PALA Digital Dentures
A win-win-win for practices, labs, and patients
Digital technology has had an unquestionably profound impact on the world of dentistry. One of the best and most recent examples involves the manufacture of dentures, as exemplified by Heraeus Kulzer’s new PALA Digital Denture System.
CAD and 3D Software
This highly advanced technology uses computer-assisted design (CAD) and 3D software to model dentures for a great fit with excellent esthetics that laboratories can deliver to their dental practice customers in a fraction of the time of conventional systems. Importantly, despite the significant time savings, there is absolutely no compromise in either comfort or esthetics; the end result is a high-quality, well-polished appliance that delivers a precise fit.
A Precise Process for a Precise Fit
The process is very straightforward. Using the PALA Digital Dentures impressions tray, the dentist captures not just the impression but the bite registration and vertical dimension as well. These steps are accomplished in a single patient visit, versus the typical three visits using a conventional approach. Once the lab receives the impression, it is scanned, and the scan is forwarded to the Pala Design Center. Heraeus Kulzer creates 3D renderings of the denture based on the impression’s anatomical landmarks, creates a 3D printed prototype, and sends it to the lab. The lab examines the denture and sends it to the dentist, who places it with the patient. (Once the try-in is approved, Heraeus creates the final denture.)
Oven Results
“The beauty of this technology is that it shows the final tooth position in the prototype for approval, so the bite registration and vertical dimension are approved upfront,” says B.J. Kowalski, president of ROE Dental Laboratory in Garfield Heights, Ohio, a respected leader in the use of dental technology and an early evaluator of the PALA Digital Dentures System. “Another advantage of the PALA Digital Denture System is that it uses PALA denture teeth, which are specifically made with and for CAD/CAM technology. Our lab has been a big advocate of PALA teeth for many years.”
“The entire process from start to finish takes about 10 days and can involve as few as two patient visits, which is something that both patients and their practices greatly appreciate,” said Lesley Melvin, senior product manager at Heraeus Kulzer. “Dentists also tell us that their patients are extremely pleased with both the look and fit of their PALA Digital Dentures.”
Another advantage of the digital process is that its 3D renderings conveniently serve as a permanent digital record, which makes it quick and easy to create duplicate dentures with no chair time involved.
The combination of dramatic time savings, digital precision, and the exceptionally life-like esthetics of PALA denture teeth makes the PALA Digital Denture System an exciting upgrade for dental practices, laboratories, and patients.
In Brief
• 3D renderings are a permanent digital record, making it quick and easy to create duplicate dentures without extra chair time.
• The PALA Digital Denture process takes about 10 days with as few as two patient visits.
*Time may vary on laboratory creation.
• The final result is a high-quality, highly esthetic denture that deliversa precise fit.
Heraeus Kulzer
800-431-1785
paladigitaldentures.com
