At Elos Medtech, we take immense pride in acknowledging women who contribute to our progress and innovation in the healthcare industry. Today, we direct our appreciation towards Sofia Andersson, our IT Project Manager and Business Analyst, based in Skara, Sweden.
From Curiosity to Engineering Expertise
Sofia’s adventure in engineering began with a simple yet profound question: How do things work? Her search for answers led her to explore mechanical engineering, a field that promised endless opportunities to discover and create. Choosing to specialize in industrial engineering, Sofia found a perfect blend of creativity and logic, setting the stage for a career that would not only satisfy her curiosity but also make a tangible difference in the world.
A Decade of Dedication at Elos Medtech
Starting as a quality engineer at our Skara facility, Sofia spent nine years deeply involved in enhancing our quality and environmental systems. Her work, critical to both our day-to-day operations and our long-term vision, laid a foundation of excellence that continues to support our growth and innovation. In 2023, Sofia embarked on a new challenge as an IT Project Manager and Business Analyst, leading a global project that stands at the forefront of our technological advancements.
More products have been added to the ELOS Accurate® product range to complement the below implant systems:
Dentsply Sirona – MultiBase EV
HIOSSEN – ET system
NEODENT – Grand Morse, Grand Morse Micro Abutment, and Grand Morse Mini Abutment
Strauman - BLX
ZimVie – Low Profile Abutment
We believe that expanding the product range will provide everyone with a greater selection to choose from.
The discerning reader or customer may observe that the product codes for the Nobel Biocare Multi-Unit Abutment NP/RP (MUA) remain consistent across the platforms mentioned above. This is due to its establishment as the gold standard among MUAs.
Over time, numerous other implant companies have adopted this same connection profile, enhancing the compatibility of the Nobel MUA with various systems. Through rigorous testing, we are pleased to confirm the compatibility with Elos Accurate products for Nobel MUA (our Analog for Printed Model products, hybrid bases, screws, and scan bodies), as well as with a range of other platforms.
How the new Elos Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions enable smoother workflows
Digital workflows have revolutionized restorative dentistry for the better in recent years. That much is beyond doubt. Another certainty is that digital workflows are still characterized by multiple, discrete steps: the clinician produces digital scans, the scan files are imported into a CAD application, they then go to the CAM software, then there is the abutment milling process… and on it goes.
Traditionally, clinics and labs have used separate solutions for these different steps. The outcome? Too much time and money spent trying to knit various products and systems into seamless workflows—and a loss of control over quality and timing (and of profit margins) every time key processes are entrusted to external parties.
The advent of validated in-house milling is however a major step towards realizing more streamlined, more profitable digital workflows. The new Elos Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions, for example, include blanks and a holder for in-house milling of custom abutments using imes icore, Planmeca and vhf milling machines. But as Ralph Erhard, Elos Medtech’s Senior Manager Technical Support and Sales puts it, the new solutions go far beyond being a “mere” product.
“The product is of course exceptional,” says Ralph, who has been deeply involved in the development of the new Pre-Milled Blank Solutions. “Just as important, thanks to our 510(k) clearance, the solutions offer labs a list of pre-approved and validated workflows between CAD, CAM and devices. This is so much more than regulatory compliance. It actually answers the big question posed by many labs: ‘How can I perform in-house milling in a way that protects profit margins, ensures quality, and provides validated workflows without incurring the costs of getting 510(k) clearance?”
Ralph is however keen to stress that the workflow benefits are not limited to US-based labs and clinics. “All the products in the Elos Accurate portfolio,” he says, “are approved by the relevant European bodies, and meet the provisions of the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation that are due to come into effect over the next few years. The bottom line is that labs in Europe and the US can benefit from the solutions, secure in the knowledge they are satisfying regulatory demands.”
Peace of mind to piece of time
In-house milling with validated workflows translates into significant financial benefits for labs. Removing an entire external step from the manufacturing phase means major time and cost savings. Instead of waiting days for products to return from milling centers, labs can mill customized abutments in under an hour. “Customization has obvious clinical and esthetic benefits,” says Ralph. “Then there’s the added patient satisfaction that comes from not having to wait for what essentially is a stock solution. Moreover, labs can boost their margins by offering specialized abutments—abutments they mill under their own control, without having to pay a premium to an external partner.”
But the benefits extend far beyond the commercial. “Truly customized abutments,” says Ralph, “deliver a level of functionality and stability that just isn’t possible with off-the-shelf abutments.” But achieving such high-performance abutments depends on several factors, one of which is the stability of the blank during the milling process. “That’s why,” adds Ralph, “we put such emphasis on developing a proprietary locking system for the new blanks.” Called GuideLock™, the system clamps the blank in a way that virtually eliminates vibration. But just as important is the accuracy of a blank’s position—something Ralph says has been optimized so that the blank’s position is aligned with that expected by the CAM. “After all,” he says, “Pre-Milled Blank Solutions are a part of the Elos Accurate family, so accuracy is of course paramount.”
For Ralph, it is the combination of innovative product features with validated and open workflows that makes the Elos Accurate Pre-Milled Blank Solutions so appealing to today’s labs and clinics. “On the one hand, there is the freedom of action that comes from being able to use different milling machines and produce customized abutments. On the other, there are the technical breakthroughs—the blank’s clamping stability and positional accuracy proceeded in a high-precision holder —that make the solutions so innovative.”
Elos Accurate® Libraries serve as the crucial link between your CAD software and specific implant components. They simplify your workflow by providing accurate representations of physical components, making your processes more efficient.
By making use of Elos Accurate Libraries, you can design and fabricate customized milled abutments, create one-piece bridges and bars with implant connection geometries, and achieve predictable results with engaging and non-engaging hybrid base restorations. Our libraries offer all the necessary tools at your disposal, empowering you to create outstanding dental restorations.
Let’s take a closer look at the 6 key advantages of Elos Accurate Libraries that you must know:
Comprehensive Digital Libraries: Elos Accurate Libraries are open digital resources that include all relevant components for major design software such as 3Shape, Exocad, and Dental Wings. They cover a wide range of implant solutions for various prosthetic indications.
Simplified Workflow: Seamlessly integrating into your digital workflow, Elos Accurate Libraries encompass all the necessary components for dental implant solutions. You can design solutions from start to finish in a digital environment, even when working with conventional impressions. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors. The libraries are compatible with popular platforms, eliminating the need to switch between implant-specific databases, scan bodies, or their settings, simplifying the workflow and reducing complexity.
Usability and Flexibility: Integrated seamlessly into major open CAD and CAM software applications, Elos Accurate Libraries allow dental professionals to work with their preferred tools and equipment.
Precision: Elos Accurate Libraries prioritize precision in dental implant procedures. They provide a comprehensive range of components and tools to ensure a precise model, enabling predictable results that enhance the success rate of dental restorations and improve patient satisfaction.
Continuous Updates and Support: The libraries receive regular updates to incorporate new products and software advancements. Elos Medtech collaborates closely with CAD/CAM software providers, implant companies, and dental clinics/labs to gather knowledge and ensure the libraries remain up-to-date and reliable.
Proven Track Record: Elos Accurate Libraries have gained trust and positive feedback from the dental industry. They have been downloaded tens of thousands of times by users worldwide and have a reputation for delivering reliable results. Elos Medtech’s focus on digital solutions since the birth of the dental digital era and its commitment to quality contribute to the library’s credibility.
In summary, Elos Accurate Libraries offer comprehensive, user-friendly, and precise digital resources that enhance the workflow of dental professionals. They support implant procedures and provide value to implant companies, dental labs, and clinics.
Why wait? Download Elos Accurate Libraries now and enjoy designing with accurate representations of physical components, which enable predictable results.
The past decade has seen a digital revolution in the dental implant field. Yet despite the transformations brought by digitalization, many clinics and labs remain locked into closed, proprietary workflows. Put simply, they must follow a workflow specified by an implant company.
The result is that once the designs are completed in the CAD / CAM software, labs and clinics have no freedom of choice when it comes to key components and devices. Indeed, under such proprietary arrangements, labs must rely on off-site, centralized manufacturing centers, even when they have their own in-house milling and printing capabilities.
At first glance, such locked-in workflows may seem advantageous. After all, every step is decided in advance; there is no need to spend time selecting different products and/or vendors. But locked-in workflows are also rigid and restrictive—hardly the best way of working when ideally labs should be using whatever validated, verified systems are best for an individual patient’s optimal outcome.
Moreover, the argument that locked-in workflows are essential for consistent results is hard to sustain in today’s digital landscape. For example, labs can now use pre-milled blanks and their own milling machines for fully controlled in-house milling of custom abutments. Labs can send digital files virtually anywhere in the world. And technology makes it easy to work with numerous trusted vendors and specialists around the globe.
Open and simplified
So what alternatives to locked-in workflows do labs and clinics have? One proven alternative is the Elos Accurate® Digital SMART Flow solution. A comprehensive and fully open workflow for all major implant platforms, Digital SMART Flow is suitable for all implant indications, and for in-house or outsourced production.
The acronym SMART of course suggests the solution is a generally more enlightened way of working than restrictive proprietary workflows. But SMART also stands for: Simplify the Manufacturing of Accurate Restorations with Technology—in other words, the solution offers everything needed for a smooth, reliable, validated workflow from initial scan to final outcome.
Simplifying the production of restorations is the bedrock of Digital SMART Flow. Labs and clinics are for example free to start with digital impressions from an intra-oral scanner or conventional impressions. They can then continue the workflow partly or entirely digitally—whatever best suits them and their patients. Further simplification comes from the fact that all components in the solution (scan bodies, hybrid bases, etc.) are compatible with all the major implant systems.
Workflow simplification is further enabled by the solution’s openness. End users simply upload the Elos Accurate Library to any of the major CAD suites. Once they have designed the restoration and received the STL file, they can open and convert it in any major open CAM software. There is no need for different components or equipment. End users can then choose to outsource milling and printing to a centralized milling center, or opt to perform these operations in-house.
The ’accurate restorations’ element of Digital SMART Flow refers to the solution’s focus on accuracy. This is demonstrated by the new single-body ScanBody22 in the Digital SMART Flow solution. Characterized by one highly respected lab owner as “an evolutionary advance in accuracy,” the ScanBody22 delivers exceptional scanning accuracy that helps “minimize the risk of adjustments further on in the workflow.”
Scan. Design. Manufacture
Digital SMART Flow is comprehensive, covering every phase in the journey from initial scanning to final printing and milling. For the scan phase, Digital SMART Flow offers the ScanBody22 titanium scan body, probably the most accurate scan body on the market.
For the design phase, the solution offers four open libraries, each containing all the relevant parts for 3Shape and exocad software. There is no need to worry about parameters for cement gaps, angulation, or height, since they are already tested and defined with extreme accuracy. The four open libraries are:
Elos Accurate® Custom Abutment Library, for milled customized abutments using Elos abutment blanks
Elos Accurate® Custom Bar Bridge Library, for creating one-piece bridges and bars, it includes implant connection geometries
Elos Accurate® Hybrid Base Engaging Library is for Elos Accurate hybrid bases (engaging) for screw-retained single or small cement-retained bridge restorations
Elos Accurate® Hybrid Base Non-Engaging Library is used for Elos Accurate hybrid bases (non-engaging) for screw-retained bridge restorations and bar restorations
Benefits for implant companies, too
But it is not just clinics and labs that stand to benefit from the open, validated workflow of Digital SMART Flow. As the market shifts away from locked-in proprietary systems, those implant manufacturers who can offer a solution that’s compatible with other products—whether it’s an implant, digital component, 3D printer or other product—are going to be preferred over those who only offer proprietary workflows.
Moreover, the Digital SMART Flow can help manufacturers quickly expand their product portfolios and get to market swiftly. That is because Elos Medtech is one of the very few companies in the FDA database with a 510(k) clearance for localized milling. Our workflow has been tested and is verified, ensuring regulatory compliance for adopters of our solutions in the US market. And of course, for labs and clinics in Europe, Digital SMART Flow is MDR compliant.
This post can of course only sketch several of the features and benefits of our Digital SMART Flow solution.
In the analog days of dental implant solutions, dentists and patients too often had to deal with delays and frustration arising from multiple visits and remakes.
Fast forward to today, and the spread of digital methods is helping to alleviate these issues, making life easier for labs, dentists and patients.
The benefits of localized milling are now widely recognized, and many labs already mill crowns and abutments in-house. With in-house milling, dental labs can boost their efficiency with a faster workflow, achieve higher profit margins and shorter turnaround times, and enjoy numerous other advantages.
But the process of making in-house milling a reality can be challenging. Most importantly for the US market, stringent FDA requirements must be met. Europeans, too, likely face a tougher regulatory environment.
With Elos Medtech, however, you don’t have to worry about satisfying regulatory requirements—we’ve already done that for you. The following paragraphs explain how our solution works, and how you and your practice or lab stand to benefit.
Pre-milled abutment blanks: offering benefits to patients and their providers
The precision, efficiency, and convenience with which labs can produce abutments with localized milling far exceed that of other solutions. Custom abutments result in a solution that perfectly follows the contour of the gum for a better fit and aesthetics much closer to that of natural teeth. Moreover, custom abutments are easier to clean, and result in better implant longevity.
Pre-milled abutment blanks enable dental technicians to produce custom abutments in their labs without compromising the quality and performance of the restorations. Key advantages include faster turnaround times and more control over design and production. And clinics can offer same-day chair-side restorations for less complicated restorations meaning less chair time for patients.
There is also less shipping of physical parts back and forth, reducing the likelihood of delays and shaving valuable time and cost off the process. Dental labs can mill a part in about half an hour to an hour instead of waiting a day or more.
The potential benefits to labs’ profit margins can be substantial:
Labs have more bandwidth to take on additional projects
Labs eliminate the time and expense of outsourcing custom abutments and other implant-related restorations
Switching to localized milling means labs can sell premium abutments with a greater profit margin since they’re no longer paying a premium for parts
Phil Brisebois, the founder of Gravidee Dental Studio, a 100% digital dental laboratory in West Hollywood, California, explains how the pre-milled blank has improved his workflow:
Localized milling: regulations and risk mitigation
Milling methods may be similar worldwide. But different regions and countries have different regulatory regimes that labs must follow.
In the US, the FDA classifies customer-specific milling as the manufacture of a Class II medical device. Therefore, labs milling custom implant abutments with CAD/CAM technology must either commission a validated milling center, or use products with a 510(k) pre-market clearance and registration.
The reality is that some labs that mill locally in the US do not adhere to these regulations and are thus breaking the law.
In Europe, there have been fewer rules to follow and little oversight. European labs’ ability to produce custom abutments in-house without validated workflows will likely change as global regulations continue to grow stricter with time.
Liability risks are great and can be costly in cases of non-compliance. At a minimum, labs risk idle production lines, capital costs burdens, and declining employee profitability. It is therefore essential that labs work with a trusted partner—one who already has a fully validated localized milling solution.
Safety and flexibility with a fully validated, open workflow
With Elos Medtech’s FDA-cleared list of pre-approved workflows between CAD, CAM, and devices, labs do not need to register as medical device manufacturers—Elos Medtech is the designated medical device manufacturer creating the components.
Using our pre-milled blanks, labs perform the end-stage patient adjustments themselves and enjoy the flexibility and freedom to choose in-lab milling that’s equivalent to using a validated milling center.
Furthermore, our 510(k) clearance applies to our entire Elos Accurate® product line, so working with Elos Medtech means enjoying the assurance of a fully compliant product line.
Brisebois relates his experience with Elos Medtech pre-milled blanks:
Flexible, open in-lab milling components
We use standardization in our medical devices for less downtime and more control. Our pre-milled holder is compatible with an array of brands, and the modular design means parts can be easily and inexpensively replaced on demand.
Our solution uses the same screw head support as the original implant manufacturer for fewer “extra” parts, and changing blanks requires only one tool. Our blanks are laser-marked for easier identification and traceability. We also have the most stable clamping geometry in the market, resulting in less deviation when processing, smoother surfaces, less manual rework, and less tool/spindle wear.
Phil Brisebois on his experience with Elos pre-milled blanks:
A trusted provider, Elos Medtech delivers the flexibility and control you demand—and the predictable outcomes your lab or clinic relies on.
To learn more about Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions and their benefits, click here.
Enables FDA compliant, in-house milling of custom abutments
Elos Medtech, a leading development and production partner for medical devices and components, has announced the US launch of its Elos Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions. The solutions give labs validated workflows for control over their in-house milling of custom abutments.
“The launch is a milestone in our quest to cut turnaround times, improve margins and optimize outcomes for end users,” says Søren Olesen, Chief Commercial & Operation Officer Dental at Elos Medtech. “Labs can now mill titanium abutments in-house with complete control over quality and timing. Just as important, labs don’t have to worry about meeting FDA regulations—we’ve already taken care of that with our 510(k) clearance.”
Elos Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions include: pre-milled blanks for in-house custom abutment milling, holder, FDA- and MDR-compliant pre-approved workflows between CAD, CAM and devices, and an open library available in 3shape and exocad.
Milling customer-specific abutments is classified as the manufacture of a Class II medical device in the US. Labs must therefore entrust the task to an external validated milling center, or procure products with a 510(k) pre-market clearance and registration for a validated digital dentistry workflow. “Using external milling centers,” says Olesen “means labs lose control over their workflow. With the Elos Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions, however, we offer labs an FDA-cleared list of pre-approved workflows between CAD, CAM and devices.”
The pre-milled blanks included in the solution are made from titanium grade 5, with each ,blank featuring the new GuideLock™ self-positioning clamp system to maximize stability. The holder can hold up to six blanks during a single milling operation, helping to cut handling times and boost efficiency. The holder is modular, allowing for quick and easy disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions are available for imes icore, Planmeca and vhf milling machines.
“The solution,” says Olesen, “is a turning point for labs, clinics and the entire industry in the US. Even more labs and clinics now stand to reap the clinical and commercial benefits of seamless digital dentistry—without incurring the burden of costly, time-consuming regulatory compliance.”
To learn more about Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions and their benefits, click here.
Clinics in the US can now mill customized titanium abutments while ensuring compliance with FDA regulations, thanks to the validated workflow from Elos Medtech and Planmeca. The streamlined process saves time and eliminates worries about regulatory procedures, giving clinicians ease of mind.
This month, Elos Medtech introduces Elos Accurate® Pre-milled Blank Solutions, a line of titanium blanks that are compatible with the Planmeca FIT® Plus System —including the Planmeca Emerald® S scanner, Planmeca PlanCAD® Premium Design software, and the Planmeca PlanMill® 60 S milling unit.
Planmeca’s PlanMill® 60 S allows clinicians to increase in-house capabilities than outsourcing to a third-party laboratory, reducing both wait times and the final cost to the patient. Now, Planmeca PlanMill 60® S users can add titanium custom abutments to their arsenal.
Titanium is considered the gold standard for biocompatible and stable abutments, even in cases where there is limited space. The Elos Accurate Pre-Milled blank offers greater design freedom, thanks to its minimal gingival height, which significantly improves esthetics in the transition area between the ceramic crown and abutment. By integrating the Elos Accurate Pre-Milled library into Planmeca PlanCAD® Premium Design Software, clinicians can mill individual titanium abutments that are perfectly tailored to the anatomy of their patients. The Planmeca PlanMill® 60 S has the capability to mill up to six different Pre-Milled blanks at the same time.
Elos Medtech’s collaboration with Planmeca has significantly streamlined the process of creating titanium custom abutments in-house. “The launch is a milestone in our quest to cut turnaround times, improve margins, and optimize outcomes for users,” says Søren Olesen, Elos Medtech’s Chief Commercial & Operation Officer Dental. “Clinics can now mill titanium custom abutments in-house with complete control over quality and timing.”
The integrated workflow between the Planmeca PlanMill® 60 S and the Elos Accurate Pre-Milled blanks has received full 510(k) pre-market clearance from the FDA. The new workflow has made it possible for clinics to deliver personalized and esthetically pleasing results to patients, secure in the knowledge they are in full regulatory compliance.
“Planmeca was delighted to work with Elos Medtech to validate a simplified end-to-end process with stable results for predictable outcomes with no turnaround time from an outsourced lab,” says Gavin Sternberg, Director of CAD/CAM and Technical Support at Planmeca. “The high degree of personalization with custom titanium abutments is another plus for a practice to deliver exceptional restorative care.”
“This collaboration represents a turning point for clinics,” Olesen says, “even more clinics now stand to reap the clinical and commercial benefits of seamless digital dentistry—without incurring the burden of costly, time-consuming regulatory compliance.”
The developmental journey of the new Elos Accurate® Pre-Milled Blank Solutions
Ralph Erhard was hired to do one job.
Based in Germany, Ralph had for two decades been a successful CAD/CAM dental implantology software specialist. Since graduating top of his class as a “Zahntechnikermeister” (master dental technician) in 1999, he had racked up valuable experience running his own company and serving in senior roles at a major digital dental company.
Then came the call from Elos Medtech. “I was a consultant at the time, back in 2021,” he recalls. “And the mission Elos had for me was pretty straightforward: help develop a new pre-milled blank solution from the ground up.”
The mission may have sounded straightforward—actually accomplishing it was another matter. Although Elos already had its own blanks solution, it was more of a solution for specialized milling centers, not a plug-and-play application for easy-to-use. “What Elos had in mind when it contacted me,” says Ralph, “was a completely different animal: a pre-milled blanks solution for in-house milling. In-house milling has different requirements than its industrial-scale cousin. The milling machines are different, the regulatory frameworks are different, the end-user needs are worlds apart.”
“A new level of stability”
Elos Medtech’s decision to design its own first solution for in-house milling was a double-edged task for Ralph and the company’s development team. On one hand, developing a solution from scratch was a daunting prospect. On the other, it was a rare opportunity to raise functionality to new levels. “It was every technician’s dream,” adds Ralph, “a chance to work on a blank slate and make fundamental innovations.”
One area where the Elos team decided to make a fundamental improvement was to the stability of the blank during the milling process. After evaluating all available systems, the team found milling instability—and its resulting inaccuracies—to be near universal. “It was,” says Ralph, “as if the makers of pre-milled blanks were more focused on the blank itself, but neglected the stability and precision of the entire system when processing it in the machine.” Ralph and the team took a radically different approach and decided that the holder, and not just the blanks, would be designed and manufactured as if they were Class II medical devices. “After all,” asks Ralph, “what’s the point of having a Class II pre-milled blank, then milling it in a holder that is built to less stringent quality and tolerances?”
The focus on stability led to another fundamental innovation: the proprietary GuideLock™ clamping system. Put simply, it is a self-positioning solution that removes the risk of human error when mounting a blank in the holder. Indeed, one California lab owner and early adopter of the solution reports that GuideLock provides “a level of stability I’ve never seen before.”
Additional accuracy comes from the design and dimensions of the holder. Ralph comments: “Instability of the blank is not the only cause of vibrations and inaccuracies during milling. The precision and dimension of the holder is also crucial. To eliminate this, we gave the holder additional strength in the essential areas by making it with a height of 20 mm instead of the 16 mm that is usual for existing holders. We also restricted the manufacturing tolerances of the critical fit areas to an absolute minimum.” The insistence on extremely tight tolerances posed a real challenge for the holder manufacturers. “Yeah… it was tough, especially given the size of the component. Everything worked out, but looking back, I’m not sure the guys loved us for it!”
Expanded design freedom
Another fundamental innovation came with the development of the blanks’ design area. A top concern was to meet market demand for lower gingival heights in order to provide esthetically perfect prosthetics for implants placed at tissue level. “Implants that are inserted at tissue level,” explains Ralph, “have always been a challenge for dental technicians when it comes to so-called red-white esthetics.”
Red-white esthetics refers to the appearance of the area between gingiva and tooth, which often plays a key role when it comes to natural-looking crowns, especially in the frontal area. “The use of blanks,” explains Ralph, “that limit the user’s freedom of design in this area through an unchangeable and predefined gingiva height cannot lead to perfect aesthetic results.”
The team’s answer was to narrow the gingiva transition zone to an extraordinary 0.1 – 0.3mm. “The Elos Medtech development center in Denmark did an amazing job,” says Ralph. “And the feedback from beta testers and early adopters has been really encouraging. The narrow zone gives the labs significantly more design area; there is so much more room for them to truly customize solutions for individual patients.”
The successful conclusion of the Elos Accurate Pre-Milled Blank Solutions affected more than labs, clinics and patients. It also impacted Ralph, who joined Elos Medtech Dental full-time with the title of Senior Manager Technical Support and Sales. “Well,” he says, “the development journey for the pre-milled blanks was so rewarding, that it was a relatively easy decision to come aboard. Moreover, developing and launching the solution is only one part of the journey. Now we have to implement it worldwide, something I look forward to doing together with our wonderful CAM software and milling machine partners.”
We know. You must be thinking this is a trick! But it is not.
Digital workflows are now easily accessible. For example, the new Digital SMART Flow system from Elos Medtech which includes all the tools—scan bodies, hybrid bases, pre-milled blanks and abutments—needed for digital workflows, all of them FDA cleared and MDR compliant where required. As for costs, relentless innovation and investment have put digital workflows within reach of virtually any dental professional.
But it is the basic design philosophy behind Digital SMART Flow that makes it such a convenient stepping-stone into digital workflows. That’s because rather than a mere collection of standalone components, Digital SMART Flow is an interlocking system of products, each aligned to the three key phases in the digital workflow: scanning, design, manufacturing.
The first phase, accurate scanning, is enabled by the Elos ScanBody22™, a single-body, all titanium scan body offering unrivalled accuracy. The second phase, design, is made possible by the Elos Accurate Library, helping you maintain design consistency over time. The final phase, manufacturing, is supported by our product portfolio that enable labs to achieve predictable outcomes and meet all regulatory requirements.
Digital SMART Flow is a particularly exciting concept in the ongoing democratization of digital dentistry. As the name indicates, the new concept aims to eliminate complexity from digital workflows, with SMART standing for: Simplify the Manufacturing of Accurate Restorations with Technology. There are several ideas at work here, so let’s unpack them one by one.
A closer look at SMART Flow
‘SIMPLIFY’ refers to the ease-of-use and convenience of the digital workflow enabled by Digital SMART Flow. You are, for example, free to start the workflow with a digital impression from an intra-oral scanner or a conventional impression. You can continue the workflow entirely digitally, or mix conventional with digital, such as by making a plaster model and scanning it with a lab scanner.
Digital scanning is the entry point into digital workflows you can have confidence in, something made easier than ever with the inclusion of a new scan body, the ScanBody22™, in the Digital SMART Flow range of products. In fact, thanks to its new AccuScan® coating, the ScanBody22™ is probably the most accurate scan body on the market. Made from titanium—the benchmark in biocompatible metals—the manufactured-in-Denmark ScanBody22™ also features a unique ‘window’ that keeps the screw in place, and enables easy yet thorough cleaning. And as it is autoclavable up to 100 times, the ScanBody22™ can be safely reused for multiple scannings.
‘MANUFACTURING’ refers to the smooth digital flow from design to final milling of the restoration. During the design phase, you simply upload the Elos Accurate Library to any approved dental CAD software. Once the design work is complete, you receive the STL file that can be opened with all major CAM software suites.
You are free to choose to mill your dental restoration in-house or at an FDA-registered Elos Medtech approved milling facility.
Physical boundaries are erased as digital impressions can be sent across the globe in the blink of an eye. By receiving a digital file, prosthetic constructions can be designed directly in the CAD software before sending it to a 3D-printer or milling machine. This means fewer steps and a minimized risk of error.
‘ACCURATE RESTORATIONS’ refers to the concept’s focus on accuracy, such as that demonstrated by the new ScanBody22™. Indeed, one highly respected practitioner described the performance of the ScanBody22™ as “an evolutionary advance in accuracy,” that will “help minimize the risk of adjustments further on in the workflow.” The unwavering commitment to accuracy of course characterizes all products in the Digital SMART Flow portfolio: hybrid bases (ti bases), implant analogs for exceptional accuracy in 3D printed models, prosthetic screws, pre-milled blanks, and of course, our open library containing all relevant CAD / CAM parts for 3Shape and exocad software.
Finally, ‘TECHNOLOGY’ refers to the technical excellence of the Digital SMART Flow solution. Then again, technical excellence is in our very DNA. For more than a quarter of a century, Elos Medtech has been a partner and subcontractor for all the major dental implant companies. In fact, it was Elos Medtech who together with 3Shape, developed and introduced the original PEEK scan body featuring a titanium interface. Today this design is the gold standard for scan bodies—copied all over the world.
Elos Medtech also developed pre-milled abutments (prefabricated blanks) for making customized abutments. Further innovation later led to our patented design for the Elos Accurate Analog for printed models, an advance that overcomes many of the challenges posed by 3D printers.
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