Lang Dental Launches Mach 4
Now in its 81st year, family-owned and operated Lang Dental Manufacturing Company has a solid history in provisional crown-and-bridge materials. “We see ourselves as a leader in this field,” says President David Lang. “And we’ll continue to dedicate research and product development to remain at the forefront.”
The company’s self-curing acrylic resin, Jet, was introduced in the late 1950s. “Jet offers methyl methacrylate hardness, and it’s simple to polish and trim. Over the years we’ve improved it, taking advantage of state-of-the-art research and materials to give it greater strength. Now we’ve applied our experience and resources in the development of a new product: MACH 4.” MACH 4 is a powder–liquid system with the same durability characteristics found in Jet—but with a faster setting time.
Lang’s focus remains firmly on its core products and its high standards of quality. “Certainly we would love to create a cartridge automix material, but quite frankly we don’t see it working as well for the characteristics we’re looking for.”
Gregory Jacobs, DDS, a private practitioner in Glenview, Illinois, is a long-time user of the company’s materials. “It’s amazing what they’ve come out with. Jet seems to have superior flexural and tensile strength and better compression. It’s stronger overall, able to resist forces in the mouth. And Lang is a company I like to do business with—they have honest products that work every time.”
According to Jacobs and Lang, a great deal of misconception exists regarding the biocompatibility of methyl methacrylates. Jacobs says, “I don’t perceive biocompatibility as being a problem, especially if it’s a properly made restoration that’s carefully polished. The methyl methacrylates are very durable, very friendly to the tissues when properly used and fabricated.” Lang adds, “Cured methyl methacrylate is one of the most inert and biocompatible materials on the market. It’s also used as an orthopedic cement for hip replacement and bone repairs, so it’s readily accepted in the body. The problem is that the acrylic liquid is somewhat irritating to soft tissue. So when making provisional crowns, the practitioner has to be careful in the way that acrylic monomer comes in contact with soft tissue.”
While the trend seems to be toward the increased use of Bis-GMA, Lang predicts powder–liquid systems will have a continuing (and expanding) role. “I think this is consistent with the type of treatments that are being done with implants. There will be more crown-and-bridge work done in the future, as people will be saving their natural dentition as best as possible. I believe traditional powder–liquid systems will be used primarily in laboratory applications or indirect techniques, while Bis-GMA automix materials will be used in direct techniques.” Lang notes that these powder–liquid systems offer significant advantages, such as wear and abrasion resistance, flexural strength, color stability, and lower cost.
“We are constantly reviewing trends in the products, trends in techniques, and trends as far as customer feedback,” Lang says. “We analyze virtually every instance of positive and negative feedback that we get. Even though we’re a somewhat smaller company, we have access to research and experts who offer suggestions as to what can be done. Then we employ the chemicals and techniques that are available to improve the product. As you will see, MACH 4 is an excellent example of what we’re able to accomplish.”
Lang Dental Mfg Co, Inc
175 Messner Drive, Wheeling, IL 60090
(800) 222-5264
https://www.langdental.com
