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Dental Lab Products | April 2009
NewsBriefs

Heraeus launches direct-to-consumer Smile Makeover campaign

Heraeus Kulzer has launched the Venus Smile Program, a multi-tiered, dynamic, innovative consumer marketing campaign consisting of dental and lab sectors with an aggressive online advertising presence that drives patients to dentists and dentists to laboratories. The campaign centers around three unique Web sites—one geared toward the dental practice, one to the lab, and a virtual smile makeover site for consumers. Integrating a menu of esthetic offerings from complimentary whitening to direct and indirect treatment options, the multi-channel national campaign has utilized numerous online initiatives including Google, Yahoo!, FaceBook, My Space, and InStyle, as well as word-of-mouth marketing through BzzAgent and Frogpond.

When dentists and laboratories join the program, they will have access to customizable print-on-demand marketing tools and an online appointment system. The interactive www.TryaVenusSmile.com site lets patients upload a photo and try on a new Venus smile and also helps them locate Venus Smile dentists in their area. Participating laboratories receive exclusive access to regional and national Venus Smile dentists, a listing on the Venus Smile Web site directory, an opportunity to feature laboratory cases online, print-on-demand tools, and access to CE credits and additional training. To enroll as a Venus Smile laboratory, call 800-431-1785 or visit www.VenusSmileCenter.com or www.SmileByVenus.com.

Jensen creates support program

Jensen Dental has launched a new program, Creation Pledge for Success, designed to help laboratories improve the quality of their restorations and to grow their business. The initiative provides benefits such as a choice of an introduction kit for metal or zirconia layering ceramics, free Web-based education, a complimentary new Willi Geller DVD, access to online digital marketing tools, and Jensen’s quality technical and sales support.

For additional details on the limited-time offer, contact a Jensen Dental sales consultant at 800-243-2000 or visit www.jensendental.com for information.

GeoDigm buys Lord’s Dental

GeoDigm Corp., a leading provider of rapid-prototyping production technology for fabricating dental prostheses, announced an acquisition strategy to consolidate the dental laboratory industry. GeoDigm received a commitment of at least $100 million in private equity to finance the acquisition program and in February acquired Lord’s Dental Studio located in Green Bay, Wis.

“The dental laboratory industry is large, highly fragmented, and ripe for consolidation,” said Andrew Hofmeister, President and CEO of GeoDigm. “The combination of the ICON production system, the team we have assembled, and a $100 million equity commitment from one of the leading private equity firms in the U.S. provide the opportunity to fundamentally transform the dental lab industry.” The company is actively seeking acquisition candidates of all sizes.

“We believe this technology is the wave of the future,” said Don Warden, President of Lord’s Dental. “The ICON technology is the first time we’ve seen a system capable of addressing all our volume. ”

To read an exclusive interview with Warden about the acquisition, click here.

News Briefs

EDUCATION

Dates for the 63rd annual International Education Congress of Dental Technology (www.dlany.org) have been changed to Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12, at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich, Conn. For information, call 866-352-6965 or e-mail congress@dlany.org.

The Dawson Academy of St. Petersburg, Fla., (www.thedawsonacademy.com) will offer a series of courses specifically for technicians taught by Lee Culp, CDT: Elements of Design: Smile Design (June 26-28); Natural Anterior (Sept. 11-13); and Natural Posterior (Nov. 13-15). For information, call 800-952-2178.

Ivoclar Vivadent (www.ivoclarvivadent.com) will hold an InLab introductory course at the IDEA Center in San Francisco June 15-17, Aug. 2-4, Sept. 14-16, and Dec. 7-9. For information, call 800-533-6825, ext. 4363.

Candulor USA (www.candulor.us) will host a course on the Candulor Full Denture System May 13-16 in Philadelphia. For information, call 323-254-1430.

PEOPLE & PROMOTIONS

Jason Harvey has been promoted to National Sales Manager for Zhermack Inc. (www.zhermack.com) with the responsibility for directing sales efforts for the United States and Canada. For information, call 877-819-6206.

Marlin Gohn, CDT, has joined The Argen Corp. (www.argen.com) as Technical Education Manager, bringing more than 37 years of industry experience. For more information, call 800-255-5524.

Lee Culp, CDT, has been named VP of Dental Technologies for D4D Technologies (www.d4dtech.com). Call 972-234-3880 for details.

PARTNERSHIPS & MERGERS

BIOMET 3i (www.biomet3i.com) has collaborated with 3Shape A/S (www.3shape.com), allowing labs to design patient-specific abutments using the 3Shape’s D-250 and D-640 Dental 3D scanners, design software and BIOMET 3i’s ARCITECH PSR CAM technology. For information, call 800-342-5454.

Yates & Bird and The Motloid Company merged and will now be known as Yates-Motloid (www.yates-motloid.com), a privately held ISO-certified company headquartered in Chicago.

Glidewell Laboratories (www.glidewell-lab.com) has selected dental software from Delcam (www.delcam-dental.com) for use in its CAD/CAM manufacturing processes.
The IMPAC line of implant components and accessories, previously available from Vident, now is offered by Precision Ceramics Dental Laboratory (www.pcdl-usa.com). Call 800-223-6322 for details.

FACILITIES

AstraTech Inc. (www.astratechdental.com) moved into a new 84,000-sq-ft. headquarters in Waltham, Mass., that brings corporate operations and manufacturing of the Atlantis abutment solution under one roof.
 

ONLINE

Customers ordering online from CDM Dental (www.cdmdental.com) can receive a 10% discount by entering Customer Code: CDM08 (case sensitive) when completing their purchases. For details, call 888-401-1126.

AWARDS & CERTIFICATION

Wieland Dental Systems now offers the ZENO Material Certification as a guarantee of restorations with frameworks made from genuine ZENO materials and are entitled to bear the CE mark. For details, call 866-876-0885 or visit www.wieland-dental-systems.com.

IdentAlloy/IdentCeram (www.identalloy.org) shipped 11.4 million certificates in 2008, representing a 15.4% increase over 2007. Call 888-577-2634 for program details.
An independent survey conducted by J&J Haimes LLC reports that the Nobilium/Ticonium division of CMP Industries (www.cmpindustries.com) is rated the top manufacturer of materials and equipment for partial denture labs in the U.S.