Milled chrome cobalt copings for Dental Wings!

Finally, we can talk about one of our latest projects!

After investing in the Dental Wings Scanning System we soon became very frustrated at the lack of a UK milling centre that could produce chrome copings for ceramic bonding. So, we decided to actively do something about it.

After much internet searching and attending many engineering trade shows we found what we hoped would be the perfect milling partner, a partner that could produce what a modern dental laboratory needed.

What we eventually found was an excellent team, who not only produced the best milled units of any company we had sent our test files to (Europe included) they also had the attitude we love.
Nothing is a problem for these guys, if there's an issue they rewrite their own software or even produce new a modified machine to give the results required.

They build their own 6 axis milling capability machines, every single element, which allows complete control over the final outcome. If something doesn't work for the specific item it was designed to make they redesign and rebuild it, and these are not small machines!

To see them in action reminds me of so many of the best laboratories I have visited and the great technicians I've met, true problem solvers, capable of approaching those problems from new angles and having the ability to do whatever it takes to get the perfect result.

Keeping this a secret has been very difficult, especially as it has taken so much of our time and effort, plus the team have been really excited about sharing the results.

Here are some images taken yesterday while we were running last minute tests at their workshop.







































The technical team at the milling company are a fantastic group of very sharp problem solvers, who after working out the potential issues are ready to commit to a completely new milling centre, dedicated solely to dental products right here in the UK.

Hopefully, in the near future they will be willing to introduce other products to meet the requests of their client laboratories.

This means that we can now produce CAD/CAM frameworks right here in the UK with the Dental Wings system.

How does all this help you ?

Astra Atlantis:

As you will no doubt be aware, one of the major advantages of the Atlantis abutment and Dental Wings partnership is the ability to have an Atlantis Core file returned to us while the abutment is being milled.

This means that we can design the framework and have it in production before we have recieved the abutment from Atlantis!

Both abutment and coping or framework can the be received by the lab on the same day. No longer will there be any need to wait for the abutment to come back only to have to scan again and then design a framework, losing valuable time to work on the final case in the laboratory.

To begin with the service will be open to all users of the Dental Wings system who would like chrome cobalt PFM copings and frameworks.

Here are some examples of just how fantastic the milling quality is!




























And, YES, these are straight off the machine!

If you would like more information on the service then please email:

info@ambridgeceramics.com or call us on 01765 607347 and ask for Mark or Steve

We will be scanning and milling live at the show!

Not only will this service be launching at the Dentistry Show, we'll also be milling cases while you are there!

If you would like to register your interest in PFM chrome copings produced from the Dental Wings Scanners then simply email us and we'll arrange a meeting at The Dentistry Show.
Or,
If you have single unit case in mind and you'd like to test the quality and fit, then why not bring it with you to the show and leave with coping milled on the day?

Just bring your prep to us at stand J45 and we'll scan and mill the coping while you are at the show.

We already know the quality is exceptional, but the best way to convey this is for you to see one produced live to fit on your prep at The Dentistry Show.

If you prefer, you can send us an STL file direct from your Dental Wings scanner, but we will have to create some parameters on your machine first. This is the part of the process that has taken some time to perfect.

We believe that this is a very exciting time for CADCAM in the UK and we're delighted to have helped make this new service a reality for Dental Wings users.

We can't wait to share this with you,

See you at The Dentistry show!

- Posted using BlogPress for iPhone.

Location:Low Mill Rd,Ripon,United Kingdom

Our latest Newsletter is out! 

Thanks to CAD CAM we can now offer a fantastic full zirconia crown for posterior restorations.

No alloy to pay, aesthetic and chip proof!

Also, why not come say hi at The Dentistry Show 2012?

We've taken a stand and will be there for the whole event!

Read more here - Dentistry Show 2012 - http://eepurl.com/iu5sE

Bonfire Night!

We're proud to be supporting the Rotary Club or Ripon Rowels by sponsoring the bonfire at Ripon Racecourse on the 4th November.

Gates open at 6pm

Entertainment includes:-

Ripon Grammar School Big Band Sound

Children's entertainment

Bonfire at 7pm

Fireworks at 7.30pm

We look forward to seeing friends and colleagues on the night.

Astra Atlantis emergence profiles

We're back on the road again with Astra Tech and the Atlantis Live! roadshow 2011.

Something we are hearing from people is that Atlantis can't do 'fluted' emergence profiles?

But it can!

I think that where most of the problems come in is that the Atlantis system is treated as a hands off system by many new users, this is not the way to get the very best from the Atlantis system.

By Hands off I mean that many technicians are not checking the 2D design email, let alone opening the 3D viewer or Editor interface, and are instead completely trusting the whole design to a technician in the Atlantis production centre.

By doing so the technician misses the opportunity to have the kind of input that tailors the abutment designs to match their surgeons specific preferences, the very service that makes the relationship between surgeons and their technicians so important.

Astra Tech have provided a fantastic suite of viewer and editor tools to allow the technician to completely customise their abutment design.

We have complete control of exactly how the final Atlantis abutment will look, which is exactly the same as any other custom abutment we would make in the laboratory.

The trick is simply knowing how to use the tools properly.

If you look at the images below you will see how we have completely dictated the profile of the abutments emergence and just how much compensation we have made to the position of the abutment itself.

Astra Atlantis provide the very best CAD/CAM custom abutment solutions for multiple implant platforms that we have ever used!

To pick up the tips and tricks for getting the best out of Astra Atlantis, come and see us on the roadshow

Click here for dates and booking

Astra Atlantis Live! 2011

Astra Atlantis Live! UK 2011

We are proud to be supporting Astra Tech on their Atlantis Live! evening events. Steve will be presenting on the Astra Atlantis roadshow alongside Dr Tim Doswell, one of the UK's most experienced users of the Atlantis abutments system.

Together they will be on hand to explain the clinical and laboratory benefits of these fantastic abutments.

As well as covering the already established benefits of the Atlantis abutment system, they will be presenting new ways to use the options that Atlantis provides and also highlight some of the new products and services that Atlantis will be rolling out this year!

The Venues and Dates are:-

Plymouth 6th October

Cardiff 20th October

Novotel Cardiff Centre
Schooner Way, Atlantis Wharf, Cardiff. CF10 4RT

Liverpool 17th November

Newcastle 24th November

Live Webinar 1st December

For more information you can download the Atlantis Live 2011 flyer here or book by emailing lydia.farrow@astratech.com

These evenings are complimentary and will also provide 1.5 hours CPD.

For more details on the current benefits of the Astra Atlantis system you can visit our dedicated Atlantis abutments Page

Latest Newsletter

It's been a busy 12 months

Since our last update we have gone fully digital, meaning we can now go direct from an oral scan to the final restoration without ever having poured a model !

Along with this we have talked extensively for AstraTech, The ADi, BIDST and The Dentistry Show on CAD/CAM technology and the benefits it can bring to surgeons and their patients.

This edition of our newsletter is loaded with CAD/CAM content simply because it has opened up so many unique advantages to our clients and at the same time saved money, a true win/win situation.

To compliment all our existing CAD/CAM solutions we have recently invested in the Straumann iTero lab software (for the aqcusition of digital impressions direct from the practice) and Dental Wings (to allow us access to most of the very finest CAD design and open platform milling centres around the world) This latest acquisition is in addition to all our existing digital systems, meaning we can accept digital files from any oral scanner available in the UK and have any type of CAD/CAM restoration made.

In short this has meant that we can offer the very best restorations to our surgeons which has also saved them thousands of pounds in needless extra componentry and expensive alloy, regardless of the systems they use.

Astra Atlantis

As with all the other CAD/CAM solutions we have introduced for our clients, Astra Atlantis has provided a fantastic option for restoring implant cases AND saved money on every case. From the end of Q3 we will also be able to provide this fantastic solution on Camlog implants!

As one of the first Laboratories in the UK to use Atlantis we were in an excellent position to make the switch over to producing these implant abutments using the new Dental Wings system as soon as it went live in the UK earlier this year. This has given our technicians much more control over the design of these fantastic abutments, which will ensure you always get the best custom solution for your implant restorations.

We are now one of, if not the biggest single laboratory producer of these abutments, which is testament to the dedication and skill of our technical team who tailor this system to fit each of our clients needs exactly. Our depth of knowledge with this system and the feedback from the very successful Atlantis Live! 2010 tour has also meant that we have been asked to lecture for Astra Tech again this year at their UK Symposium.

Dates for the diary

Audi Quattro Rooms London

This years Astra Tech Symposium will be held at the Audi Quattro Rooms London on the 16th September 2011 and will cover the latest developments in the Astra Tech system including the new TX profile implants & Astra Atlantis update (Crown abutment, 3D editor demo, Camlog interface & core file) which will highlight all the possibilities of these fantastic systems, especially when used in combination!

For more details CLICK HERE or contact your local Astra Tech representative

Dentistry Show 2012

We've booked a stand for 2nd and 3rd March at The Dentistry Show 2012. After talking at last years show we were so impressed with what was on offer that we decided to jump in and have a presence at next year's show!

Come along and see first hand what the lab has to offer you as a surgical partner, including the latest on CAD/CAM restorations, Smile Design planning and implant support on complex implant restorations.


Gearing up for the Great North Run

Many of you will already know Marc Tocher as one of our longest serving and highly skilled ceramists but many will be unaware that he is also a keen runner who has previously competed in many events, including the local Leeds Abbey Dash.

Marc has decided to complete The Great North Run in aid of Cancer Research UK. Anyone who's run will know this is a hard slog and well worth supporting him in his efforts.

We'd like to thank many of our surgical partners who have already donated and offered support to Marc. If you would like to donate or offer words of encouragement, all this can be done by visiting Marc's Just Giving Page




A note from our Directors

So, we've obviously been busy and investing in the latest technology but this is not for personal kudos. It's to ensure we offer the very best to our clients, so that hopefully you can rest assured that you are always getting the best products, support, advice and up to date information on the latest trends available in restorative dentistry.

Ambridge Ceramics is committed to creating dental solutions that improve the experienece of both the patient and the surgeon. We value our surgical and laboratory partners, without your help and support we simply wouldn't be here.

We want to get even better at what we do though, and to do this we need to hear from loyal customers like you! How are we doing? what do you like and what could we do better? Follow us on Twitter at @ambridgeceramic and let us know what you think about our products and service.

Your feedback makes us better.


Thank-you for your continued support

Mark Ambridge & Angela Kelly

Latest article on Dentinal Tubules

In Mark's latest article he discusses ways in which surgeons can get the best from their laboratory.

Mark Ambridge

Dentinal Tubules expert

Getting the most from your laboratory & Creating a great first impression!

Topics that will be covered in this article :

1. Information overload
2. Impression taking
3. Diagnostics
4. Try-in
5. Feedback
6. Work protocol

Information Overload.

Actually there’s no such thing! You can never give the technician enough information about the patient, don't forget you have met, and know the patient, we, usually have not.

Consider sending pre-op and provisionalised images, full-face smiling, close ups with cheeks retracted, profiles etc.

Fill in the lab card fully, i.e. age and sex of patient is very important to style of finished work.

Patients' expectations & what they really want to achieve.

Meeting the patient if possible is also invaluable for the outcome, it also gives the patient a feeling of importance and they tend to talk more openly to the person in the ‘back room’?

We can also promote other procedures like teeth bleaching, implants and additional veneers, etc. procedures that could improve the overall restorative results.

Take good impressions: Obvious you might think, but, when using a silicone based do you:

1. Use non-perforated, metal or rigid plastic trays or custom made special trays (perforated trays are for alginate only)
2. Make sure trays are the correct arch size to prevent touching other teeth around the arch.
3. Always use tray adhesive (prevents ‘lifting’ distortion)
4. Use a stable silicone impression material (no shrinkage), NOT alginate unless cast straight away (within 10 mins.)
5. If you mix putty by hand wear polythene, NOT latex gloves (latex can affect setting)
6. Use a stopwatch or timer to allow the material to set properly (see instruction manual for exact times)
7. Use same impression material for both impressions. There's no point providing a fantastic impression for the working model and then to produce something of inferior accuracy for the opposing/bite model.
8. Make sure they are cleaned and disinfected (by HSE/HMRA/CQC instructions)
9. Make sure it's packaged properly ready for transportation, loosely packed in a ‘gripseal’ lab bag inside a box (enclose some damp tissues, not soaking wet as alginate can absorb and expand, in the bag if alginate was used to prevent dehydration).
10. Make sure you send it to a good lab which is capable of understanding your requirements

for an excellent and indepth article by Espe on ‘Making Better Impressions’ please go to:

http://www.ambridgeceramics.co.uk/guide/

Diagnostics

Creating bridgework, especially interiorly can be virtually impossible to ‘get right' when we don't know where the teeth should be. Consider starting those missing teeth cases with a diagnostic wax-up, from that with a simple stent or alginate you can make good looking provisionals which in turn can be assessed by the patient and you and, when happy with the shape and position an impression can be taken and sent with the work to give the technician a Patient Approved Provisional (PAP) model which they can matrix and copy for correct tooth position.

This technique is widely used in implantology where often the bone and soft tissue loss means the final teeth would be ‘floating' in space without the addition of extra bone in surgery or ‘pink' gum on the restoration.

Try-in

Again when doing a medium to large anterior case or difficult occlusion case or even that difficult to match central consider a ‘Bisque' try-in, (bisque is the pre glazed state of ceramic) so being rough this will enable you to adjust the ceramic easily or mark it where it needs adding or reducing.

If you want to add to reshape please use wax not composite as this leaves an invisible residue that can affect the firing of ceramic.

Feedback

Just as important but often forgotten about, the lab technician will often put his or her ‘all’ into designing and making a case look, what they consider to be correct. As we discussed before they may never have met, seen or ever will meet or see the patient, you will make their day by letting them know on a regular basis the end result of a case however complex and whatever the result, good bad or mediocre. The good will help to keep up morale, the bad will help to teach, and help improve the way the technician works and eventually there won't be so many mediocre and bad results, they will all be great!

Lab work protocol

Check your work returns schedule daily, i.e. the day before the appointment and have a returns diary. It's no good phoning the lab 1 hr. before the appointment asking where the lab work is only to find the lab card return date doesn't match the patients appointment.

Have a specific place for in and out work and have two people responsible for logging it in and out.

Benefits to you and your patients…(AKA the cheesy bit)!

Using our guide to impression taking and workflow organisation will provide the following benefits to you and your patients:

• Provides a more accurate detail of the mouth
• Cuts out any chance of errors
• Ease of fit of work
• Less chair time so more you time
• Less chair time ‘stress’ for the patient
• Results – great fitting, fantastic looking restorations and patients who will love you all the more and even refer their rich, paying friends!

With regards to impressions, you could always go fully digital!? We’ll be holding an open evening giving surgeons the chance to get hands on with the new fully digital system provided by iTero at the lab on the 6^th April

More information and booking available here: http://www.ambridgeceramics.co.uk/news/article/itero_evening

Thank you

R M Ambridge

To read any of our other articles in full click on the link below, then on the site choose Mark Ambridge or Steve Campbell to see the articles written from our lab.

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