Since the time of the Etruscans – so for over 2500 years – the production of dental prosthetics from metals has enjoyed an established role in dentistry. Since that time, over 1000 industrially manufactured alloys have become available, the properties of which make them ideally suited for certain dental requirements. “Despite this already broad range, there is now a further need for new developments that optimise existing alloys and generate new indications,” says Dr. Martin Rickert, President of the VDDI. Classic precious metal alloys with a high gold content still form the substructure of a lot of prosthetic work for single crowns, bridges and other constructions. The cast alloys predominantly used in former times have now been largely replaced by bake-on alloys, which produce a very natural-looking veneer with a ceramic or a synthetic substance. This classic segment also includes the trend for complete systems – alloys and veneer materials developed especially for them – which now represents a substantial proportion of the market. The so-called bioalloys are a new line in precious metal alloys, characterised by special biocompatibility. These are of particular interest for allergy sufferers and patients with an increased need for biological compatibility.
Alloys without precious metals are gaining ground not only abroad but also in Germany – and not just because they cost less. Restorations made from chrome-cobalt alloys, which are highly stable, are leading the way. Products made from these can be manufactured using either conventional casting technology or innovative milling technology. The relatively high degree of hardness of such alloys, however, places special demands on milling and polishing tools.
This also applies to the titanium materials and alloys used in implantology in particular. These are characterised by especially good biocompatibility. Processing them requires the milling technology already mentioned, which can be implemented with increasing simplicity in dental laboratories or at external milling centres thanks to advances in CAD/CAM production.
Selective laser melting is being used more and more for the production of heavy-duty alloys. With the special chrome-cobalt alloys usually used in such cases, very large substructure constructions of up to 16 substructure arcs can be produced. Dentists and technicians can find out much more about these and other current advances in dental alloys and consult with qualified manufacturers at the International Dental Show (IDS) from 24 to 28 March 2009 in Cologne. However, the processing of many of these new alloys requires even more accuracy from tools. In particular, as more and more restorations are manufactured from hard alloys without precious metal, especially chrome-cobalt alloys, using milling technology, there is an ever greater need for the most stable milling cutters and polishers possible. Special instruments manufactured for the dental industry now fulfil these requirements. “Today all dental laboratories need optimised, durable tools that can handle the increased stress involved with CAM production,” says Dr. Markus Heibach, Managing Director of the VDDI. Visitors to IDS in Cologne will get the chance to see the whole range of alloys and their processing possibilities, and will thus be able to gain an ideal overview for their laboratory or practice.
The International Dental Show, the world’s largest trade fair for dentistry and dental technology, will be taking place in Cologne from 24 to 28 March 2009 and is the ideal opportunity for trade visitors from dental practices and laboratories to find out more about the entire range of dental alloys available today in discussions with specialists from exhibiting companies and experienced users. IDS takes place in Cologne every two years and is organized by the GFDI Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Dental-Industrie mbH, the commercial enterprise of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI) and staged by Koelnmesse GmbH, Cologne.” Note for editors
See under “Photos” in the “For the press” section for images on past IDS shows (http://www.ids-cologne.de).
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