The Dental Solution is one of the largest dental laboratories in Australia, located on Collins Street in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. Principal John Scollo will detail their digital journey from an analogue laboratory to a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility filled with mills, scanners and 3D printers in what is an inspiring case study for any laboratory looking to transition or to simply grow and succeed in the digital age.

Race Dental is Australia’s largest dental laboratory. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Race Dental's journey has paralleled the leading edge of digital development as it fiercely defends its mission to retain manufacturing onshore. Race Dental combines traditional bespoke craftsmanship with the latest in 3D printing, milling, laser sintering and computer aided design to meet and exceed the needs of dentists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific. In this session, Matt Race will chronicle their journey to date, the scope of their operations and provide insight to laboratories small and large as to how to succeed in 2018 and beyond.

Additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing and subtractive manufacturing, such as milling, both have their place in dental technology. When choosing 3D printing or milling, the dental material choices available ultimately define the method of manufacture. This lecture will give an overview of milling and 3D printing technologies currently available to dentistry and delve into the dental materials currently available for both manufacturing techniques and compare and contrast each. Following this overview, the most suitable method and material for each dental laboratory application will be discussed and ultimately a formula laid down that will be relevant and applicable to both current and future materials in development.

3D printing is the hot topic in dental technology right now and there are myriad choices available in both printers and materials. But how do you choose? In this session, Dental Axess CEO Belinda Muggleton will explain why her company needs to offer several different brands of printer and poses the questions you need to ask yourself - and your supplier - before making a choice.

Throughout the years, restorative trends and techniques have come and gone. Some material developments have transformed the face of aesthetic dentistry, while other initial concepts have phased out and died. Yet the concept of digital dentistry is one that started out small, and has progressively increased in momentum until its boundaries appear to have become endless. The most exciting factor surrounding these technologies is not, however, only in the potential applications of these technologies that are being hypothesized by dental professionals. These advancements are not, therefore, something that will "eventually" emerge in the market, they are realities that are currently being released to further revolutionize the quality of dental care that is being delivered in modern restorative dentistry. As dentistry evolves into the digital world, the successful incorporation of computerization and new technology will continue to provide more efficient methods of communication and fabrication while at the same time retaining the individual creativity and artistry of the skilled dentist and dental technician, while the utilization of new technology will continue to enhance the close cooperation and working relationship of the dentist/technician team.

This session will discuss what is required to fabricate a successful smile makeover and explore methods of communication between practice and laboratory to achieve that aim. Topics include: Differing smile makeover methods; Planning and briefing the lab; Shade selection; Imagery and scans required for smile design; Computer-aided smile design (CASD); Mock-up and transfer; and Finalising the case.

Utilising digital workflows in the laboratory for the production of orthodontic appliances and aligners offers significant benefits in terms of accuracy, outcomes and profitability. In this session, Ari Sciacca looks at the technologies he uses daily like intraoral scanning, CAD design and 3D printing to digitally manufacture the gamut of appliances utilised in dental practice today.