With the Lava™ Chairside Oral Scanner C.O.S. both dentists and labs are uniquely positioned for the future of digital dentistry. As the worldwide leader in impression solutions and with expertise in scanning technology and systems integration, 3M ESPE will use the Lava C.O.S to enable digital workflows with exciting possibilities for labs:

After the digital impression is taken and the file sent to the dentists’ preferred lab, a technician works on a monitor that displays an enlarged, highly detailed digital version of the case, and uses customized software to digitally cut or section the 3D model and mark the margin on the die. Both dentists and labs have the same advanced tools to review the preparation and margin, video review, 2D enhancement or 3D stereographic review. These tools help eliminate much of the guesswork associated with defining margins when pouring plaster. Labs can confidently mark the margin knowing they are seeing exactly the same images viewed by the dentist.

For labs, making stone models can be a messy, time consuming process.  In the new digital workflow, stone models are replaced with stereolithography (SLA) models which are accurate, consistent and durable.  3M ESPE uses statistical process control to ensure that models are accurate using methods never before possible with impression material and stone.

Once the lab receives the SLA model, they can create a traditional restoration such as,  PFM, Gold, Glass Ceramic, etc.

A very exciting advance in the digital workflow is concurrent manufacturing.  As the file is transmitted to the SLA model manufacturing facility, it can be simultaneously transmitted to the lab for immediate CAD/CAM production. Once the lab receives the SLA model they can utilize their preferred finishing technique and send the final restoration to the dentist.