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Around Town Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine

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by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine
I have just returned from the 34th International Dental Symposium (IDS) in Cologne, Germany. Not only is it the largest dental meeting in the world, it is one of the best. This is an opportunity to take the temperature of the worldwide dental industry and to peek into the future of dentistry in the United States. Two stand-out topics were implants and CAD/CAM. These topics are already big news in the U.S., but the sheer number of CAD/CAM companies for both lab and office applications were mind boggling. On the implant side, there was a surgical suite in one of the booths where they performed live implant placement surgery during the show.

Aside from the sheer size of the show crowds, it is interesting to note the differences in exhibit size at IDS. Many of the well-known suppliers in the U.S. have a major presence in Europe: 3M ESPE, Heraeus, Ivoclar Vivadent and Sirona to name a few. Their exhibit spaces are filled with every product available, demonstration spaces, lounges, meeting rooms and often a bar serving drinks! This is not about getting drunk, it is part of the culture to have a space where people can meet and have a conversation while conducting their business.

There are many reasons why products are slow to arrive in the U.S. There are regulatory hurdles and distribution agreements to complete. Some products require additional testing. I thought it would be fun to share a few of the new items on display at IDS, which are not yet available in the United States.

BioRepair: This product is best described as a synthetic hydroxyapetitie which will repair the microscopic damage in tooth enamel, prevent plaque accumulation due to the smoother surface and reduce sensitivity by occluding exposed dentin tubules. Certainly there are other products already available in the U.S. that claim one or more of these benefits. This product earns a mention because it is a novel technology and was recently well-received at the IADR meeting. If you would like more information, visit: www.biorepair.co.uk.

3Shape TRIOS: A new intraoral digital impression scanner from a company that is very familiar to dental labs, 3Shape. This device adds to its existing line of products that run the gamut of the CAD/CAM process. This scanner was also spotted at the Heraeus booth with the product name of Cara. Pricing appears to be equivalent to other digital impression technologies currently available in the U.S., but no specific numbers will be available until this unit makes an appearance on American soil. You can learn more about this technology and the company at www.3shapedental.com.

PAD Plus: PAD is an acronym for Photo Activated Disinfection. This novel tabletop device utilizes a specific wavelength of light to kill bacteria in periodontal pockets, root canals and deep carious lesions. The technique includes use of a medical-grade solution of tolonium chloride which is used to selectively tag all bacteria, and when the tagged bacteria are exposed to the PAD light, a singlet of oxygen is released and it will rupture the cell membrane of the bacteria. The process is said to be pain free and without side effects. If you would like to learn more about this technology, visit www.denfotex.com.
ANALGE-JECT: Ronvig Dental Manufacturing in Denmark has launched this microprocessor controlled injection system which uses existing needles and carpules and does not require any additional supplies. There are multiple, pre-programmed injection rates and the device is activated by a separate foot control or it can be integrated into your dental unit foot control. The advantages of uniform injection rate are well known in the U.S. and this new device will no doubt join others in this growing space. For more information, visit www.ronvig.com.

VirTeaSy: Complicated name for a simple product – virtual reality meets dental training. The simulator provides dentists and students the ability to perform implant surgery with a handheld haptic device and stereoscopic glasses which provide a 3D view of the surgical field. You can use images from your actual patient case to populate the instructional material in the program. This workstation is designed to work best in an implant training institute with students at the workstations and an instructor workstation that provides data on student performance. As the company expands their offerings, this is the ideal device to train dental students of the future. Visit www.didhaptic.com for more information.

pa_on: Yes, that was the name used for this unique device. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a Web site for this new product, so the details will be limited to the information provided at the booth. This is a portable, electronic periodontal probe. Once a simple calibration is completed, the dentist or hygienist begins probing the pockets according to the programmed sequence. Once finished, the device is returned to the small docking station that is connected to the workstation, and the periodontal data is automatically transferred to the practice management software. This device can also be used to record bleeding points, suppuration and attachment loss. There is no indication if/when this might be available in the U.S., so stay tuned.


Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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