Ivoclar Vivadent and 3Shape Parting Ways, Core3Dcentres to Take Over

  • Ivoclar Vivadent and 3Shape Parting Ways, Core3Dcentres to Take Over

     

    Found on Dentallabnetwork forum courtesy of user “Contraluz“.

    At the time of posting there has been no official statement issued by Ivoclar, 3shape, or Core3D.

    According to sources on DLN, as of February 1st 2018, Ivoclar will cease to be a 3shape reseller and will have sold off their milling operations in Troy, MI to Core3Dcentres. Core3Dcentres will take over the responsibility of 3shape support and licensing management.

    Ivoclar Vivadent Troy, formerly Wieland Precision Technology and prior to that: Diadem Precision Technology, was originally purchased as a warranty support center through which mill owners could have products milled in the case that their own machines went down. The center also offered general milling services.

    The existing website and phone numbers are to remain the same following the transition so that any customers using the milling center will notice minimal changes. Part of the transition also includes a deal that the center will continue as a warranty center for Ivoclar mill owners, so when mills do go down, the Troy facility will still do millings for those owners.

    The decision by Ivoclar to forego 3shape reseller status has not been elaborated upon. Although there is no confirmation, customers should not expect any interruption of their services. Plans for Ivoclar-specific features has not been confirmed either. Ongoing support and distribution of custom tooth libraries (Culp mature, cutback, young, Matt Roberts Signature), as well as Ivoclar-developed add-ons such as Digital Press Design or Digital Denture Professional have not been officially covered either.

    Stick with DentalTechTips for more updates!

    Updated on January 23rd 2018 with an official statement from Ivoclar:

    Ivoclar Vivadent will remain a close partner with 3Shape in the laboratory market. Today, under the umbrella of Ivoclar Digital, exclusive software modules are offered to bring digital efficiencies to proven processes like IPS e.max Press. Digital Press Design exclusive add-on software for IPS e.max Press Multi is one such example. In the future, Ivoclar Vivadent and 3Shape will continue to bring new innovations to the laboratory space with the Ivoclar Digital Denture Professional add-on software. All exclusive add-ons under Ivoclar Digital will be available to any 3Shape customer when used in coordination with an add-on dongle available from Ivoclar Vivadent. Additionally, the use of the add-on dongle will enable future users to utilize any tooth libraries from Ivoclar Vivadent.

Align Technology Files Six Patent Infringement Lawsuits Asserting 26 Patents Against 3Shape

Align Technology Files Six Patent Infringement Lawsuits Asserting 26 Patents Against 3Shape

Align Technology, Inc. has filed six patent infringement lawsuits asserting 26 patents against 3Shape.

Align filed two Section 337 complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging that 3Shape violates U.S. trade laws by “selling for importation and importing its infringing Trios intraoral scanners, OrthoAnalyzer and Dental System software,” according to their press release.

Align’s twenty-six patents asserted against 3Shape are:

Patent No. Title
9,615,901 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
9,566,132 Smile Designer
9,510,757 Identification of areas of interest during intraoral scans
9,451,873 Automatic selection and locking of intraoral images
9,427,916 Method for preparing a physical plaster model
9,299,192 Methods and systems for creating and interacting with three dimensional virtual models
9,101,433 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,845,330 Method for preparing a physical plaster model
8,734,149 Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
8,675,207 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,638,448 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
8,638,447 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
8,545,221 Smile Designer
8,454,364 Method for preparing a physical plaster model
8,451,456 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,363,228 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,092,215 Smile Designer
7,112,065 Method for defining a finish line of a dental prosthesis
7,092,107 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
7,056,115 Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
6,948,931 Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival tissue during orthodontic treatment
6,845,175 Dental image processing method and system
6,685,470 Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival tissue during orthodontic treatment
6,514,074 Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival
6,334,853 Method for obtaining a dental occlusion map
6,227,850 Teeth viewing system

With sources from marketwired.

Stick with DentalTechTips for more updates on Align and 3shape!

Align Technology Files Six Patent Infringement Lawsuits Asserting 26 Patents Against 3Shape

Align Technology Files Six Patent Infringement Lawsuits Asserting 26 Patents Against 3Shape

Align Technology, Inc. has filed six patent infringement lawsuits asserting 26 patents against 3Shape.

Align filed two Section 337 complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging that 3Shape violates U.S. trade laws by “selling for importation and importing its infringing Trios intraoral scanners, OrthoAnalyzer and Dental System software,” according to their press release.

Align’s twenty-six patents asserted against 3Shape are:

Patent No. Title
9,615,901 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
9,566,132 Smile Designer
9,510,757 Identification of areas of interest during intraoral scans
9,451,873 Automatic selection and locking of intraoral images
9,427,916 Method for preparing a physical plaster model
9,299,192 Methods and systems for creating and interacting with three dimensional virtual models
9,101,433 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,845,330 Method for preparing a physical plaster model
8,734,149 Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
8,675,207 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,638,448 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
8,638,447 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
8,545,221 Smile Designer
8,454,364 Method for preparing a physical plaster model
8,451,456 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,363,228 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
8,092,215 Smile Designer
7,112,065 Method for defining a finish line of a dental prosthesis
7,092,107 Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
7,056,115 Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
6,948,931 Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival tissue during orthodontic treatment
6,845,175 Dental image processing method and system
6,685,470 Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival tissue during orthodontic treatment
6,514,074 Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival
6,334,853 Method for obtaining a dental occlusion map
6,227,850 Teeth viewing system

With sources from marketwired.

Stick with DentalTechTips for more updates on Align and 3shape!

3shape D2000

3shape D2000

 

 

Introduction

With a longstanding reputation as a leader in the field of extra-oral 3d scanners, 3shape has continued to improve on their designs with each passing generation of scanners that they’ve introduced.

Keeping in mind what technicians really want with each new iteration, they’ve managed to transform what we once considered pretty innovative-into relatively standard features that are simply expected of every 3d scanner released to the dental market today.

To separate themselves from the equally-as-capable competition, 3shape has taken a gamble with some new feature additions that have some real potential game-changing power. This is the review of the 3shape D2000 scanner.

Visual and Build Quality

The most apparent feature of the D2000 is the extra large scanning area. In fact, there’s nothing more accurate to say about the D2000 than it is a big scanner. It’s wider, more spacious, and heavier than most of the 3shape scanners that have come before it. The exception being the D250.

The D2000 comes in a space grey color scheme reminiscent of Apple’s iPhones, and features 4 individual 5 megapixel cameras. There are 27 LED lights featuring what 3shape has dubbed their “Blue LED multiline technology”. Pretty much everything you can think of has been upgraded from previous generations and the numbers cranked up to the maximum.

Moving up from an older model like the D810 takes a moment to get used to, but it really is worth it. There’s no question this is a 3shape product. It’s really well made, sturdy and high end, even the door closing and opening feels better than it ever has. The status light is integrated into the logo on the door now, which is a really clever design choice. In fact, the D2000 is a Red Dot design winner.

Scanning Software and Features

On the software side, the improved texture scanning ability fully digitizes models in true living color. Scans coming from the D2000 don’t feel like virtual approximations of the actual model they feel more “authentic” and lifelike somehow. My guess is that is has something to do with the decreased tolerances from 10 microns down to 5 microns; an absolute must for accurate implant bars and long span bridges.

All of the core features of scanning have been refined and honed to perfection; Accuracy, details, speed –Everything works straight out of the box without any real need for tweaks. As one of the first companies to really get 3d scanning right, 3shape has really built a reputation for themselves to live up to as a leader in the field. 3shape has delivered on that promise with the core functionality of this scanner. The new ScanSuite offers a versatile and flexible scanning platform to digitize your models. You can seamlessly switch between each step. This gives you the freedom to achieve whatever results you desire, in whatever order you can conceive. It makes so much sense and I couldn’t imagine going back to scanning in the old linear fashion.

The inside of the scanner is all about the new double scanning platforms and roomy interior. This is very clearly at the epicenter of what 3shape had in mind when they designed and built this scanner. You really get a sense of how they’ve focused everything else around in this one particular feature. Almost every feature and enhancement is directly related to utilizing the platforms to their fullest extent. The execution of that however, sometimes falls a bit short of expectations.

In some situations having a larger scan area makes a HUGE difference. Gone are the days of snapping off articulators and in its place 3shape has introduced some new toys: The occlusion setup tool and the occlusion transfer calibration object. After trying them out I can’t say that I’m completely sold on the ideas. Not being sold seems to be the prevailing theme with a lot of the additional features introduced by the D2000. Texture scanning and rotation-less scanning are a bit slow and cumbersome. Speed mode doesn’t do anything as far as I can tell. The models and designer seem to screech to a halt and defining the individual dies proved to be more of a chore than simply rotating the dies. It’s also very loud, which doesn’t affect any functionality, but it does diminish the element of refinement that 3shape has painstakingly put so much effort into for the visual aspect of the scanner. The refinement of the scansuite is also undermined with little bugs and quirks that don’t cripple the software, but they do put a damper on the overall experience

 

Furthermore, some long standing features have been removed: The option to load an old scan has been take away — although it’s not necessarily a major loss – simply because of how fast the scanner is. The rotating multi-die arm has been removed, and in it’s place a new stationary multi die plate has been introduced. I’ll be honest, I don’t really miss having to re-calibrate the old arm and plate that much. This new addition is quite welcome.

Conclusion

Overall, although the features or “gimmicks” are nice to have, the truth is that I could live without them. On a day-to-day production basis I normally DO live without them. The concepts introduced are nice, and I’d really like to see 3shape expand and refine these features in the future iterations. There’s plenty of potential here, they just weren’t fully realized with this release.

Final Verdict

With it’s new and improved double scanning platforms The D2000 is fast, accurate, and an extremely powerful scanner. 3shape has really built on and improved those core mechanics that they’re so well known for. However, some of the extra “features” introduced with this scanner seem to fall a bit short of expectations.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this review, please like, share, and subscribe. For everything else 3shape, and all the latest and greatest in dental technology… stick with dentaltechtips!