NobelProcera: New options, software, scanners and solutions

Nobel Biocare has signed an agreement to buy 100% of BioCad Medical Inc., a leading developer of computer-aided software for prosthetics for EUR 26 million.

At the same time, Nobel Biocare also announced the signing of an exclusive partnership with Optimet, Optical Metrology Ltd, to offer a new generation of optical scanners with impression scanning capabilities. Along with the acquisition and the partnership, Nobel Biocare will introduce a broad range of new prosthetic materials and products at IDS 2009 in Cologne, Germany in March. Hence, Nobel Biocare will be in a position to provide dental professionals with a leading optical scanner and CAD/CAM software, the most comprehensive material and product offer, and unique manufacturing capabilities for prosthetics.

As the pioneer in digital dentistry, Nobel Biocare already possesses a comprehensive digital platform with the leading diagnosis, planning and guided surgery software NobelGuide, state-of-the-art scanners, and unique CAD/CAM manufacturing capabilities with Procera®. With the announced addition of the BioCad software, the exclusive partnership with Optimet for optical scanners and the launch of new prosthetic materials, Nobel Biocare has created the base for the most complete, highest quality oral rehabilitation platform available in dentistry today.

Domenico Scala, CEO of Nobel Biocare, said: "We started developing the new NobelProcera concept ten months ago with the goal to reinforce our leading CAD/CAM position with Procera. For the pioneer in dental CAD/CAM, the steps announced today, mark an important milestone and allow us to bring to our customers the leading optical scanner and computer aided software technology available today. We will also add new material and product choices to our offer, which together with our unique manufacturing concept and capability will help to further accelerate our growth in CAD/CAM dentistry. Our new NobelProcera concept will offer dental laboratories and clinicians substantial advantages and excellent value for money."

Unique and valuable benefits:

• The new optical scanner - Nobel Biocare and Optimet have joined together to develop a new generation of optical impression scanners using Optimet's patented conoscopic holography technology. This technology is clearly superior to today's triangulation process and is able to scan all situations and additionally offer impression scanning capability. The new Nobel Biocare optical scanner will offer exclusive benefits including fast batch scanning, extremely high precision, impression scanning and increased production effectiveness.
• The new CAD software puts a strong focus on user-friendliness, through its intuitive navigation, efficient CAD design tools and excellent visual graphics. Since the software was developed for technicians by some of the best technicians in the industry, it offers several very practical features including a comprehensive tooth library, full anatomical crown and bridge design, cut-back functions for crowns, bridges, such as connector designs, full jaw wax-up scanning for virtual designs of bar and telescopic solutions, an extensive range of bar solutions including retention elements, a virtual block-out tool for undercuts and an automatic alignment tool and setting of the finish line.
• The new software and scanner will be complimented by the introduction of new products and materials. The new materials include coloured zirconia for abutments, bridges and the Procera Implant Bridge, non-precious alloys for crowns and bridges, including Co Cr and titanium and acrylic for different indications. In terms of products, Nobel Biocare will also introduce a range of overdenture bar solutions, abutments and the Procera Implant Bridge for competitor implant systems. The launch of the new NobelProcera prosthetic materials and products will commence early 2009.