DIGITAL TRENDS It s all about dentistry January 2013 Welcome to this juicy winter issue of our 3Shape Newsletter - Digital Trends. The digital circle is closing fast and in this issue, you can read about how 3shape s unique communication solutions allow labs and clinics to work together digitally in the cloud. Don t miss DPR s exclusive video interview of 3Shape CTO Tais Clausen in which he tells about TRIOS and 3Shape innovation. We are also happy to present the 4th and final article in our The Future of Dental Labs. And there is even more Time to sit back, read, and enjoy. SOFTWARE RELEASE 3Shape releases its new Dental System 2013 3Shape s Dental System 2013 introduces new major indications, a variety of powerful design tools, optimized order-creation, stronger scan and design workflows, and a new and highly intuitive user-interface. Learn about all the new features in our What s New document. Read the press release. FULL DIGITAL WORKFLOWS TRIOS Inbox and Communicate Labs with a TRIOS Inbox can receive ready-for-design digital impressions directly from connected clinics; dentists and technicians can interact in the Cloud; Get ready full digital dental workflows are here. 3SHAPE ARTICLE SERIES The Future of Dental Labs From production labs to digital service labs In the first 3 articles in our series The Future of Digital Labs, we predict a near future in which inevitably the majority of labs will be digital. But in what ways will a lab compete and win clients over others when being digital is no longer the major differentiator? Don t miss 3Shape s answer contained in this last article in the series. Read more...
DIGITAL TRENDS It s all about dentistry January 2013 PAY PER DESIGN Introducing 3Shape CAD Points 3Shape CAD Points CAD Points is 3Shape s new Pay-Per-Design service that gives labs easy access to advanced indications and lets them offer more restorations to their clients. It represents an attractive getting-started package for many labs because it is cost efficient and involves minimal investment risk. Customized Abutments Implant Bars & Bridges Removable Partial Dentures Read more... VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO Interview with Tais Clausen 3Shape s Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer sits down with Dental Products Report s Digital Media Director Steve Diogo to discuss the 3Shape TRIOS digital dental impression system. Watch video here. CASE STORY Dental lab PACO MAZO in Spain After getting 3Shape s Dental System, Lab Paco Mazo can continuously expand its business opportunities. «We bought a system that grows stronger year after year due to 3Shape s annual upgrades says Paco Mazo, Lab owner. See the case here.
TRIOS Inbox and Communicate Labs and dentists connect and interact in the cloud Chat forums, Skype, video conferencing this is an age that values its tools for smart communication and easy interaction. Inspired by these trends, 3Shape offers new communication solutions that bring full digital workflows between clinics and labs much closer. Dental labs with a TRIOS Inbox can receive ready-for-design digital impressions directly from connected clinics just minutes after the dentist completes the scan. But that s only half of the story. 3Shape Communicate software running in both labs and clinics provides an interactive communications platform with online exchange of case information, 3D designs and 2D previews through their mutual Communicate Cloud. Labs and clinics connect and communicate 3Shape s TRIOS Inbox is a software component that is integrated within Dental System It enables labs to receive TRIOS digital impressions and orders directly from connected dental clinics. With TRIOS Inbox installed, lab technicians will see a new tab in their Dental Manager interface that opens an overview of incoming cases from connected clinics using 3Shape s TRIOS digital impression solution. The Communicate software is integrated in both Dental System and the TRIOS system enabling labs and dentists to share case information, including 3D designs with annotations, screen shots, and comments. To connect and enjoy such straightforward interaction, both the lab and dentist simply create their own Communicate account, and then either one can send a request to connect. Once accepted on the other The typical Communicate workflow: end, setting up in Dental System is easy and does not involve any kind of complex network parameters or protocols. Closing in on complete digital workflows between clinics and labs Once connected, the clinic and lab meet and interact through their mutual 3Shape Communicate Cloud. In practical terms, this means that labs can provide their client dentists with high quality views of design results in 3D before the restoration is manufactured, and dentists can send their comments back to the lab. Labs can also use their Dental System software to create and send realistic before-after views of full smiles that dentists can show their patients. Both sides can continuously refer to the complete order history includingagreements between them. 1. The dentist sends the digital impression plus order information to the lab directly from the TRIOS interface after completing scanning. 2. The lab receives the order in their TRIOS Inbox, accepts the details and suggested delivery date or else returns its suggestions for changes. 3. The dentist receives a notice on his TRIOS cart stating that the order is either accepted or rejected and views the lab s possible questions, suggestions, or comments. 4. The lab designs the case directly from the digital impression as specified in the agreed order information. Communicate from anywhere also without a 3Shape TRIOS Communication is not restricted to the office. Both lab technicians and dentists can conveniently use the Communicate web interface to access the 3Shape Communicate Cloud remotely using their Tablet PC or Laptop. This same Communicate web interface provides a communication solution for Dentists who do not own a 3Shape TRIOS system, but wish to enjoy the efficient contact and interaction with their lab. 5. The lab sends the dentist 2D previews, smilepreviews, a digital 3D model, questions and comments. 6. Both labs and dentists can add annotations to the 3D view that both access through the Cloud. 7. The dentist approves the design when satisfied and the lab can immediately start manufacturing the restoration.
Benefits for labs Interaction enabled by the digital workflow enhances the dentist s influence in relation to final results benefiting the lab, the dentist, and the patient. TRIOS Inbox allows labs to connect to the many TRIOS systems out there offering new opportunities to expand their customer base. Digital delivery of impressions from clinics makes lab work easier and more efficient. There is no need to provide pick-up services of impressions, and designing can start right away. The digital impression can be used both for designing the restoration and, if needed, to produce a model in parallel. Efficient communication helps labs cement business relationships with their dentist clients. Benefits for clinics In clinics, both impression taking with TRIOS and dispatching scans digitally saves loads of time and allows dentists to serve more patientsfaster. 3Shape s direct-upload concept allows clinics to bypass cumbersome, time consuming, solutions that require sending digital impressions to special cleaning centers before they getto the lab. Efficient, exacting communication makes it easier to ensure optimal results for the patient and reduce the number of remakes. TRIOS Inbox upgrade is part of LABcare upgrades 3Shape Dental System users in labs get the TRIOS Inbox update for their Dental System as an integral part of their subscription and they can immediately start receiving TRIOS scans from the clinics after connecting. Start today TRIOS Inbox is available upon request today and will be included per default on all Dental System installations from February 2013. Communicate comes with 2GB free Cloud storage space, allowing the lab to work with approximately 100 cases simultaneously - which adequately covers the needs of most labs. Large labs, that may at some point need more capacity, can extend their cloud storage space at a very limited cost. Together, 3Shape Communicate and TRIOS Inbox provide unlimited connection and communication there are no hidden pay- percase and no pay-per-connection programs behind 3Shape s solution it s an open digital freeway.
From production labs to digital service labs Always farsighted, 3Shape explores the future dental industry by addressing the question: What comes after Digitization? Mass-digitization of the dental lab industry is already underway and, in our previous articles, we argue that labs need to get on the digital bandwagon as soon as possible in order to stay competitive. But what happens after all labs are digitized - and being digital is no longer the deciding differentiator that keeps a lab s business ahead of its competitors? Mass digitization of the lab industry is inevitable 3Shape foresees a future in which non-digital labs will have closed down, except for those few that manage to hang on to some of their customers due to long-term relationships. Some non-digital labs may survive by positioning themselves niche areas. But the main industry drivers will be large, midsized, and even smaller digital labs with efficient CAD/CAM systems. New competition rules With all contenders in the ring being digital, many labs will have similar offerings and labs, at least those with top-ofthe-market CAD/CAM systems, will basically be working with comparative possibilities in terms of production speed, available materials, quality, and the range of indications they can offer. Inevitably the dental lab market will lean more and more towards becoming a buyer s market, where dentists can easily shop around and switch providers without suffering major consequences. Therefore, digital labs will need to develop new differentiators business models that are strong enough to maintain customer loyalty, win new clients and take the lead in their local markets. From Production lab to Service lab Many labs today are looked upon as production centers, delivering orders of dental restorations to their client base of dentists. Embracing CAD/CAM surely adds production speed, improved quality and more indications. But in a massively digital market, these improvements although significant, will not by themselves change the perception of the lab s role as yet another efficient production center among many others. Labs need to move from being production-only labs to become service-provider labs while taking advantage of their digital technologies to get there. To put it shortly, labs that want to stand out need to shift focus, redefine their function for dentists, and create a new place for themselves in the value chain. New service tools enabled by CAD/CAM Labs will require tools that make possible new service opportunities as supplements to restoration production. The best CAD/CAM providers will target their innovation and solutions to provide such tools to labs. Already today, advancements in technology and digital precision are bringing highly reliable tools to the market, and we expect that labs will take advantage of these to intensify the application of treatment planning in a larger number of cases. Additionally, 3D technology and internet communication tools make it easy to provide clinics with pre-treatment visualizations so dentists can evaluate restoration designs and discuss cases with the patient.
Complete treatment packages enabled by CAD/CAM By using new CAD/CAM tools that bring together digital impressions, diagnostic tools, CAD/CAM design, and online communication tools, labs will be able to provide complete solution packages, such as those containing digital temporaries, matching diagnostic wax-ups and final crowns all for a single case, or implant treatment packages that include surgical guides, implants, customized abutments, and crowns. Dental consultancy A typical dental lab is a warehouse of knowledge. The combination of technician skills, wide-ranging case experience, materials expertise, and CAD/CAM technology knowhow represents a business asset that is both unique and valuable. Digital labs can easily position themselves as dental specialists and offer formal consultancy services mainly to dentists, but also to other labs, milling centers, and practically anyone involved in the industry. Such activity is not only a potential revenue-bringing business model, but it also strengthens relationships with dentists and eventually brings in more work. Enhancing the Service Provider image As a dental lab s service portfolio grows increasingly versatile, it becomes more and more important to promote its offerings and uniqueness in the market. As with any business, good marketing will help labs establish a strong image, reach more customers and beat competition. There are plenty of marketing channels available to labs channels that do not require the clout of a whole marketing department. An active and communicative website, direct mail campaigns, social media, and digital newsletters are just a few examples. Summing up the future of dental labs Digitization of the lab industry opens a realm of opportunity as well as new business challenges. More than ever, it will become imperative to strengthen customer relationships by shifting focus and business models from production to services for dentists. As a first step, those labs which have not yet embraced CAD/CAM should do so soon because a lab s CAD/CAM maturity will become a key competitive advantage when all the other labs discover they had better go digital as well. Labs that have already fully integrated CAD/CAM into their workflows and business models, while building up technology expertise, will simply have a head-start in relation to many of the competition-winning factors we have discussed both in this article, and in previous articles in our series The Future of Dental Labs.
Introducing 3Shape CAD Points Pay Per Design 3Shape CAD Points provides a new way for midsized or smaller labs to offer a wider range of indications with a minimal up-front investment. CAD Points gives labs Pay-Per- Design access to 3Shape s add-on modules for designing advanced indications such as Customized Abutments, Implant Bars & Bridges, and Removable Partial Dentures. Easy to get, easy to use, easy to manage Dental labs can purchase CAD Points through 3Shape s Webshop or through their 3Shape reselling partner. Moments after, technicians can use their CAD Points to pay on the spot for creating a new design for an advanced indication - according to predetermined CAD Point pricing models. CAD Point functionality is integrated in 3Shape s Dental System, and users with CAD Points gain access to add-on modules for designing Customized Abutments, Implant Bars & Bridges, or Removable Partial Dentures. The user can easily keep track of their CAD Points through status overviews, and they receive notifications, when they are close to running out of CAD Points and may wish to tank up. 3Shape CAD Points 5 reasons to like CAD Points: Customized Abutments Implant Bars & Bridges Removble Partial Dentures 1. Cost-efficient: Provides access to advanced design indications with no initial investment in add-on modules 2. Minimal risk: Represents a safe investment solution for small labs just starting with CAD/CAM 3. Flexible: You choose how to use your CAD Points use flexibly for Customized Abutments, Implant Bars & Bridges, or Removables CAD Points opens new business opportunities 3Shape CAD Points represents an attractive solution and safe getting-started package for many labs because it is cost efficient and involves minimal investment risk. It also allows labs to experiment with new business models before investing in advanced indication functionalities. 4. Durable: CAD Points never expire. Use them when the need arises. 5. Convenient - Purchase any hour on the 3Shape Webshop and keep track of their status in Dental System. Interested labs can contact their 3Shape reseller for more information. Read more about CAD Points and 3Shape s advanced indications/add-on modules: http://www.3shapedental.com/restoration/dental-lab/cad-points.aspx