Page 54 - CEREC Q3 | 2014

52 | CERECDOCTORS.COM | QUARTER 3 | 2014
in january, ivoclar vivodent
released the IPS e.max CAD Abutment
Solution: two blocks used to create
custom abutments or abutment crowns.
It’s been called a “game changer,” and
selfishly I agree. It’s not just because we
make them (that’s for sure), but because
it expands the use of CEREC technology
and can improve the esthetics, predict-
ability and efficiency of a dental implant.
This is our perspective of the IPS e.max
CAD Abutment Solutions.
FUNDAMENTALS
I play competitive baseball and, every
season, I revisit fundamental concepts
on hitting and fielding. Why? Because
they provide a foundation for consistent
success and help me focus on a few key
things instead of a lot of little things. It
helps remind me to keep things simple.
Some CEREC doctors feel over-
whelmed by the idea of abutments. I see
it in their eyes, the “Oh, my God, how
am I going to do an abutment?” look. It
seems like a lot, but understanding key
concepts will help you be successful.
First, the screw hole
in the block and base —
the part that seats to
the TiBase — NEVER is
to be milled, adjusted,
glazed, etc. Consider this
areaprotected, and itwill eliminatepoten-
tial fit issues when assembling (Fig. 1).
Second, stain-and-glazing the abutment
or abutment crown are done just like an
IPS e.max CAD crown.
The same tools are used:
IPS e.max Crystall shades,
stains, glazes, theProgramat
IPS e.max CAD
Abutment Solutions
From the Manufacturer’s Perspective
MATERIALS ||| BY DONALD E. BELL, M.B.A.
furnace, the silver tray, Object Fix, etc.
Just think to yourself, “It’s just like doing
an e.max crown” (Fig. 2).
Third, surface preparation. It’s e.max:
Etch, Monobond
Plus, thencement
(Fig. 3). The Ti-
Base is likeametal
crown: sandblast,
Monobond Plus,
cement. (Figs. 4-5).
Next, let’s re-
view some tips to make the process
easier and more predictable.
THE GIANT SPRUE
The sprue is big (Fig. 6). I believe
upcoming software updates will address
that. In the mean-
time, we suggest
the following tech-
nique (Figs. 7-10).
MANDREL
FLASH
During the initial
milling of the abutment block, the burs
cut away the sides of the block, then
mill the abutment design. During the
initial mill, sometimes a small piece of
“flash” from the block extends onto the
mandrel — this would cause an error
because the burs touch certain areas to
recalibrate. The error message indicates
bur error. The small flash interferes and
causes and error. DO NOT touch the
STOP button. If you do, the block cannot
be reused, and you have learned a fairly
expensive lesson. Instead, open the lid,
brush away the flash from the mandrel,
and continue to mill.
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6 8
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2
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