COLOGNE, Germany - "Do I move, or do I remove?" It was a fascinating question asked by Zelko Relic, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Align Technology, during his company's media conference on Wednesday morning inside their massive booth in Hall 1 of the International Dental Show (IDS).
The question was a part of the company's launch of the iTero Lumina and the artificial intelligence (AI) components surrounding it. It was also a question at the heart of where Align believes the company is heading with orthodontics and restorative dentistry working hand in hand to ensure the patient receives the best care possible rather than orthodontic treatment without considering other dental issues.
"We are trying to really build that platform," Relic told me in an exclusive chat after his presentation. "The iTero Lumina is more than just a digital impression device. It's a gateway into our ecosystem. You can run the diagnostics. You can communicate with a patient, which helps with education, which helps with a treatment conversion and everything else. The iTero Lumina is central to everything we do because when you talk about ortho and restorative, Lumina is a comprehensive scanner."
The iTero Lumina intraoral scanner. Image courtesy of Align Technology Inc.
Yes, Align believes that moving teeth to create a beautiful smile is important, but ensuring that dentists are removing as little natural dentition as well is critically important to the overall health of today's dental patient. With that in mind, the next generation of the iTero Lumina intraoral scanner (without iTero near infra-red imaging [NIRI] technology) and the new iTero Lumina Pro dental imaging system (with iTero NIRI technology) were displayed here at IDS.
Lumina reportedly enables efficient restorative and multidisciplinary ortho-restorative workflows and supports the diagnosis of interproximal caries above the gingiva, helping general practitioners reach new levels of practice efficiency and growth while delivering exceptional clinical outcomes. While the Lumina was previously unveiled in February of 2024, the presentation at IDS revolved around the new restorative-focused features that have been unveiled as a part of its scanning system.
"We are excited to announce that the upgraded iTero Lumina scanner and new iTero Lumina Pro dental imaging system can now help doctors deliver exceptional restorative outcomes with the wave of a wand," said Karim Boussebaa, Align Technology executive vice president and managing director of Align's iTero scanner and services business.
"The iTero Lumina solutions include superior 3D and 2D visualisations to augment and amplify oral health assessment and communication using the Align Oral Health Suite, designed to increase patient engagement and understanding of their oral health condition," Boussebaa said.
New product: Carestream 8200 3D Advance Edition
The CS 8200 3D Advance Edition cone-beam computed tomography scanner. Image courtesy of Carestream Dental.
Carestream Dental's CS 8200 3D Advance Edition is available in three field of view (FOV) configurations (8 x 9 cm, 12 x 10 cm, and 16 x 10 cm) that can be easily upgraded so the system grows with a practice's needs.
With up to 11 FOVs, the system supports a wide range of clinical indications, including implants, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and temporomandibular joint and airway analysis. With a maximum resolution of 75 μm, the CS 8200 3D delivers high-precision scans (ideal for endodontic cases, according to the manufacturer) while keeping file sizes at a reasonable size.
Additionally, new AI-assisted software accelerates the entire implant-planning process by automating time-consuming tasks. Preparing data for implant cases (like merging cone-beam computed tomography volumes with digital impressions), designing virtual crowns, and digitally placing implants is handled automatically, making implant planning faster and easier, according to the company.
Learn more about Carestream Dental's line of products.
New product: Magnetom Free.Max Dental Edition
This is one of the products that I must admit I was most excited to see at IDS, and the debut of the product for the American dentist is still likely months away (although it will likely be implemented in U.S. universities ahead of that). However, what I did see at IDS about the first dental-dedicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner called Magnetom Free.Max Dental Edition intrigued me.
Siemens Healthineer's Magnetom Free.Max Dental Edition. Image courtesy of Siemens Healthineers.
An alliance between Dentsply Sirona and Siemens Healthineers is offering dentists independence from radiology departments and centers with dental-dedicated scan protocols and a coil that will "shed light on the intrinsic advantages of MRI in both preventive and corrective oral care," according to a promotional brochure.
"Leveraging the unique tissue visibility enabled with MRI, latest image reconstruction innovations, and a unique magnet design, MAGNETOM Free.Max Dental Edition delivers confident diagnostic information every time," according to the brochure.
According to signage at the IDS booth, this product is not commercially available in all countries, and its future availability cannot be guaranteed.
For more information, including a video that shows more and helps explain the dental-dedicated MRI workflow, please visit Siemens Healthineers.
