. Over years of Rvaluable material for restorations required the confluence excursive chewing motions, of three technological and business innovations. First, milling this tiny bit of flexibility makes a huge difference, and also machines that had the resillience to mill metals had to come probably factors into gold down in price. Second was the development of a process that restorations’ durability. would consistently produce virutally porosity free pucks on a scale that was economically viabile. The third innovation was Biocompatible to create a relationship between a refinery and milling operation Gold is known as a highly bio- compatible material, not just in that could make the entire operation economically viable. dentistry but in other One company, Strategy Milling, gets the credit for healthcare fields as well.2 making this synergy possible. Strategy Milling is owned by Atlantic Precious Metal Refining, a company with deep Dentist acceptance experience in refining and the dental laboratory industry. None of this is news to Atlantic recognized the technological and economic forces dentists, who would use gold far more often were it hindering dentists and labs from working with gold—despite its financially viable. unmatched combination of hardness, antagonistic wear, malleability, biocompatibility and ease of cementation and History of success removal—and the company set out to find a solution. Gold has been an important Atlantic spent a year in research and development to create element in tooth restoration a proprietary process that produces relatively porosity-free gold for literally thousands of years. Few substances in healthcare pucks. They also researched close to 30 different milling are as well-known, reliable and machines before choosing the Roeders RXD5. This combina- time-tested. If the use of gold tion of puck fabrication and milling technology provided the presented health problems, breakthrough solution that enabled Strategy Milling to make they would have been gold restorations available to every dental lab, dentist and identified ages ago. dental patient.

Benefits to dental labs

n a 2012 survey, 98.5 percent of dentists said gold is the best Imaterial for restoring posterior teeth. With the innovations discussed in this e-book, dental labs can now offer dentists their material of choice while enjoying the following benefits: • Time savings: Strategy Milling’s 6,000 square foot facility maintains three Roeders RXD5 milling machines paired with three Roeders RCS-1 Automation Robots that can work round the clock to >> To learn more about provide fast turnaround of the most detailed how you can offer your restorations. dentists the gold standard • Financial security: Labs can now offer gold in posterior dental restorations without tying up capital to maintain their restorations, visit the own gold inventory. Because of Strategy Milling’s Strategy Milling website at relationship with Atlantic, puck inventory is strategymilling.com. maintained at optimal levels. The milling operation creates almost no waste, and any waste that is created can be quickly and efficiently recycled. • Flat fee: Labs now have an opportunity to grow their gold business by offering a flat-fee gold restoration to their clients that hasn’t been seen in over a decade. Strategy Milling maximizes all the proven benefits digitization and milling have provided other restorative materials.

In addition, you can:

• Receive your cases in as little as two to three days. • Reduce labor hours dedicated to waxing, spruing, investing and more. • Boast exceptional milling accuracy. • Require minimal despruing, finishing, and polishing.

References 1. Larson TD. The clinical significance of marginal fit. Northwest Dent. 2012 Jan- Feb;91(1):22-29. 2. Hung HS, et al. Biocompatibility and favorable response of mesenchymal stem cells on fibronectin-gold nanocomposites. PLoS One. 2013 June 24;8(6):e65738. Learn how you can offer your clients the Gold Standard in Posterior Dental Restorations with Strategy Milling.

A Passion For Innovation To A Revolution In . Strategy Milling is your only source for milled full contour >> See the gold milling >> Sign up as a new gold crowns and process in action customer by clicking the bridges proudly made in this video by clicking the photo above or visiting photo above or visiting strategymilling.com/ entirely in the USA. strategymilling.com. new-customer.