The Dental Technician Magazine November 2023 by The Dental Technician Magazine

VOL 76 No. 11 I NOVEMBER 2023 I BY SUBSCRIPTION

www.dentaltechnician.org.uk

SHOW OFF YOUR SERVICES!

An interview with

Carly Burgess PAGE 18

HAYLEY IRONS PAGE 16-17

Three-step solution for outstanding full mouth restorations

GC’S OPTIGLAZE, INITIAL LISI BLOCK AND INITIAL IQ ONE SQIN PAGE 28-29

FULL DENTURE PROSTHETICS THE ULTIMATE DISCIPLINE

INSIGHT: FROM DENTAL TECH TO SOUND TECH I SIMON WHITEHOUSE P. 14-15

BUSINESS: GET SMART I IAN SMITH P. 20

WELLNESS: MAKE ‘MOVING’ A HABIT I JOHN BENNETT P. 22-23

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plus...

FO IF I DE R T AB NT HE LE AL W E TE HO CP AM LE D

SEBASTIAN GUTTENBERGER PAGE 30-33

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2023 WELCOME

5 10-11

From the Editor Editorial Board

DENTAL NEWS

Dentsply Sirona sustainability report

WELLNESS

8 22-23

Superhero syndrome - Nina Frketin Make ‘moving’ a habit - John Bennett

INSIGHT

12 14-15 16-17

Your letters - Peter Natt From dental tech to sound tech - Simon Whitehouse Show off your services! - Hayley Irons

INTERVIEW

An interview with… Carly Burgess

BUSINESS

20 26-27

Get smart - Ian Smith Strategic ambition planning - Ian Smith

ECPD

24-25

Free verifiable ECPD and ECPD questions

DENTAL TECHNOLOGY

28-29 30-33

Three-step solution for outstanding mouth restorations - Maximiliano Paterlini Full denture prosthetics - Sebastien Guttenberger

MARKETPLACE

The DMG DentaMile concept Kemdent Anutex Eco modelling wax Kemdent Anutex HS modelling wax Createch Medical Zirkonzahn M6 Teleskoper blank changer milling unit Zirkonzahn’s line of implant prosthetic components

34 34 36 36 37 38

CLASSIFIEDS

Editor: Heather Grimes E: editor@dentaltechnician.org.uk Advertising Manager: Chris Trowbridge E: sales@dentaltechnician.org.uk T: 07399 403602 Designer: Sharon (Bazzie) Larder E: inthedoghousedesign@gmail.com Editorial Advisory Board Sir Paul Beresford Deepa Bharakhda Chris Golze Andrea Johnson Sharaz Mir Sean Thompson Philip Wears

PUBLISHED BY THE DENTAL TECHNICIAN MAGAZINE, PO BOX 2279, PULBOROUGH, RH20 9BR. T: 01372 897463

Subscriptions: The Dental Technician, Select Publisher Services Ltd, PO Box 6337, Bournemouth BH1 9EH

The Dental Technician Magazine is an independent publication and is not associated with any professional body or commercial establishment other than the publishers. Views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or the editorial advisory board. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are welcome, though no liability can be accepted for any loss or damage, howsoever caused. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the editor or the publisher.

Extend your subscription by recommending a colleague There is a major change in CPD coming soon. The Dental Technician Magazine is a must read. Tell your colleagues to subscribe and if they do so we will extend your subscription for 3 months. The only condition is that they have not subscribed to the magazine for more than 12 months. Just ask them to call the Subscriptions Hotline. With four colleagues registered that means your subscription would be extended for a year free of charge. At only £49.95 per year, for UK residents, this must be the cheapest way of keeping up to date. Help your colleagues to keep up to date as well. Ask them to call the subscriptions Hotline on 01202 586 848 now.

www.dentaltechnician.org.uk I 3

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WELCOME

From the

Welcome to the November issue of The Dental Technician Magazine. Welcome to the latest edition of the Dental Technician Magazine. It sounds so cliché, but I really can’t believe we’re almost at the end of the year already… even though the darker evenings, the chillier weather, and the fact that I’m currently fighting a cold makes it feel very real! The other thing that always underlines the closing of the year for me is attending the BACD Annual Conference. This is always a top-quality event with excellent speakers and lecturers offering some great resources for professional learning and development, as well as excellent opportunities for networking with highend dentists. What really stood out for me, with my Dental Technician Magazine editor’s hat on, was the lack of dental technicians in attendance. I really believe this could be such a huge opportunity for the dental profession to come together and I’d love to know what more you’d all

Editor

like to see from events like this to make them a more attractive prospect. What topics would you like to see covered in a lecture line up? Which speakers would interest you? What networking opportunities would you find unmissable? What else would you like to see? I would love to work with event organisers – existing and new – to help them bring you, our readers, the opportunities you want and need for your professional development, so please do get in touch with your ideas. Drop me an email at the address below and let’s get the ball rolling! As always, within these pages, you’ll find a wealth of content designed to help you flourish within your working life. Ian Smith joins us with two fantastic articles, one designed to give you insight into strategic ambition planning on page 26, and the other will help you amplify success through smart goals, on page 20. Hayley Irons is back on page 16, sharing how you can show off your

Reach out to a BIGGER audience

services at dental shows and exhibitions to help boost your brand awareness, generate leads and network with potential clients. We also chat to Carly Burgess about her career journey so turn to page 18 to hear her sage advice! Once again, I will use this opportunity to ask you to reach out to us with your ideas. We are always on the hunt for great content that you, our readers, really want to see. And the best source for that is… you! I want to hear about your favourite cases, or even the ones that were a complete pain that taught you something new. Have you got a top trick or technique you’d like to share with your peers? Or would you like to show us your lab bench in an upcoming Tech’s Eye View feature? This magazine is here for you, so let me know what topics you’d like to see covered, just drop me an email at the address below.

Heather Grimes | Editor

editor@dentaltechnician.org.uk

In print since 1947

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE DENTAL TECHNICIAN MAGAZINE T. 01372 897462 E. sales@dentaltechnician.org.uk

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NEWS

New Dentsply Sirona sustainability report shows solid progress against goals for the third year in a row Dentsply Sirona is committed to driving sustainability internally and enabling the industry to advance with confidence towards a more sustainable future

entsply Sirona, the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, published its third sustainability report in September, highlighting that the company has continued to successfully take action to drive sustainability internally as well as within the dental industry. The 2022 sustainability report was launched at Dentsply Sirona World Las Vegas, the company’s annual flagship clinical education event for the dental industry.

donations in cash and in-kind of over US$1 million.

‘I’m pleased that in 2022 we once again demonstrated our commitment to sustainability and made solid progress against all our goals, be they environmental, social, or governance related. In fact, we are now in the process of setting our next set of goals to supersede the 2025 goals we have met ahead of time – reducing our Scope 1 and 2 Green House Gas emission intensity and water withdrawal intensity by 15%,’ said Erania Brackett, Dentsply Sirona’s senior vice president, orthodontic aligner solutions & customer experience, and head of sustainability. ‘For me, a special highlight of the past year has been the launch of our Sustainability Educational Curriculum. It is our response to the need for more knowledge expressed by a large number of dentists in our global sustainability study. The curriculum is available online on DS Academy and aims to help empower dental professionals around the world with the knowledge they need to drive sustainability within their practices and labs.’

In 2022, Dentsply Sirona also made progress towards its goal to achieve gender parity by 2025. Additionally, 55% of global hires in 2022 were diverse.

HEALTHY PLANET In 2022, Dentsply Sirona continued to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 Green House Gas emissions, water withdrawal, and total waste, in line with its strategy and targets. The company has conducted energy and waste audits across several sites globally and is putting measures in place, such as solar panels at certain manufacturing sites, to further reduce on-site energy consumption and waste.

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Dentsply Sirona and Smile Train have also entered a three-way partnership with the FDI World Dental Federation to develop a first-of-its-kind set of protocols for digital cleft treatment with the aim of increasing quality and access to oral care for patients with cleft around the world. The global digital treatment protocols were finalised and launched in 2023.

Dentsply Sirona is increasingly using and developing digital tools and solutions to become a more sustainable business. DS Core, Dentsply Sirona’s digital cloudbased platform operates on the Google Cloud Platform, which is powered by 100% renewable energy. Dentsply Sirona is also taking action to improve the sustainability of packaging materials associated with its products. This includes the use of more sustainable and recyclable packaging options such as replacing plastic bubble wrap and foam with paper, switching to commonly recycled plastics, and reducing the size of packaging boxes. HEALTHY SMILES Dentsply Sirona enabled and empowered 5.4 million healthy smiles in 2022. The company has now reached more than 11.2 million smiles – nearly half of the 25 million smiles Dentsply Sirona aims to reach by 2025. To contribute to driving better access to oral healthcare globally, Dentsply Sirona has continued to support Smile Train to advance cleft care. Since 2021, the company has supported more than 2,700 cleft surgeries and completed

The company provided more than 7,000 clinical education and training courses across 75 countries in 2022, with over 416,000 clinical education course registrations from dentists, technicians, hygienists, dental assistants, and students. HEALTHY BUSINESS Dentsply Sirona has achieved gender pay parity in the US, its largest market, for professional managerial levels and is working diligently to close the small remaining international gap by 2025. ‘The reason we continue to make great strides in our sustainability ambitions for the third year running lies in our culture of unity combined with an unwavering focus on providing superior solutions for patient and customer care and our unwavering determination to build a more sustainable business,’ said Simon Campion, president and chief executive officer, Dentsply Sirona. ‘With sustainability principles in our hearts and minds, we will continue to drive transformative innovations as well as cooperation across our industry to make a positive impact on the lives and health of millions of patients and the planet on which they live.’

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WELLNESS

SUPERHERO SYNDROME Nina Frketin shares some useful tips on supporting your mental health when things begin to feel too heavy

wanted to take a moment to chat about something that’s been on my mind lately - the superhero syndrome. You know, that feeling of trying to do it all and be perfect at everything? It can be so exhausting! Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of all the commitments I’ve taken on, and the fear of missing out doesn’t help either. Plus, with all the terrible things happening in the world, it’s hard to stay positive. I’ve been thinking about how I can better support my mental health, and I’ve come up with a few things that have been helping me, so I want to share them with you… Recharge First and foremost, recharging is key! Taking walks, getting enough sleep, and spending time with loved ones really helps me feel refreshed. Hobbies I’ve also started incorporating my hobbies into my workday, which gives me a muchneeded break from thinking about work all the time. It’s amazing how a little creativity can do wonders for the soul! Boundaries Setting boundaries has been crucial for me too. Learning to say ‘no’ and communicating my needs to my boss and co-workers has

made a huge difference. It’s okay to ask for help and not try to do everything on your own. We’re all human, after all!

disconnect and recharge. It’s amazing how much more energised I feel when I give myself that time to just be.

Plan breaks When I do take a break, I make sure to plan ahead and delegate tasks so that I can truly

Just a gentle reminder… removing your superhero cape and taking care of yourself is important.

About Nina Frketin l Nina Frketin is Croatian born technician specialising in life like prosthesis. She moved to the UK more than 12 years ago and is the prosthetics lead at Mango Dental

Technologies. Nina is passionate about helping female dental techs find their voice in the industry, and founded Nightshift, a group dedicated to this cause.

You can follow Nina on Instagram @nina_f_dt and join Nightshift on Instagram @nightshift.tech and Facebook @Nightshift.

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EDITORIAL BOARD CHRIS GOLZE w I’m Chris Golze! Dental technician, lab owner and Olympic-class swearer! Born in Doncaster, raised in Doncaster and currently working in… you guessed it. You could say I’m a proud Yorkshireman too!

SIR PAUL BERESFORD w I am the MP for Mole Valley and a practising dentist. I am New Zealand born and bred, married with four children; three sons and one daughter. I graduated in dentistry in New Zealand and took a year’s postgraduate course at the Eastman Dental Hospital. I first practised in the East End of London before moving to the West End. I joined the Putney Conservatives and was elected to Wandsworth Council in 1978 and was its Leader between 1983 and 1992. I was knighted in the 1990 New Year Honours for political and public service.

PHILIP WEARS w Dental technology has been in my family now for three generations and as such I’m incredibly passionate about our industry and feel suitably placed to help bring the content technicians want to read. I’ve worked in all types of lab throughout the north of England from small one man and his dog labs, to huge corporates, and now I own my own lab. I believe there’s never been a better time to be a dental technician than right now. What makes this time so exciting is the technology, the new materials and techniques mixed in with a newer generation willing to share tips and tricks. Dentists and patients are wanting, expecting bigger and better work than ever before and it’s our chance to shine.

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I can usually be found skulking around the various social media platforms, hopefully chipping in with the odd useful post but probably more likely taking a thread off on a tangent! I’ve been in the lab industry since 1994. Starting off in a local practice -owned, full -service lab, moving to being co-owner of that same lab, then progressing to my current position of sole owner of XSDental. My favoured area, and what the business concentrates on, is thermoforming. I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with and learn from many people over the years. This has allowed me to develop my own techniques and (hopefully) point others in the right direction on occasion too. I think it’s an area which is often overlooked as it’s not quite got the glamour that ceramics, prosthetics and even the wire mastery that some ortho has. There’s a few thermo-wizards out there now so maybe it’ll start to share the glitz the other departments bask in! I’ve got to say I was pretty surprised to be asked to join the Editorial Board. Those who know me well will be aware this is new for me but something I am looking forward to. It does feel quite the honour to be amongst some very well-respected names from our profession. Hopefully as a group we’ll be able to bring an informative, educational, fun and (important to me) all-inclusive feel to The Dental Technician magazine. If anybody wants to connect and discuss articles and the magazine I can be found on the various Facebook groups under my own name and on Instagram at @xslabtech (and I managed all that without swearing…)

DEEPA BHARAKHDA w My name is Deepa Bharakhda originally from Old Trafford, Manchester! Currently living in Leicester UK. I am a trained and registered dental technician since 2010! I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University, currently working in a private laboratory in Leicester called Dencraft Leicester. I am prosthetic technician working with specialist dentists at a specialist practice on site as well as dentists outside the lab. I love working with dentists and building a good working relationship that helps me to fabricate beautiful work with a happy patient. I have developed special interests in implants, over bar dentures and acrylic hybrids with an artistic flare for composite work! I love making dentures and hybrids look natural and beautiful. I am always wanting to learn new techniques, skills, meet new people and share knowledge. I am lucky to be part of a great dental community connecting with people around the world. My passion in the dental field has led me to peruse dental photography and capture beautiful images of my work. I have had the opportunity to write for Dental Technicians Guild Magazine, Laboratory Dentistry and Dentistry.co.uk as well as been a speaker at dentistry shows. I am a co-founder of Nightshift on Facebook, a group designed to elevate and celebrate female dental techs by giving them a space where they showcase their knowledge and skills. I am very passionate about my profession creating beautiful smiles and making a difference is quite rewarding!

EDITORIAL BOARD ANDREA JOHNSON

went from strength to strength, now employing over 70 highly respected members of staff. Ashford became an early implementer of digital techniques within orthodontics and firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ lab for digital orthodontics at scale, servicing almost 30% of NHS contract holding practices.

w I am the chair and co-founder of dental charity Den-Tech, an orthodontic and maxillofacial laboratory manager/highly specialised dental technician, quality improvement coach, healthcare careers ambassador and clinical research intern at Doncaster & Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust. I am an advisory board member, careers pathway reference group member and fellow of the College of General Dentistry. I am a Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) Cohort Director & co-lead of the HLA Dental network. I have a PgCert in charity management and 1st class BSc hons in Dental Technology.

SEAN THOMPSON

I like to be very active within the dental profession and am regularly called upon to sit on advisory committees and working groups with bodies such as the General Dental Council, Health Education East Midlands and many more.

w I entered into dental technology in 1982 by means of a summer job whilst waiting to start university after studying A-levels in biology, chemistry and English literature. I started a four-year apprenticeship training programme in dental technology instead, qualifying with Distinctions in 1986 after completing City and Guilds at Newcastle College, gaining the ‘Top Student’ award in the process for both the intermediary and final examinations.

Some of my previous roles include chair of the Orthodontic Technicians Association (OTA), council member of the Dental Technologists Association (DTA), associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), visiting lecturer at the University of Chester, sessional teacher at Nottingham College, a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ambassador and Chair of the Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit 2022.

I worked in various commercial laboratories for 18 years before gaining employment running the day-to-day operations of the orthodontic and maxillofacial laboratory at Sunderland Royal Hospital. Whilst there, I studied for a further two years gaining a postgrad professional studies diploma in maxillofacial technology from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2002.

Winner of a Star award, Pride of Derby award and the Aldridge Medal, I am a keen advocate of lifelong learning, I have written many CPD papers and lectured on a variety of subjects both nationally and internationally.

I decided to leave employment to form a specialised orthodontic laboratory, establishing Ashford Orthodontics in January 2001, which

Outside of work and professional activities I enjoy running, going to the gym, walking my dogs and adventure travel.

SHARAZ MIR

Twitter handle: @kittani5 LinkedIn profile: andreajohnson0705

I set up and grew other associated businesses such as Quick Straight Teeth and Retainerworld, as well as CSG Properties Ltd, all of which were successfully sold on. Was elected to the OTA council in 2012 with aims to enhance the Commercial Laboratory representation by giving Private Laboratories a ‘voice’ within the OTA, whilst forging links with our other professional bodies. Ashford grew from a modest £50,000 per year turnover to an almost £7 million business before my retirement in June 2021, after successfully negotiating the formation of a new company called ALS into which Ashford’s shares were pooled along with significant inward investment from Ansor Ltd. I exited the business, allowing the pursuit of other interests including professional coaching via a directorship in a consultancy company called Ashmore Consulting Ltd, and CEO of Retainers4life. Outside of work, my other passion is Sunderland the ‘City’ and thus Sunderland Football Club, following them through ‘thin and thin’ for the last 50 years, attending almost every game with my wife Allison and sons Matthew and Nicholas.

w I am the co-founder and sales and marketing director at Blueprint Dental. I achieved a BTEC in dental technology at Kings College London in 1993 and attended the University of Sheffield to gain a BMedSci and an MPhil in dental technology. I am an exceptionally approachable individual with a passion for dentistry and the patience of a rock. I have a unique eye for what I call ‘products and projects’, being able to spot the next best thing in dentistry and implementing it. This has been key to keeping Blueprint Dental ahead of the game. I am very passionate about my profession creating beautiful smiles and making a difference is quite rewarding!

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INSIGHT

Your Letters

Peter Natt questions the MHRA on who is classed as competent to sign off a custom-made dental appliance

ome time ago there was some debate on the Dental Technicians Great Britain Facebook Page as to who was considered to be a competent person to sign off a custommade dental appliance. I thought that the readers of your publication may be interested in the subsequent correspondence that I had with the MHRA as regards requesting them to advise me who they considered was a ‘Competent Person’ to sign off custommade dental appliances. On 17 June 2023 I wrote to the Medical Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and asked them the following question: ‘I would like some assistance in understanding the Medical Devices Regulations relating to the construction of custom-made dental appliances. I believe that a competent person is required to check the completed custom-made dental appliance but where can I find the details of that within your documentation? Who is regarded as the competent person to check the completed custom-made dental appliance? Is it a dental technician or may someone else check it?’ I received a response from the MHRA by email dated 4 July 2023 providing me with a link to their website, but this did not contain the information that I required. I emailed them again and received a response from them on 26 July 2023 stating that they would have to refer the matter to one of their colleagues.

As I had not heard from them, I emailed them again on 13 September 2023 and received a response from them dated 28 September 2023 stating that they were waiting for their colleagues for a response. Because I had not received a response from them in a timely manner, I contacted my Member of Parliament on 03 October 2023 and asked him to contact the Chief Executive of the MHRA for a response to my question. On 18 October 2023 I received the following response from the MHRA: ‘Thank you for your enquiry on custom-made dental appliances and we apologise for delay. As these devices are supplied on the prescription of a qualified person (in the case of dental appliances, this would be the dentist), the preparation and final fitting of these devices would fall under the responsibility of the dentist to check. This forms part of their professional and clinical responsibilities, and is therefore not considered to fall within the scope of the UK Medical Device Regulation 2002 (UK MDR 2002). Professional and clinical responsibilities for dentists fall within the remit of the General Dental Council (GDC). Although a custom-made device is manufactured to the prescribed requirements of the healthcare professional, if it is to be fit for its intended purpose, it must meet all the relevant essential requirements (Annex I [as modified by Schedule 2A for the relevant Part of the UK MDR 2002]). The manufacturer, which in the case of custom-made dental appliances is usually a dental laboratory, is responsible for ensuring the dental appliance complies with all the requirements of the UK MDR 2002

relating to custom made devices, which includes complying with the relevant parts of the essential requirements. This means they must make sure the device is designed and manufactured in a way that means that it is fit to be used for its intended purpose and is safe to use. This may include carrying out checks on the device to ensure it meets these requirements. These will be done by someone the manufacturer determines is competent to carry out the relevant checks, but is ultimately the responsibility of the manufacturer. If the custom-made device in question would have been classified as either a class IIa, class IIb or class III device, within the definition of a medical device then that device must be accompanied by the statement referred to in Part II of the UK MDR 2002, Annex VIII (as modified by Part II of Schedule 2A of the UK MDR 2002). It should be noted that the statement does not need to be provided with a custom-made device which has been classified as class I. The ‘statement’ should be available to the named patient for whom the device has been manufactured. It is a requirement that patients are made aware that they can request a statement and the statement will need to be made available on request. An example of a statement for custom made dental medical device can be found on page 4 at the following link: https:// assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ media/5feb6247e90e0711fa94ce3b/ Examples_of_custom_made_ statements_Dec2020.pdf We hope this is helpful. We do apologise for the delay in our response’. I would welcome your readers comments on the response that I received from the MHRA. Kindest regards, Peter J Natt

Please send your comments and responses to editor@dentaltechnician.org.uk 12 I www.dentaltechnician.org.uk

INSIGHT

From dental tech to sound tech

Simon Whitehouse tells us why he recorded his CD, Buster By Request, and the work that went in to it PRODUCING THE CD

i, I’m Simon Whitehouse, technical director at Elite Orthodontics in Telford. As a side-line to my dental technology, I am also involved in entertainment from amateur dramatics to live singing. I thought one day that I would post a song on the Dental Technicians Great Britain (DTGB) Facebook page, it was a funny song about Eugene Kirk’s poached eggs. Well, it seemed well received so I did a few more. Through being a member of the DTGB page, I became friends with Lord Alan Stephen Wright and learned about a charity he is involved with called Veterans Bite Back, in association with another charity, Den-Tech. Run by Andrea Johnson, they provide dental care to our ex-servicemen who have fallen on hard times. This got me thinking about ways in which I could help with raising some money but more importantly raising awareness. I came up with the idea for a CD, Buster by Request, and asked fellow dental technicians to request songs that they would like me to have a go at recording. I also added a few of my own favourites!

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Producing a CD takes time, and a good ear. Backing tracks are downloaded and put into a mixing programme, then the vocal is recorded onto a separate track. These two are then mixed to get the right balance of music to vocal. If I can’t get the sound right, I re-record the vocal. When the two are mixed, I then use mastering software to do some more technical tweaking. Once all the tracks are recorded and mastered, they are then compiled in the order they are on the CD. I created the artwork on Photoshop then this along with the compilation are sent to a CD duplication company who copy the tracks to CD and print the CDand card wallets. We have currently just hit the £1000 target thanks to the sale of the

physical CD, the downloads, and some generous donations (this is where the raised awareness helps).

PRESENTING THE CHEQUE

I will be presenting the cheque to Lord Alan Stephen Wright at the YAB Hub in Wrexham where I will also be doing a 1-hour set of classics and maybe a couple from the CD. This will also be livestreamed on Facebook and will be posted on the DTGB page. If anyone wishes to attend the cheque presentation and gig, please email me at eliteorthodontics@aol.com for details. I would like to say a BIG thank you to all those who bought CDs/downloads and those generous people who have donated. All the best, BUSTER

INSIGHT

18 TRACK CD Includes bonus track Coward of the County

r e t s u B By Request

e) f all tim o g n e so vourit a f y r (m Wate d e l roub ver T O un e ridg The S s e 1 B m o ere C 2. H vive ) ill Sur W e CD I irds h t B n 3. e l o t it ck ree L est tra d r b a e z 4. Th i h lW is t n Bal k this n i h t 5. Pi I d( ranoi y 6. Pa ue Sk l B r 7. M cille e 8. Lu ne By M w d n lk Alo a t a le no S W b . r a r e 9 e v s e i u’ll N I’m M 10. Yo en Knows n v ng Su a i s e i H R 11. the se of u o H o ding 12. uld I G ll Stan i o t h S S ve 13. I’m ld I Stay or ed Lo l l a C u o hing 14. Sh ittle T L y z ra sing 15. C on Ri o M ad on 16. B terno f e A y nn See M d n 17. Su a up ome 18. C

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY!

THE CD IS STILL AVAILABLE AND CAN BE PURCHASED VIA THE VETERANS BITE BACK MERCHANDISE PAGE. https://den-tech-charity.myshopify.com/collections/veterans-bite-back OR VIA ELITE ORTHODONTICS (TELFORD) LIMITED Starling Bank I Sort code: 60-83-71 I Account no: 78409012 The cost is £10 plus £1 P&P www.dentaltechnician.org.uk I 15

INSIGHT

SHOW OFF YOUR

SERVICES! In this article, Hayley Irons discusses the benefits of exhibiting at dental conferences and provides some top tips from maximising your experience doing so

ave you ever thought about exhibiting at a dental conference or show? While this might feel offputting due to the cost – in terms of finance and time – when done correctly the benefits can be plenty. Dental shows attract hundreds of dental professionals who all attend with a similar mindset. They are there to enhance their work, their learning, and their business through better tools, systems and services, meaning that you have a captive audience to showcase your laboratory services to.

WHY EXHIBIT? Increased brand awareness When you exhibit at a dental conference or show, you are putting your brand in front of hundreds of potential clients. This can help to increase brand awareness, making it more likely that potential clients will think of your lab when they are in need of particular services, or if they are looking to change their supplier. Generate leads Dental conferences and shows are a great way to generate leads. The larger shows have scanner apps for data collection, but you can do just as well at smaller events by collecting business cards or using simple, pre-prepared forms. I would recommend having a form ready anyway as some people will forget their business cards. You can collect contact information from potential clients and then follow up with them after the event or add them to your newsletter database to keep you in their mind. Network with potential clients and partners Dental conferences and shows are a great place to learn about the latest trends in the dental industry. You can attend workshops and seminars, and you can also network with other dental professionals. Many of the show organisers are looking for new speakers and lecturers so don’t be afraid

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to reach out to see if there is a speaker slot available for you. Positioning yourself as a key opinion leader generates trust in your brand and the work you provide. Build relationships Immersing yourself in a trade show helps you to network with key decision-makers in the dental industry, which can grow your network, generate positive press for your lab and help you stay ahead of the competition.

MAKE THE MOST OF IT

Once you’ve decided to exhibit at a dental show, it’s important to make the most of it and maximise your experience while you’re there. This takes advanced planning so make sure you have time ahead of the event to ensure your messages are clear and you know what you want to achieve and have a strategy to do that. Plan ahead It is important to plan ahead when exhibiting at a dental conference or show. This includes setting a budget (and sticking to it), deciding on your booth design, and preparing marketing materials. Don’t forget about travel and hotel arrangements, leaving this to the last minute can be more expensive than booking in advance. Have a clear message What do you want potential clients to know about your lab? What are your unique selling points? Make sure that your marketing materials and booth design are consistent with your message and on point with your branding. Train your staff Your staff will be the face of your lab at the dental conference or show. Make sure that they are well-trained and that they can answer any questions that potential clients may have. This should be in relation to all of your services and products, and any special offers you will be promoting during the event.

Follow up After the event, be sure to follow up with any leads that you generated. This could include sending them an email or giving them a call. You need to do this as soon as possible after the show, while your interaction is still fresh in the potential client’s mind, letting more than a week lapse can cause the lead to run cold. Set aside some time after the event to carry out lead follow up… this is where the gold is!

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT EVENTS

It is important to choose the right dental conferences and shows to exhibit at. There are many different events to choose from, so it is crucial that you select the ones that are most relevant to your target audience. My suggestion would be to start small. Look for local events that can help you to grow your network and give you a feel for what you can do at events. Once you’ve attended and achieved success at a few of these you can look to do things on a larger scale, at some of the regional events, gradually working up to the national shows such as Dental Showcase or The Dentistry Show when you feel ready.

A FINAL NOTE…

It is worthwhile outlining some goals for what you would like to achieve at each event, for example, how many leads do you expect to generate, and how many sales/new clients do you expect to convert from those leads? This can help you to quantify your spend at each event and work out whether they are beneficial doing again. Make sure these goals are realistic for your exhibiting experience. Don’t expect to generate a ton of leads overnight. Focus on making connections with potential clients and building relationships.

INSIGHT

Hayley Irons is director of HI Marketing. For more information contact 07805 506 477, hayley@hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk, or visit www.hayleyironsmarketing.co.uk

www.dentaltechnician.org.uk I 17

INTERVIEW

An interview with…

Carly Burgess Carly Burgess tell us about her career journey and offers some sage advice How many years have you been working in the dental industry? I’m coming into my 19th year in the dental industry. I started as a steri nurse at 15 and worked in many different roles, before starting my dental technician apprenticeship in 2010. What’s your earliest dental memory? Workwise, it would have to be when I melted a heap of plastic impression trays in the autoclave in my first week of work. My personal dental memory would be when I chipped my upper central and had to get it fixed by the school dental service. I particularly remember them saying that it was only a temporary fix. That was 24 years ago, and temp fix is still going strong. Most funny/ridiculous/dangerous/ disgusting lab occurrence? When I was an apprentice, there were countless near misses with scalpel blades and flying snapped cutting discs. Also, a dangerous but funny memory was, when we could smell gas, so a fellow colleague went to light a match to get rid of the gas smell. She was swiftly tackled by another colleague. There were endless pranks being pulled, like everyone parking their car away from the workplace, so the boss rocked up and thought no one was at work. Nutella under car door handles, gluing shoes to the floor, cars covered in toilet paper... The list goes on! What is your favourite tool/piece of equipment in the lab and why? This is going to sound really boring, but I love my Lecron. Whether it’s for waxing, carving, positioning intricate bits of wire. I use it on practically every job, it’s super reliable, and it’s also great for tightening up the screws on my glasses. What do you think the future of dental technology will look like? Digital technology will play a greater role in our industry as it becomes more refined, and most importantly, financially viable for labs to invest in. I think it will be exciting,

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if you’re willing to embrace it, and not be afraid of it taking our jobs. I do hope though that there will still be some need for us to bust out a handpiece and work our magic at a lab bench, not just at a computer desk.

If you weren’t a dental technician, what would you be? It would have to be working with sniffer dogs at the airport. This is something I’ve always really wanted to do, but I just never made the opportunity happen.

What is your biggest challenge as a lab owner? The juggle of not only being a dental tech, but also keeping on top of bookkeeping, financial management, marketing, customer service, tech issues, stock control, keeping up with the latest protocols. The list is endless, and stressful.

There’s a mockumentary being made about a dental lab. What would you call it and which actor would play you? It would be called: We said that, but what we really meant was this and I would be played by Anna Faris, but the character she plays in Scary Movie. I feel like the expression she pulls in those movies is what my face looks like most of the time when I’m trying to process what people are saying to me.

What is your proudest accomplishment to date? Definitely starting a new business from scratch in a very tight-knit industry, whilst also being a mum of three children under the age of eight and (trying) to maintain a household. I think I’ve aged 10 years in the past 15 months, but seeing clients continuously using my lab and my client list growing is a great achievement.

If you could tell younger Carly one thing, what would you tell yourself? Don’t be so harsh on yourself. What one person thinks is amazing, another might not think the same. Just keep trying your best. Also start your own lab BEFORE you have kids and a large mortgage (hindsight is wonderful!).

WHAT DOES PERFECTION MEAN TO YOU? Optimal function? More authenticity? Maximum naturalness? Successful tooth design knows only one benchmark: your own standards and those of your patient. We have been designing teeth since 1936, like the PhysioSelect TCR. CANDULOR. HIGH END ONLY.

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Anzeige UK | The Dental Technicians | Format: 216 x 303 mm | Sprache: EN | DU 19.01.2023

BUSINESS

GET SMART Ian Smith outlines how SMART goals can help you to amplify the success of your business

chieving your business ambitions requires a structured approach, and SMART goals are a powerful framework to guide your strategic planning. In this article, we will explore ambition planning for businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and SMEs to large corporations, using the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SPECIFIC GOALS Define clear objectives: Start by outlining specific and well-defined business ambitions. Whether it’s increasing market share, expanding into new markets, or launching innovative products or services, clarity is key. Identify precise metrics: Establish concrete metrics to measure progress. These metrics could include revenue targets, customer acquisition numbers, or market penetration percentages. MEASURABLE GOALS Quantify milestones: Make sure your goals are quantifiable and measurable. For instance, aim to increase revenue by 20% or acquire 1,000 new customers within a specific time frame.

Use key performance indicators (KPIs): Develop a set of KPIs that align with your ambitions and track them regularly to gauge the performance of your business. ACHIEVABLE GOALS Assess resources: Evaluate the resources, both financial and human, required to achieve your ambitions. Ensure that you have the necessary means to pursue your goals. Realistic expectations: Set ambitious but realistic targets. Consider market conditions, industry trends, and the current capabilities of your business. RELEVANT GOALS Alignment with mission and vision: Ensure that your ambitions are in line with the mission and vision of your business. They should contribute to your company’s overall strategic direction. Market relevance: Validate that your ambitions are relevant to your target market and customer needs. They should address pain points and enhance customer value and opportunities in your industry and target market. TIME-BOUND GOALS Set timelines: Establish clear timeframes for each ambition. Specify

About Ian Smith l Ian Smith is a global operations leader and growth specialist. He has over 20 years’ experience creating evidenced based growth through global operations, transformation, change and M&A leadership. With over 10 years at C-Suite level in organisations of 400,000+ people and £19bn+ in revenue. Ian thrives building teams and networks of expertise and always delivers high value to customers with a track record of £$€M’s in efficiencies, top line and bottom line

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organic and inorganic growth in all industry sectors globally. He has worked in industries from Education to Finance & Insurance, Corporate real estate to Retail, FMCG, Pharma, TMT, Residential, Healthcare and Senior Living to Energy & Power, Oil, Gas & Mining market. Contact Ian: 07931 175 369 ian@thestrategysmith.com www.thestrategysmith.com

when you aim to achieve each milestone or goal, whether it’s in one year, three years, or five years. Regular reviews: Schedule regular reviews and checkpoints to assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to stay on track. SMART CONCLUSION SMART goals provide a structured and actionable framework for ambition planning in businesses, regardless of their size. By following these criteria, you can create a clear roadmap for the growth and success of your business over the next five years. Remember that successful ambition planning involves continuous monitoring and adaptation to changing circumstances. With SMART goals, your business can work methodically toward achieving its ambitions and realising its full potential.

WELLNESS

Make ‘moving’ a habit John Bennett discusses the impact that a sedentary life can have, and how we can counteract it

he dental profession, by its very nature is a semi-sedentary role. Both technicians and clinicians can spend large parts of their day either sitting or standing with minimal movement. This limited movement, while not a serious issue for our bodies to deal with on a short-term basis, most definitely can be a big issue if we don’t continually counter this potential long term, harmful effect on the body with regular movement including stretching and strength exercises. This can be greatly helped by creating the ‘habit’ of moving. The impact of limited movement Through human invention and corporate success, we have now created a society where we no longer even need to move to get food. It can literally be delivered straight to our front door fully prepared, ready-to-eat hot takeaway, or a weekly shop. The requirement to move, to live, has again been greatly reduced. For other animals living free on this planet, they have no such luxury, but they benefit from not getting those routinely achy muscles and limbs. They cannot afford to ‘stop moving’, it is literally life or death for them!

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Consider the following: a high percentage of us end up spending 10, 15 or even 20% or more of our later years in a care facility or retirement home. Because a substantial number of us are no longer able to fully support ourselves in our daily routine, we require the assistance of another. Why is this? An animal living free in the wild has no such need. An owl will not spend its final years living in a care facility looked after by other owls. It will keep flying, hunting, sleeping until it can no longer continue. Why do some people get to 65 and struggle to get up from the sofa, while others are still running marathons, weightlifting, or simply walking comfortably without issues, well into their 80s, 90s and beyond! It is because the latter group keep moving, every day! The small island of Okinawa in Japan1 has the world’s highest percentage of centenarians with many reaching 100 and older. Many live a traditional life. What is interesting is that few of the houses have what we in the west would call a traditional chair or sofa. When sitting, they are on the floor. This means they are getting down and up from a floor seating position an average of 25 to 30 times a day. Imagine the

muscle strength needed to perform this so many times. Legs, arms, and core! How many retired people do you know that have this type of daily movement requirement? Bruce Forsyth died at the age of 89 in 2017. Incredibly, he was still working on Strictly Come Dancing until 2015, age 87. In an interview I watched many years ago, when asked how he keeps so nimble and still able to dance at age 83, he replied by saying that when he was a lot younger, his dance teacher told him that every day before getting out of bed, he should begin to gently stretch his limbs, shoulders, rotate his ankles, wrists, etc. The reality is, in the morning we may be warm in our beds, but our muscles, comparatively speaking, are cold. Indeed, many people will put their back out within the first few moments of getting out of bed. I have now adopted this habit, and every morning without fail, before swinging out my legs and getting up from my bed, I will spend around a minute or two gently stretching. Will it help me, I do not know, but if it helps me to stay limber and mobile into old age, then great. It is now an ingrained habit that I do without any forethought.

WELLNESS the first thing the animal will do after waking, is stretch. This is instinctual and feels good, without them having any comprehension and understanding of what it means for their body. By stretching they are increasing the blood flow back into those previously stationary limbs. They are increasing the oxygen, fresh blood and nutrition delivery. This in turn will continue to assist in new cell growth, cell repair and recovery and help their bodies to heal micro traumas that occur through their daily lives of running, jumping, playing and fetching.

TIPS TO MAKE MOVING A HABIT: 1. Stretch and move your limbs in the morning before leaving the bed 2. When standing, waiting, gently roll forward onto your toes and back onto your heels. This is great for flexing all the local muscles and tendons, and flushing the lymphatics

This is no different to the repeated micro traumas that occur in your own muscles and tendons when you hold yourself in unnatural and prolonged angles looking down at your counter, or the tight pinch or grip in your hands because you have incredibly precise work to be done, or maybe you use awfully thin instruments that increase finger/thumb pressure, or have an ultra-flexed wrist because you’re working at a weird angle… because that’s just how you work.

3. If given the choice between an escalator or travelator, or walking, always choose to walk and take the stairs 4. When staying in a hotel, leave the lift and take the stairs, even if only for one or two floors

When you feel pain, and especially if it keeps repeating, that is your body communicating with you, directly telling you ‘something is not right’. If you don’t listen to your body when it whispers, then don’t be surprised if eventually those whispers become screams and you need to look at pain relief, massage, chiropractic interventions and the like.

The importance of movement When sitting at your workstation, because of the nature of your work, the blood flow around your body slows, oxygen and nutrition delivery slows. Do you often get up after a complex session, to find your legs, hips or lower back, metaphorically, moaning out at you? This is because your limbs, especially from the waist down, have kind of had a small sleep. Anyone who has a dog or cat, will know that even after even a brief snooze,

5. When visiting a large superstore or retail park, choose to park well away from the main entrance. This has both the frequent benefit of not fighting and looking for spaces, but also allows a slightly longer walk to your destination 6. When using the car, if possible, park further away from your destination and make the choice to walk just a little bit further

So, let’s make moving a habit. Every chance you get, however small or seemingly insignificant… move. Your body will thank you, and maybe you will be like the Okinawans, living to a great age, fully mobile and able to move freely. ‘You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.’ John C. Maxwell REFERENCE

1. https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/ worlds-oldest-communities

ABOUT JOHN BENNETT l John Bennett has worked in the dental sales and training arena for the last 16 years. Over the last 10 years, he has been building a substantial knowledge and understanding of the growing issue of poor health, both physical and mental, in our profession. Also a qualified Breathing & Respiratory Coach,John left the safety of the

corporate world and two years ago created DPC Dental - Dental Performance Coaching, offering wellness training, breath coaching and ergonomic solutions for the dental and medical professions. For more information, contact 0333 4040728, info@dpcdental.co.uk, or visit www.dpcdental.co.uk.

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ECPD

FREE VERIFIABLE ECPD

As before if you wish to submit your ECPD online it will be free of charge. Once our web designers give it the all clear there will be a small charge. This will be less than the CPD submitted by post. This offer is open to our subscribers only. To go directly to the ECPD page please go to https://dentaltechnician.org.uk/dental-technician-cpd. You will normally have one month from the date you receive your magazine before being able to submit your ECPD either online or by post. If you have any issues with the ECPD please email us cpd@dentaltechnician.org.uk

0.5HRS VERIFIABLE ECPD

LEARNING AIM

The questions are designed to help dental professionals keep up to date with best practice by reading articles in the present journal covering clinical, technical, business, personal development and related topics, and checking that this information has been retained and understood.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Participants will demonstrate their understanding of the challenges and techniques involved in full denture prosthetics, emphasising the importance of craftsmanship, anatomicalfunctional understanding, and the integration of digital technologies in the field of dental technology.

CORRECT ANSWERS FROM THE OCTOBER 2023 DT EDITION:

VERIFIABLE ECPD - NOVEMBER 2023 1. Your details First Name: .........................................Last Name: ...................................................Title:.............. Address:............................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................... Postcode:.......................................... Telephone: ..................................... Email: .......................................................GDC No:................ 2. Your answers. Tick the boxes you consider correct. It may be more than one. Question 1

Question 2

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Question 10 Question 11

Question 12

3. Evaluation: Tell us how we are doing with your ECPD Service. All comments welcome.

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As of April 2016 issue ECPD will carry a charge of £10.00 per month. Or an annual fee of £99.00 if paid in advance. You can submit your answers in the following ways: 1. Via email: cpd@dentaltechnician.org.uk 2. By post to: The Dental Technician Magazine, PO Box 2279, Pulborough, RH20 9BR Payment by cheque to: The Dental Technician Magazine Limited. Natwest Sort Code 516135 A/C No 79790852 You are required to answer at least 50% correctly for a pass. If you score below 50% you will need to re-submit your answers. Answers will be published in the next issue of The Dental Technician. Certificates will be issued within 60 days of receipt of correct submission.

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ECPD

VERIFIABLE ECPD As you need it via the Dental Technician THIS MONTH’S CPD QUESTIONS ARE ARE FOCUSED ON

FULL DENTURE PROSTHETICS THE ULTIMATE DISCIPLINE: CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL SPECIFICATIONS Q1. What is the KunstZahnWerk competition focused on? A) Crown fabrication B) Full denture prosthetics C) CAD/CAM manufacturing D) Tooth extraction Q2. In the article, what is the challenge presented in the competition task for the dental technician? A) Fabricating a bridge for a young patient B) Creating a partial denture for an elderly patient C) Developing natural-looking dentures for a patient with specific conditions D) Designing braces for a patient with misaligned teeth Q3. What does the article emphasise about the fabrication of full dentures in the digital age? A) Full dentures can only be produced using digital technologies B) Traditional fabrication methods are irrelevant in the digital age C) Digital technologies enhance the precision of fixed denture solutions D) The importance of traditional fabrication methods alongside digital technologies Q4. How is the increase in vertical relation considered during the articulation process? A) Ignored for simplicity B) Taken into account when articulating C) Only relevant for lower dentures D) Addressed during the polishing stage Q5. What role does the facebow play in the articulation process for the competition work? A) Determines the position of the upper jaw B) Shapes the denture body C) Establishes the occlusal plane D) Defines the position of the lower jaw Q6. According to the Gerber theory, how are the central incisors and canines set up in the maxilla? A) Below the occlusal plane B) At equal lengths above the occlusal plane C) Without any inclination D) Slightly longer than the lateral incisors Q7. What is the main focus during the setup of posterior teeth in the mandible? A) Mimicking natural enamel cracks B) Achieving a harmonious curve of Spee C) Emphasising the lingual side D) Creating a tight seal between denture base and palate

Q8. What technique is used for transferring wax dentures into resin? A) Injection molding B) Cold press technique C) 3D printing D) Laser sintering Q9. Why is the vibrating line etching performed during the finishing of dentures? A) To create a natural appearance B) To maximise the suction effect and denture bearing C) To remove excess resin D) To improve the occlusal surfaces Q10. How does the article conclude the relevance of craftsmanship in dental technology? A) Craftsmanship is irrelevant in the digital age B) Craftsmanship is essential for successful full denture prosthetics C) Craftsmanship only matters in fixed denture solutions D) Digital technologies have replaced the need for craftsmanship Q11. What materials are used for individualisation of the gingiva in the article? A) AESTHETIC BLUE and Optiglaze Color Sets B) Candulor 53 and Candulor 55 C) Rocky Mountain and Bluephase D) Aurumed Norm and Monosil Q12. According to the article, what does KunstZahnWerk emphasise for dental technicians? A) Competing against colleagues B) Focusing solely on digital technologies C) Demonstrating and improving skills D) Ignoring traditional fabrication methods

You can submit your answers in the following ways: Via email: cpd@dentaltechnician.org.uk or by post to: The Dental Technician Magazine, PO Box 2279, Pulborough, RH20 9BR. You are required to answer at least 50% correctly for a pass. If you score below 50% you will need to re-submit your answers. Answers will be published in the next issue of The Dental Technician magazine. Certificates will be issued within 60 days of receipt of correct submission. PAYMENT BY CHEQUE TO: The Dental Technician Magazine Limited. NatWest Sort Code 516135 A/C No 79790852

www.dentaltechnician.org.uk I 25

BUSINESS

STRATEGIC AMBITION PLANNING

Ian Smith provides a 5-Step and 5-Year roadmap for businesses mbition drives businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and SMEs to large corporations. To turn your business ambitions into reality, it’s crucial to have a well-thought-out financial plan that spans several years. In this article, we will outline a 5-year ambition planning approach tailored to different types of businesses, breaking down your financial goals year by year, to help you achieve your corporate dreams. The article that follows can be used as a year-on-year guide for new/aspiring businesses and/or a step-by-step guid to formulate an ambition to follow. Ideally followed in sequence, Years or Steps 1-5 are outlined below. STEP/YEAR 1: FOUNDATION BUILDING The first year of your corporate ambition plan should focus on building a strong financial foundation. Here are some key steps to consider: Budgeting: Start by creating a detailed budget for your business operations. Track revenue, expenses, and cash flow meticulously. Identify areas where you can optimise spending and allocate those funds towards your ambitions. • Emergency funds: Just as individuals have emergency funds, businesses should maintain reserves to cover unexpected expenses or economic downturns.

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BUSINESS • Risk management: Review your risk management strategies and ensure you have appropriate insurance coverage and contingency plans in place • Talent acquisition: Consider talent acquisition strategies to attract top talent to help execute your ambitions effectively. STEP/YEAR 5: EXECUTION In Year 5, it’s time to execute your corporate ambition plan and make your business dreams a reality: • Debt management: Prioritise paying off high-interest business debts. Reducing debt will free up more capital for future investments and growth.

• Cost estimations: Research and estimate the costs associated with each corporate ambition. This will help you set realistic budgets and allocate resources effectively.

• Strategic partnerships: Forge strategic partnerships or collaborations that can accelerate your growth and help you achieve your corporate goals

• Invest in infrastructure: Upgrade your business infrastructure, whether it’s technology, equipment, or facilities, to support your growth ambitions.

• Funding strategy: Determine how you will fund your ambitions. Will it be through equity financing, debt financing, or reinvested profits?

• Innovation and adaptation: Stay innovative and adaptable. Continuously assess and adjust your strategies to align with changing market dynamics

• Employee development: Invest in training and development for your employees to enhance their skills and contribute to the growth of the business. STEP/YEAR 2: SETTING SPECIFIC GOALS Secondly or in the second year, it’s time to define your specific corporate ambitions and create a detailed plan to achieve them: • Goal setting: Clearly define your longterm corporate ambitions. Whether it’s expanding into new markets, launching new products, or achieving specific revenue targets, specify the goals you want to accomplish. Remember to take into account your current pipeline of clients and your success rate – this will identify how many clients/consumers you will needed to target in order to realistically meet your goals. • Financial milestones: Break down your long-term ambitions into smaller, achievable milestones for the next five years. These should be quantifiable and time-bound.

STEP/YEAR 3: REVIEW AND REFINE The third step or third year is about reviewing your progress and making any necessary adjustments: • Progress evaluation: Assess your progress toward the goals set in Year 2. Are you on track to meet your corporate milestones? • Market analysis: Re-evaluate your market and competitive landscape. Adjust your strategies based on changing market conditions. • Operational efficiency: Look for ways to optimise your operations and reduce costs. Streamline processes and identify areas for improvement. STEP/YEAR 4: OPTIMISATION The fourth step or in year 4, focus on optimising your business strategies and financial plan: • Revenue diversification: Explore opportunities to diversify your revenue streams to reduce dependency on a single source

• Track achievements: Keep a record of your corporate accomplishments. This not only motivates your team but also serves as a valuable reference for future financial planning and goal setting. CONCLUSION 1 Ambition planning for businesses, whether they are start-ups, SMEs, or large corporations, is a dynamic process that requires commitment, strategic thinking, and adaptability. By breaking down your corporate ambitions into a 5-year financial roadmap, you can turn your business dreams into achievable goals. Remember that financial planning and ambition execution will vary based on the size of your business and industry, so customise this approach to fit your unique circumstances. With dedication and a wellstructured plan, your business can work toward the financial success that will help you realise your corporate dreams.

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DENTAL TECHNOLOGY

THREE-STEP SOLUTION FOR OUTSTANDING FULL MOUTH RESTORATIONS of MP Dental Studio in Malaga, recommends OPTIGLAZE for provisional restorations, which he considers a vital aspect of the restorative process. On a recent case of a 52-year-old female patient he was seeking a radical change to existing composite restorations in the shortest time possible without orthodontics. He explains: ‘OPTIGLAZE was applied to all teeth: B Plus was applied to the cervical and middle area, Lavender and Blue in the incisal zone and Orange in the interproximal zone. Especially in this type of complex cases, these temporary restorations are important to see and evaluate study shapes, sizes, proportions, occlusion, functionality and aesthetics.’

When presented with a case that requires the rehabilitation and restoration of the entire mouth, dental technicians require a workflow that they know will restore lost function, be comfortable and provide a natural aesthetic appearance that is personalised to the patient. It is also important that the workflow provides reliably reproducible results, minimising the chance of error and saving clinical chair time where possible. GC’s OPTIGLAZE, Initial LiSi Block and Initial IQ ONE SQIN work together seamlessly to cover the entire restorative process, from provisionals to the final restoration, eradicating unnecessary steps and saving time without compromising on the final result. 28 I www.dentaltechnician.org.uk

THE SIMPLE THREEPRODUCT REGIMEN GC’s OPTIGLAZE, Initial LiSi Block and Initial IQ ONE SQIN can be used to create a complete restoration regime that simplifies the process to make exceptional aesthetic results achievable in an efficient and uncomplicated way. OPTIGLAZE is a light-cured coating for indirect restorations, providing a simple solution to add characterisation to everyday aesthetic creations. There are a wide variety of colours for both internal and external characterisation. The product’s surface gloss effectively cuts time spent on polishing, while the nano-filler technology gives restorations a high wear resistance, reduces discolouration and provides a long-lasting gloss. Maximiliano Paterlini (pictured left), dental technician and founder

Initial LiSi Block is a Lithium Disilicate CAD/CAM Block, providing outstanding physical and aesthetic properties without the need for firing. This unique product features GC’s proprietary High Density Micronisation (HDM) technology for CAD/CAM dentistry which delivers high wear resistance, smooth margins and aesthetic results. Initial LiSi Block is available in five aesthetic shades and two translucencies for simple patient personalisation. High gloss and natural opalescence can be achieved in just a few minutes of polishing, making it an ideal time-saving solution. Paterlini explains Initial LiSi Block works in full mouth rehabilitation cases to create a completely personalised solution. ‘The shade A1 LT (low translucency) was chosen because all restorations were full crowns. A high translucency could lead to loss of value in this case, resulting in a more greyish appearance of the crowns. Being a complete rehabilitation and favourable substrate, a cut-back and micro layering was chosen, which gives natural aesthetics thanks to the combination of the Initial IQ Lustre Pastes ONE, Initial Spectrum Stains and Initial IQ SQIN ceramics – the ‘ONE SQIN’ concept.’ Initial IQ ONE SQIN is a paintable colour-and-form ceramic system that includes Initial IQ Lustre Pastes ONE, Initial Spectrum Stains and Initial IQ

DENTAL TECHNOLOGY SQIN Ceramics. This system makes it quick and easy to achieve high aesthetic results that are comparable to traditional layered restorations. The self-glazing properties mean that a glazed finish is achieved in a single firing, and the optimal fluorescence level ensures aesthetics under all light conditions.

step work protocol is established where the margin of error is exponentially reduced… it [is possible] to restore a full arch with the right materials and the right protocol. The result is a fully functional and aesthetic work with a natural appearance.’

THE OPTIMAL SOLUTION FOR FULL MOUTH RESTORATIONS

For full information on GC products referenced in this article visit: www.gc.dental/europe/en-GB

The stability and visual control of this three materials workflow produces reliable, reproducible results that are both aesthetic and functional and Paterlini is a great advocate: ‘A step-by-

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DENTAL TECHNOLOGY

FULL DENTURE PROSTHETICS THE ULTIMATE DISCIPLINE: CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL SPECIFICATIONS KunstZahnWerk and the importance of traditional manufacturing methods in a digital age Candulor’s 13th KunstZahnWerk competition once again showcased the sound skills and know-how of dental technicians in 2023. This year again focused on the fabrication of mucosa-supported full dentures in the maxilla and mandible. The participants completed their competition work based on a detailed model analysis. Among them, Sebastian Guttenberger (Zahntechnik Hierold, Pirk). He accepted the challenge and won first place. In fact, he achieved a double victory, as he also took first place for the documentation of his work. What at first seemed unachievable thus turned into a personal achievement for him and a confirmation of his technical dental skills. In this article he describes his work philosophy and goes into detail about the competition work. MDT Sebastian Guttenberger, Pirk

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hen dental technology meets passion, the result is a combination of craftsmanship and anatomical-functional understanding. Dental technology competitions such as the KunstZahnWerk are venues for this energy and provide a stage for measuring one’s talents and furthering one’s advancing skills. Participation in the KunstZahnWerk, which is all about full dentures and where dental technicians from all over the world have their work judged by a renowned jury of experts, may at first sight seem unattainable. For me, too, the dream of participating had been there for a long time. But my master craftsman’s examination had priority. After successful graduation - and apart from the daily work of fabricating high-quality dental restorations - came the question of which further professional goals to pursue. And that is when KunstZahnWerk sprang to mind again. It was time to face the dream. Backing from my employer and the family provided the necessary incentive. So, full dentures occupied my mind for several weeks.

Patient-customised full dentures

What is the role of full dentures in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), automation and CAD/CAM manufacturing? What relevance do manual skills still have? These questions occupy the minds of many of my colleagues. Digitisation undoubtedly offers many advantages. However, full dentures still represent handcrafted work. The realisation of aesthetic, functional and patient-specific aspects which make up a ‘good’ full denture requires skills such as observation as well as creativity and an understanding of functional relationships. The basic idea behind the fabrication of dentures is always the same: a denture should be comfortable to wear and inconspicuous for the patient. The focus is on the natural shape of the teeth and - depending on the tooth replacement solution - of the gingiva. Be it digital or analogue a number of preliminary considerations are required prior to realisation to prevent

problems from occurring in the first place. Digitisation is particularly helpful for fixed denture solutions. Digital design not only allows the frameworks to be created, but also enables a fully anatomical situation to be defined as the target. This can, for example, be realized by means of 3D printing. Digital technologies can also prove helpful for full dentures. In principle, however, full dentures are based on a sound knowledge of traditional fabrication methods and on taking the patient’s individual circumstances into account.

Competition entry...

A mucosa-supported maxillary and mandibular denture is to be created for a 69-year-old female patient. In the maxilla, the patient has been fitted with a denture for 15 years. Initially anchored via double crowns, abutment teeth 21, 22 and 23* had to be removed. She wears an interim denture in the mandible after teeth 35 - 44 and 46* had to be extracted due to advanced periodontitis. The task: natural-looking dentures according to the dynamic occlusion concepts tooth-to-tooth or tooth-totwo-tooth setup. This is aggravated by a pronounced atrophy in the mandible, a slight flabby ridge in region 32 to 42* and a change in the mucosa (leukoplakia) in region 35*. The existing dentures exhibit several deficits. The anterior teeth are barely visible in both the upper and lower jaws. Due to the low vertical proportion, the lower third of the face appears squat and the chin pointed. The patient complains about inadequate denture retention. She can only eat by using adhesive cream to fixate the denture in her mouth. She would like a denture with a firm hold, visually more prominent anterior teeth and age-appropriate aesthetics, as well as adequate chewing performance. Also important to her is an appealing facial appearance, where the chin appears less pointed. Youth photos serve as an orientation. The challenge: age-appropriate dentures (full dentures) at pronounced atrophy in the mandible.

Preparatory steps by the dental technician

The models of the maxilla and mandible are duplicated and the master models are fitted with rotation locks (brass cones, milled grooves, magnet) for a Splitcast base (Figs. 1 and 2). Preliminary technical dental considerations: • The increase in vertical relation must be taken into account when articulating. • As the flabby ridge can lead to a poor suction effect of the denture, adequate finishing of the denture body is required (buccinator support, muscle-gripping denture body, margin design). • For an individual set-up of the maxillary teeth according to the physiognomic bite key, a silicone matrix is helpful as a control element (Fig. 3).

Assignment of the models in the articulator

There are various methods for transferring the position of the mandible in relation to the cranium to the articulator. A common approach is the facebow to determine the position of the upper jaw. For the competition work, the mandibular model is transferred to the articulator (CA 3.0, Candulor) with a mean value (Fig. 4). The condylar path inclination in relation to the Camper’s plane (occlusal plane) is preset at 45° on the right and 47° on the left. To reflect the increase in vertical relation, the support pin is lowered by 1 mm (Fig. 5). Among other things, the objective is to make the maxillary anterior teeth more visible and to make the patient’s physiognomy appear more harmonious. • Prior to the model analysis, the support pin of the articulator is reset to the zero position.

Model analysis

The model analysis initially requires some time, but significantly increases the quality of the results. For instance, jaw relationships, the position of the plane of occlusion and mid line of the maxilla can be determined with the aid of model analysis. The results of the model analysis enable a precise tooth set-up according to static aspects, taking muscular balance into account. The procedure according to P. Lerch has proven itself and is also applied in this case. Static lines After marking the papilla incisiva and the centre of the model as an orientation guide, the positions of the first premolars in the maxilla and mandible are marked. • In the maxilla, the canine is located at the level of the first large palatal fold, one premolar width to dorsal of the first premolar. • In the mandible, the positions are marked in extension of the buccal frenulum attachments.

TOP ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 1 Duplicating forms of the master models; Fig. 2 Splitcast base for removing the models from the articulator; Fig. 3 Silicone matrix of the physiognomic bite key. 2ND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 4 Transfer of the mandibular model to the articulator with rubber band and incisal needle; Fig. 5 Support pin lowered by 1 mm; Fig. 6 Marking of the static lines and the retromolar triangles or tuber. 3RD ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 7 Marking the inner and outer contour lines for evaluating the setup area; Fig. 8 Alveolar ridge contour on the outer side of the model and main chewing centre in the mandible (blue); Fig. 9 Marking of the stop line (red line)

The retromolar triangles in the mandible or the tuber in the maxilla are outlined and bisected sagittally and transversely with a line. The points of intersection are connected to the marked positions of the first premolars (Fig. 6). The resulting lines form the basic static lines and are marked in red. Inner and outer contours The inner and outer contours indicate the tolerance range of the basic statics and create the setup area for the teeth (Fig. 7). • In the mandible, the intersection points of the transversal bisector line are connected with the position of the first premolars when contouring the retromolar triangles. The line passing through the lingual point represents the inner correction (green), while the line passing through the vestibular point represents the outer correction (blue). • In the maxilla, the outer correction runs along the vestibular fold and the inner correction as the connecting line of the plica pterygomandibularis and the position of the first premolars. The markings are extended dorsally at right angles to the occlusal plane. The overlapping area (intersection area) forms the setup area.

Alveolar ridge contour and main masticatory center The contour of the alveolar ridge is determined with the aid of profile compass. These are guided at right angles to the model side from mesial to distal to transfer the alveolar ridge contour of the mandible to the side of the model. The main masticatory centre is defined by a tangent parallel to the occlusal plane through the lowest point of the alveolar ridge contour (Fig. 8). The point of contact of the tangent marks the main chewing centre and can be identified by a vertical line on the model side. In addition, a tolerance range is marked by vertical lines on both sides of the model at a distance of about 1 mm. As a rule, the first molar of the mandible lies within this tolerance range. Stop line A line is drawn through the main chewing centre point at an angle of 22.5° which extends to dorsal. The second intersection of this line with the alveolar ridge line can be marked with a vertical line and transferred to the model margin perpendicular to the occlusal plane. This marking forms the stop line and thus the most distal point at which a tooth may be in occlusion. (Fig. 9) Setting a tooth behind this line can cause the mandibular denture u to slide ventrally (protraction).

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DENTAL TECHNOLOGY Setup of the teeth Maxilla anterior teeth (PhysioSelect TCR, Candulor) The information from the analysis is put together like a puzzle when setting up the teeth and the ideal tooth positioning is evaluated. The bite key provides a rough guide for positioning the teeth. Attention must be paid to ensure that the labial surfaces of the teeth touch the silicone matrix (bite key) (Fig. 10). According to the Gerber theory, the central incisors and canines are set up at equal lengths - approximately 0.5 to 1 mm above the occlusal plane. The lateral incisors are slightly shorter. The tooth axes exhibit slight mesial inclination. Mandible anterior teeth (PhysioSelect TCR, Candulor) Teeth 32 on 42* are set up oriented to the occlusal plane, whereby a small tolerance is possible due to a slightly nested setup (Fig. 11). The canines can be positioned minimally above the occlusal plane (approx. 0.5 mm). When positioning the teeth to labial, the sagittal step must be taken into account (overbites). As the lower anterior teeth do not play a supporting role in functional loads and should only exhibit slight sliding contacts in protrusion, an individual setup is possible. Posterior teeth in the mandible (BonSelect TCR) In the posterior region, the focus is initially on the lower teeth, since their position is important for the articulation contacts (Fig. 12a and b). The first premolars take on the main guidance function and are set up with an inclination of about 10° distally and 1 mm above the occlusal plane. The second premolars are at the level of the occlusal plane and are inclined to distal by approximately 5°. As there is no space for two molars dorsally, the first molar is replaced by a third premolar. For an harmonious curve of Spee, the molar is tilted slightly to mesial. The mesiobuccal cusp of the molar is level with the occlusal plane, while the distobuccal cusp stands 0.5 mm above the plane. Posterior teeth in the maxilla (BonSelect TCR) The upper posterior teeth touch the silicone key with the buccal surfaces (Figs. 13a and b). Again, the position of the first premolars is important as these teeth, together with the lower first premolars, provide the main guidance. They are set up at the level of the occlusal plane and inclined about 10° to mesial. The palatal cusps are located in the fossa of the lower first premolars. The second and - in this case - third premolars are treated in the same manner. The molars in the maxilla are slightly inclined to distal and only tangent the occlusal plane with their mesiobuccal cusps, whereby the distobuccal cusps lie slightly above. The main contacts are located on the mesiopalatal cusp of the molars.

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TOP ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 10 Setup of the upper anterior teeth with silicone matrix; Fig. 11 Setup of the lower anterior teeth with slight nesting; Figs. 12a and b Setup of the posterior teeth in the mandible taking into account the information from the model analysis (e.g. base static line passes through central fissures). 2ND ROW FIRST TWO PHOTOS: Figs. 13a and b Setting up the posterior teeth in the maxilla with silicone key and checking the profile of the basal static line to the central fissures; 2ND ROW LAST THREE PHOTOS: Figs. 14a to c Checking and grinding in the articulation movements with coloured occlusal foil. Gerber setup: main guide contacts on posterior teeth, anterior teeth only in sliding contact, canines do not guide. 3RD ROW FIRST TWO PHOTOS: Figs. 15a and b Muscle-gripping design of the denture bodies and creation of palatal folds. 3RD ROW LAST TWO PHOTOS: Fig. 16 Silicone matrix (Shore hardness 65 - 75) with perforations at the cusp tips; Fig. 17 Models placed in the PolyMaster (cold press). 4TH ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 18 Bonding of teeth into the matrix; Fig. 19 Vibrating line etching on the maxillary model for a powerful suction effect; Fig. 20 Thin coating of the models with alginate insulation (Iso-K) without forming puddles; Figs. 21a and b Individualisation of the red aesthetics using various resins from the Candulor range. Mixing the polymers 53, 55 and intensive stain powder (ratio 1:1) with the base material 34.

• The buccal cusps are out of occlusion and at some distance from the lower buccal cusps so as not to restrict articulation movements. Grinding in occlusion and articulation movements Grinding-in of the occlusion begins with checking the contact points and carefully grinding interfering contacts (check on support pin). The main contacts are located on the palatal or mesiopalatal cusps in the maxilla and in the central fossa in the mandible. The aim is to achieve two to three points per tooth, evenly distributed between the left and right tooth rows (Figs. 14a to c).

Modelling the denture body

Careful design of the denture body in the mandible is important to compensate for the lack of suction effect (flabby ridge) by means of a muscle-gripping design (Figs. 15a and b). Buccinator supports are modelled to provide a counter abutment for the musculus buccinator, while the lip shield labially provides an abutment for the musculus orbicularis oris. The lower denture is modelled lingually in such a

manner that the musculus mylohyoideus and the tongue nestle against the denture body in the rest position. In addition, palatal folds are designed on the maxillary denture to provide orientation for speech and assist with food comminution.

Finishing of the dentures

The transfer of wax dentures into resin is performed with the cold press technique (PolyMaster, Candulor). The advantage is that the model can be blocked out without the wax melting. By pressing the resin into the PolyMaster, a high accuracy of fit of the dentures is achieved. In addition, the denture body can be customised with lighter and darker resins as well as intensive shades before inserting the base material (Candulor 34). Prior to inserting the models into the PolyMaster, silicone matrices are fabricated and perforated at the cusp tips as well as incisal edges to provide selective support for the teeth (Fig. 16). The lower part of the flask is filled with super hard plaster and the model is pressed into the plaster. After 20 - 30 minutes, the lid of the PolyMaster can be removed (Fig. 17). The

DENTAL TECHNOLOGY teeth are provided with retention notches basally, sandblasted and bonded into the matrices with instant adhesive (Fig. 18). The vibrating line etching provides a tight seal between the denture base and the palate and maximises the suction effect and denture bearing (Fig. 19). After the models have been wetted and insulated and the teeth have been fixed in the matrix, the resin polymers are prepared (Fig. 20). To provide natural aesthetics, individualisation and intensive colour materials should be used in addition to the base material (Candulor 34) (Figs. 21a and b). The teeth are wetted with monomer and the individualisation materials are applied followed by the base material (Fig. 22). After screwing the flask closed, polymerisation is performed for 20 - 25 minutes at 40 °C water temperature in the pressure pot. ✔ Candulor 34: base material ✔ Candulor 53: thin gingival portions or raised areas (alveolar mounds, palatal folds) ✔ Candulor 55: more strongly perfused gingival parts (papillae, deeper mucosal areas) ✔ Red and blue intense stains: suggestion of fine veins ✔ White intensive stain: imitation of leukoplakia region 35 After divesting the dentures, occlusion and articulation are checked; the support pin is set to zero (Fig. 23). This is followed by the removal of the dentures from the models. Tooth necks and proximal spaces are reworked and the marginal areas as well as the areas for muscle-gripping are optimised. The dorsal prosthetic margin of the upper denture is shortened to the vibrating line and both dentures are carefully polished (Fig. 24). Here, special attention is paid to the occlusal surfaces so as not to lose the occlusal points and ground facets.

Individualisation of the dentures

To provide the dentures with more naturalness and liveliness, the teeth should be individualised. The denture bodies are covered with wax. This serves to protect the already polished gingival portions. The labial and buccal surfaces of the teeth can then be conditioned and designed with characterisation materials (Optiglaze Color Sets, GC), e.g. ground facets, enamel cracks, imitation of leukoplakia (Figs. 25a and b). To add the finishing touch to customisation, the lower denture is furnished with a gold inlay at the level of the molar (Fig. 26). After final polishing and cleaning of the models as well as dentures, the work is ready for handing over (Figs. 27a and b).

TOP ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 22 Application of the individualization materials followed by filling with the “dough” base material; Fig. 23 Devested denture prior to removal from the model (check of articulation movements); Fig. 24 Finishing the denture bodies paying attention to sensitive areas, e.g. the vibrating line; Figs. 25a and b Individualization of teeth with stains and characterization materials. 2ND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Fig. 26 Polishing of the gold inlay; Figs. 27a and b The finished dentures in the articulator (competition entry)

CONCLUSION

Although dental technology is becoming increasingly digitised, full denture prosthetics currently remain handcrafted work. Aesthetic functional and individual aspects require the craftsmanship and creativity of the dental technician. The challenge is to uphold these skills in a digital age. Despite increasing digitisation, the knowledge of proven criteria and the skills of analogue processes form the basis for solid full denture prosthetics. Cooperation within the dentist-laboratory team as well as an understanding of the individual needs of the patient remain indispensable for a successful result and longterm patient satisfaction. ‘As I am serious about my craft and the passion for dental technology that comes with it, participating in KunstZahnWerk has been a goal of mine for a long time. I am incredibly proud and grateful that I was now not only able to demonstrate my skills, but even won first place. The competition has motivated me to continue improving my skills and to keep challenging myself.

In particular, KunstZahnWerk has once again made me aware of the relevance of craftsmanship in dental technology.’ Sebastian Guttenberger, Pirk * In this article we refer to the dental scheme: FDA (Fédération Dentaire Internationale / DIN EN ISO 3950:2016-09).

MATERIALS USED Articulator Articulator CA 3.0 (Candulor) Tooth lines PhysioSelect TCR and BonSelect TCR (Candulor) Denture resin AESTHETIC BLUE (Candulor) Individualisation of the gingiva AESTHETIC Intensive Colors (Candulor) Characterisation materials teeth OPTIGLAZE Color (GC) Flask PolyMaster (Candulor) Insulation plaster-resin Iso-K (Candulor) Silicone (matrix) Monosil (HLW Dental) Super hard plaster Rocky Mountain (Class 4) Polymerisation light Bluephase (Ivoclar) Alloy (gold inlay) Aurumed Norm (Deutsche Aurumed Edelmetalle)

About the author: Sebastian Guttenberger, Pirk 2014 Apprenticeship examination (Chamber of Crafts Regensburg) 2014-2016 Employed dental technician (Zahntechnik Hierold, since 2018: H2 Dental) 2019-2020 Master Class Munich 2020 Award of the title of Master and the title of “Bachelor Professional” 2020 Received the Bavarian State Government’s Master Craftsman Award for outstanding performance in the master craftsman’s examination 2020-2022 Employed dental technician (H2 Dental) 2022 Employed dental technician (Zahntechnik Hierold)

Contact address: dental laboratory Zahntechnik Hierold I 92712 Pirk I Breitenstraße 10 info@zahntechnik-hierold.de I www.zahntechnik-hierold.de

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Turnkey Solutions for Digital Dentistry Unlock your Digital Lab

Tecno-Gaz G5 Milling Machine

Speciﬁcally developed for • digital dental labs • Wide range of prosthetic products • Free standing

Nexa3D XiP Desktop Resin 3D Printer

• Ultra fast • Wide range of validated materials • Aﬀordable desktop price

End-to-end expertise for your digital workﬂow Design Build Project Management Installation & Commissioning Training

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