Chairside Restorations That FIT Any Practice
The Planmeca FIT CAD/CAM system just got even better with faster scanning, easy-to-use design software, and a versatile wet/dry chairside mill—all backed by hands-on training
It’s not uncommon to kick off a new year with a resolution to get fit. In fact, studies show that nearly half of Americans plan to make fitness related changes after the ball drops. But getting fit doesn’t always mean physical fitness. In the dental world, it means investing in Planmeca FIT—a complete CAD/CAM system that allows practices to offer in-house restorations to their patients.
If you’ve been tossing around the idea of adding single-visit dentistry to your list of services this year, the Planmeca FIT system comprises a trio of technologies designed to make that happen both easily and affordably. Now, practices can enjoy a Planmeca FIT system that includes the new Planmeca PlanMill 35—a versatile wet and dry milling unit that’s simple to operate and maintain—along with the recently enhanced Planmeca Emerald S intraoral scanner and Planmeca PlanCAD software.
Step 1: Speedy Scanning
While Dr. Bill Flora has been offering same-day restorations to patients in his Elkhart, IN, practice for nearly 15 years, the technology he’s used to do that hasn’t always made it easy. “I got my first CAD/ CAM system in 2008, and back then, you had to take 9 capture shots and then the software would need time to assimilate those into a digital scan,” he shared. “Now that we’re capturing scans with the Planmeca Emerald S, it’s all done in real-time, and the software assimilates it right away. So, the learning curve is much quicker than it used to be.”
“Planmeca PlanMill 35 is a great mill when starting with singlevisit dentistry. It gives you the fl exibility to do both wet and dry milling on a system you can grow with."
- Dr. Bill Flora; Eikhard, IN
The Planmeca Emerald S scanner has been recently enhanced to provide dental teams with increased scanning speed, improved accuracy, and better usability. Not only is the Planmeca Emerald S quicker than its predecessors—a typical upper, lower, and bite scan takes Dr. Flora’s staff 3 to 4 minutes—its acquisition fi eld is 40% larger when used with a standard tip. “You can also switch between the standard and SlimLine tips without having to stop or restart,” said Dr. Flora. “So, let’s say you can’t get back far enough because the tip is too large, you can just pop it off and put the SlimLine tip on and continue scanning. The software also stitches the scan much quicker because of the larger acquisition field. It just moves much more readily and there are improvements being made all the time.”
Step 2: Quick & Easy Design
After the scan, Planmeca PlanCAD makes it easy—and even fun—for team members to design a crown and modify the shape and appearance of the restoration with user-friendly tools and features. Fully integrated into the robust Planmeca Romexis platform, the PlanCAD software allows clinicians and staff to design a crown in just minutes.
“It takes my staff maybe 5 or 6 minutes to design a crown from start to fi nish,” said Dr. Flora. “Then, I can check the design and modify it if needed before it’s sent to the mill. Even new employees catch on very quickly. It’s very intuitive and walks you through the system step by step. For an office that’s totally new to CAD/CAM there’s obviously a slight learning curve, but to me, designing on a computer is much easier than the hassle of trying to make a provisional restoration.”
Step 3: Freedom to Mill
Dr. Flora recently started using the Planmeca PlanMill 35, a wet and dry mill that can process an expanded range of materials—including zirconia, glass and hybrid ceramics, and composites. “You can mill zirconia, IPS e.max, glass ceramics, or whatever blocks you prefer. And because it’s a dry mill, you can go directly to the oven without having to dry the crown for 10 minutes before sintering.” Unlike mills that are only built for wet milling, such as its predecessor, the Planmeca PlanMill 35 is primed to wet or dry mill single-unit crowns, inlays, onlays veneers, and even 3-unit bridges with ease. This expansion of indications and materials to choose from means that from an ROI standpoint, the machine pays for itself much more quickly. “It is a great mill when starting with single-visit dentistry. It gives you the fl exibility to do both wet and dry milling on a system you can grow with,” noted Dr. Flora, who today has several Planmeca milling units in his offi ce that have been running smoothly for over a decade. “Planmeca makes a very robust piece of machinery that’s designed to last.”
Milling restorations with the PlanMill 35 also has been an easy adjustment for Dr. Flora's dental team. “For my staff, this unit has been more intuitive than other mills when it comes to switching between wet and dry milling,” he added. “Cleaning and maintaining the mill is also easy because the steps are laid out clearly in video format. So, it’s a no-brainer as far as keeping the machine running smoothly.”
Planmeca Training & Support
To become acclimated with their Planmeca CAD/CAM system, Dr. Flora and his team attended a 2-day Planmeca training course at the manufacturer’s headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL, followed by a full day with a Planmeca trainer at their practice where they scanned, designed, and milled a handful of crowns for their patients.
“After that, there is a CAD/CAM support team that is available to assist if you’re stuck at any point in the process. A Planmeca rep can log into your computer to see what you’re struggling with and help move you forward. Patients don’t want to come in for one appointment, let alone two, so it’s a great thing when you don’t have to say, ‘I’m going to have to bring you back.’”
