Marty @ IDS 2013: Wrapping things up

COLOGNE, Germany - Friday, Day Four of the 2013 International Dental Show (IDS): The sun was shining as I rode the train to the convention site, also known as Messe, German for "fair." My schedule was a little less hectic with fewer meetings, allowing me more time to explore the convention halls.

I came across some interesting products in the Planmeca booth, including a cone-beam CT scanner that is a medical unit that can also be used in dentistry. It is a fully adjustable sit-down unit that carries a pretty hefty price tag: 250,000 euros ($327,000 U.S.). Planmeca is also releasing its own combination intraoral scanner and software and milling machines. No word on when this unit will be available in the U.S., but it does use open architecture so you can build your way up from a chairside scanner to in-office milling.

The new PlanScan intraoral scanner from Planmeca.

The new PlanScan intraoral scanner from Planmeca.

I also saw the MIA3d, a scanner from Densys3D, an Israeli company that is hoping to enter the U.S. market later in the year. The system gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration marketing clearance in 2011, and the company first introduced it to the U.S. market at the 2013 Chicago Midwinter Meeting.

Densys3D is hoping to launch its MIA3d scanner in the U.S. this year.

Densys3D is hoping to launch its MIA3d scanner in the U.S. this year.

Other highlights included several low-power, noncutting diode lasers for disinfecting periodontal pockets and endodontic canals. One example is the Helbo from Bredent. A blue dye is injected into the pocket or canal, and the diseased tissue absorbs the dye, making the cells more susceptible to destruction from the laser energy.

The Helbo low-power diode laser is designed for disinfecting periodontal pockets and endodontic canals.

The Helbo low-power diode laser is designed for disinfecting periodontal pockets and endodontic canals.

I also came across a couple of interesting dental chairs, including a high-end chair from Chirana that was selling for only 30,000 euros ($39,000).

A high-end dental chair from Chirana.

A high-end dental chair from Chirana.

There was also a company selling implant component clones starting at 39 euros ($51). Implantcopies.de was displaying copies of most of the well-known brands, but it has no U.S. distribution at this time.

Implantcopies.de offers low-cost clones of most of the well-known dental implant brands.

Implantcopies.de offers low-cost clones of most of the well-known dental implant brands.

Very nice, low-tech products were these plastic flexible bur blocks from BurButler, an Irish company. The bur blocks were developed by Dr. Paul Moore for his own use, and you order them direct from his website, www.dentalorganizer.com. Look for U.S. distribution coming soon -- likely in the next month.

A 3D printing of Dr. Jablow's face.

A 3D printing of Dr. Jablow's face.

The creepiest thing I picked up was the 3D printing of my face from Thursday's scan by Sirona's Galileos 3D system. They put the resulting image onto a mini USB drive -- kinda weird!

At the end of the day, I stopped for a quick snack at the Cologne train station before heading back to the hotel to change for the Strictly Dental Party, the final get-together for everyone working and attending the IDS. The party is held in an old factory that is now a nightclub, and it's a fun night filled with all you can eat and drink, plus bands and a disco. It gives everyone a chance to wind down after a long week and have fun with 2,500 of their closest dental friends.

Marty Jablow, DMD, lectures and consults extensively about integrating technologies into the modern dental practice (www.dentaltechnologycoach.com).

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