Achieving amazing aesthetics with digital workflows
Although digital restorative workflows are often associated with creating indirect ceramic restorations with CAD/CAM technology, digital workflows can also be utilised in direct composite restorations. Dr Thiago Ottoboni is a specialist in both – and loves using Planmeca Group’s solutions in his daily restorative work.
Brazilian prosthodontist Dr Thiago Ottoboni made the transition to digital dentistry a couple of years ago. Today, he uses digital dental solutions for both composite and ceramic restorations in order to create long-lasting and high-quality aesthetic results – and recommends digital dentistry to everyone.
“Digital workflows are not automatically better than analogical workflows, but a dentist can achieve amazing results in planning and execution using digital tools, for example to guide dental surgery, endodontic treatments and even composite resin,” he explains.
Indeed, for direct composite restorations, Dr Ottoboni and his colleague Dr Lincoln Queirós have developed a digital workflow, which includes using digitally planned and 3D-printed guides for building the restorations from composite resin.
“Our technique for working with composite restorations is unique. The digital workflow allows us to define the thickness of the dentine and the enamel, design the shape of the teeth, create digital wax-up for the desired outcome and print guides for the application with a 3D printer. The printed guides help dentists deliver the enamel and dentine as digitally planned, so it is easier to perform direct restorations by hand – which has been challenging for many,” he describes.
Dr Ottoboni prefers using direct composite restorations for anterior teeth to maximise the visual outcome. To create the desired aesthetics with the help of 3D-printed guides, he uses LM-Dental instruments for the composite layering. LM-Dental is a subsidiary of Planmeca.
“I have worked with LM-Dental instruments since 2017. They are the best instruments in the world.”
Convinced by the digital Planmeca ecosystem
Besides direct restorative treatments, Dr Ottoboni uses digital tools for working with ceramic materials as well. Currently, he uses digital solutions for taking impressions of the patient’s teeth and for designing the restorations – and plans to add manufacturing capabilities to his clinic in the future.
Roughly half a year ago, Dr Ottoboni invested in Planmeca Emerald™ S intraoral scanner and is now using the scanner daily to take digital impressions of the patients' teeth. He previously used another scanner but decided to switch to Planmeca. One of the things that convinced Dr Ottoboni was the complete Planmeca ecosystem, which, according to him, is superior to competitors’ systems.
“I chose Planmeca Emerald S after talking with Rui Falacho, DMD and the President of European Academy of Digital Dentistry, and after learning more about the digital workflows of Planmeca. The scanner is very, very fast and easy to use,” he praises.
The transition from using another scanner to Planmeca was also simple and fast. It took only a couple of days to learn the fastest scanning technique and how to use Planmeca Romexis® software. According to Dr Ottoboni, the software is also very intuitive.
“For example, it is very simple to create a hollow model and export it for printing or design a precise ceramic restoration with the CAD/CAM module. I can also easily export files and send them to my dental technician for manufacturing,” he tells.
Having used Planmeca Emerald S for a while now, Dr Ottoboni is pleased with the state-of-the-art Planmeca technology – and the personal support by the local Planmeca team.
“It has always been my dream to buy a Planmeca chair. For me, Planmeca is the best brand in the world. Earlier, I always thought Planmeca equipment was too expensive for me. However, after I talked with the Planmeca Brazil team about some upcoming projects, I found out I had been wrong, and made the investment,” he recalls.
“Now, my brother, with whom I am working with, and I have plans to get the complete Planmeca workflow – the scanner, 3D printer and perhaps the milling unit – to be able to produce some of the ceramic restorations in house. Currently, I need to send the scans to my dental technician, who works in another city here in Brazil, so it is a bit time-consuming. I will surely continue collaborating with them in the future as well, but I am planning to treat some of the cases with the same-day approach.”
“Planmeca is an amazing company and I am pleased and proud to work with Planmeca,” Dr Ottoboni concludes.
Copy: Mari Koivunen
Images: Guilhelme Gustavo Becker
Planmeca Oy and Planmeca Group
Planmeca Oy is one of the world's leading dental equipment manufacturers with a product range covering digital dental units, CAD/CAM solutions, world-class 2D and 3D imaging devices and comprehensive software solutions. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Planmeca’s products are distributed in over 120 countries worldwide. With a strong commitment to pioneering innovations and design, it is the largest privately held company in its field. Planmeca Oy is part of the Finnish Planmeca Group, which operates in the field of healthcare technology. The Group's turnover in 2020 was MEUR 764, and it employs nearly 2,900 people worldwide.
www.planmeca.com
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