Nobel Biocare partners with Ivoclar Vivadent, Vita and Noritake

Nobel Biocare has expanded its NobelProcera Preferred Partner Program announced in January to include world renowned materials manufacturers Vita Zahnfabrik and Noritake.

Together with Ivoclar Vivadent, the first partnership announced, Nobel Biocare customers will now have access to a fully comprehensive portfolio of materials and options to produce everything from acrylic temporaries to finished restorations using CAD/CAM.

"Our strategy with NobelProcera is to provide the most comprehensive prosthetic portfolio available," said Mike Covey, Regional Director of Nobel Biocare Australia and New Zealand. "The Preferred Partner Program further enhances our CAD/CAM solutions portfolio by offering our customers expanded materials and product options together with supportive training and educational activities."

Nobel Biocare's move to partner with well established materials manufacturers follows the company's decision to discontinue its NobelRondo line of veneering porcelains in late 2009, citing that it was "no longer a key strategic solution of the product portfolio". Going forward, the company will focus on dental implants, prosthetics and digital dentistry solutions (both CAD/CAM and guided surgery).

"The needs of the dental technician are evolving rapidly in the marketplace," said Quentin Daniels, Nobel Biocare's new NobelProcera and Guided Surgery Business Manager for Australia and New Zealand. "There are a number of factors influencing the dynamics of the dental technology market at present and Nobel Biocare is moving to offer our customers expanded options that will allow them to become more efficient and competitive while better meeting the needs of patients and clinicians.

"The partnering of the world's best materials with NobelProcera, an evolution of the the world's first dental CAD/CAM system capitalises on the strengths of all the parties involved to deliver cutting edge, highly aesthetic solutions."

Key outcomes for NobelProcera customers of the three partnership agreements announced to date include:

• Access to Ivoclar Vivadent's Telio® CAD acrylic material for temporary crown and bridge solutions.
• Access to Ivoclar Vivadent's IPS e.max® CAD ceramic materials for full anatomically contoured final restorations (crowns, veneers, etc).
• The inclusion of Ivoclar Vivadent's denture teeth portfolio in the NobelProcera software as enhancements to the existing tooth library optimizing the restorative outcome. Ivoclar Vivadent's denture teeth portfolio will also complement and complete the prosthetics for the Implant Bar Overdenture solutions.
• Access to VITA's CAD ceramic materials for full anatomically contoured final restorations (crowns, veneers, etc).
• The VITA denture teeth portfolio will be included in the NobelProcera software as enhancements to the existing tooth library, thereby broadening the choice of teeth designs.
• Access to Noritake's CAD ceramic materials for full anatomically contoured final restorations (crowns, veneers, etc).

The Preferred Partner Program agreements includes extensive training programs customised to around each partners' combined solution portfolio, close cooperation in clinical research and clinical studies and collaboration in the development of high-performance dental restorative materials.

"The Preferred Partnership Program facilitates access to the materials many technicians prefer and already work with on a daily basis through the world's most comprehensive CAD/CAM solution," Mr Daniels said.

"We believe these expanded options will foster stronger ties between technician and clinician while at the same time allowing laboratories to be more efficient and competitive under sometimes difficult market conditions.

"By mid-year we will also be offering additional materials including CoCr as well as new options in titanium and zirconia abutments and CAD provisionals."

Mr Daniels said a key element of his role with the company in the near future would be overseeing the launch of the integration of NobelGuide and NobelProcera.

"The term digital dentistry means many different things today, but at Nobel Biocare, it will stand for more predictable, cost-effective and highly aesthetic treatment outcomes for the technician, dentist and patient alike."