Long-term Performance Ceramics From Ivoclar Vivadent

What differentiates Ivoclar Vivadent’s philosophy is its ongoing extensive partnership withdentistry. As George Tysowksy, DDS, Vice President – Technology, says, “The key is collaboration. We don’t externally introduce new technologies. We incorporate dental leaders into the learning process to validate different benchmarks, to ensure we bring a user-friendly and accepted product into the marketplace.”

Michael Gaglio, DDS, Vice President – Marketing, adds, “I think there is a lot of doubt in the industry about manufacturers. But Ivoclar Vivadent stands out because we work toward evidence-based technology. We continually benchmark ourselves with clinical research centers throughout North America and globally to make sure that the products we develop meet—and exceed—the needs of our customers and provide long-term satisfaction. That’s important because a lot of dentists and laboratories look at new technologies and think watch out, here comes another new technology. That’s not who we are. Sometimes people think we are a little too careful, but it’s really to make sure we have met the criteria for success.”

Regarding the company’s evidence-based approach, Tysowsky explains, “No one piece of information stands on its own. We look at the pool of the data to support an indication or materials efficacy as a whole body of evidence. That would include in vitro testing, long-term clinical trials, usage data from laboratories, and clinician evaluations on the user friendliness of the materials. Pooling all that information together is where we generate the confidence in recommending a material for an appropriate indication.”

The company’s highly successful products include IPS e.max^® and IPS Empress^®, two leading all-ceramic systems that offer versatility for today’s techniques. Gaglio says, “For example, with the development of new high-strength ceramics, minimal preparation is really adding a new dynamic to providing long-term stable restorations for the patient, even in a minimally invasive situation. I would say that IPS e.max—which is obviously one of the more popular products out there today—is the most durable esthetic material available for minimally invasive dentistry.”

“We are always exploring new types of technologies for all ceramic types and applications,” Tysowsky adds. “Presently, there are the traditional fabrication techniques that we have with hand layering. In addition, we’ve introduced new productive methods of pressing technology, which provide accurate margins, reliable density of materials, and strength and durability. CAD/CAM has opened up a whole new avenue of types of materials that can be processed either chairside or on a mass production basis, along with the laboratory factor. And future generations may include a deposition technique for creating material that can actually be layered in an automated fashion.

“We will continue to expand the use of high-strength materials with different properties, improved strength, superior reliability, and in their monolithic fashion, long-term durable results that rival some of the traditional types of restoration that we provide for dentistry today.”

According to Gaglio, “Our ultimate goal is to create products that satisfy the dentist, the dental laboratory, and most certainly the expectations of the patient. As we move forward to the future, our developments will continue in that way, so we can provide the productivity, the performance, and the esthetics that each of these three groups request.”

Ivoclar Vivadent Inc.
175 Pineview Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
(800) 533-6825
https://www.ivoclarvivadent.com