COLOGNE, Germany: Dentistry has evolved through many different eras. Today, it is about choice and creating an individual treatment option for each patient, without compromising function and allowing for plenty of leeway in terms of aesthetics. At this year’s International Dental Show (IDS), running from 12 to 16 March, attendees will once again have a fantastic opportunity to discover a wide range of products and materials and choose what best suits their individual working style and needs.
Speaking about the congress Dr Markus Heibach, the Executive Director of the Association of the German Dental Industry, said: “In order to exploit this enormous offering optimally, communication is becoming increasingly more important. That is why, especially regarding the wide field of dental materials and their aesthetic advantages, we recommend visiting IDS with your whole treating team.”
Whether it is CAD/CAM processing of zirconia in the dental laboratory or restorations made of high-performance glass-ceramic, there is endless potential for visitors to IDS to see what areas of dentistry are new and what areas are evolving. Today, for example, zirconia blanks are available in different colours, covering the entire VITA shade spectrum. Blanks with internal colour gradients make individualisation easier, thereby saving time. Patient-orientated aesthetics can be achieved, depending on the individual case, with a veneer or by characterising a monolithic restoration with stains and glazes.
Along with improvements on older techniques and materials, new technology will be a key feature. As 3-D printing becomes an integral part of the dental industry, new materials from plastics manufacturing are being introduced. PEEK and other thermoplastic polymers provide aesthetic and functional advantages for restorative dentistry. Their modulus of elasticity is similar to that of human bone, and PEEK is fatigue-resistant and has high ductility. Owing to the material’s high melting temperature, PEEK restorations can be sterilised and can be milled via CAD/CAM, as well as produced using injection or press moulding methods.
With so many opportunities for dental professionals to discover new materials and processes, Heibach believes that the cooperation between IDS and its visitors will only intensify over the coming months and years.
