Q&A: Driving an Open Ecosystem of All That Digital Dentistry Can Offer

Having joined the company as CEO last year, how do you characterize its fi rst 20 years?

I am very impressed by the way the company has developed since its beginnings 20 years ago, starting with groundbreaking solutions for hearing aid production, on to leading CAD/CAM solutions for dental labs, and then introducing a high-performance intraoral scanning solution for dentists. This is successfully addressing 3 different target groups with highly innovative solutions, and that is quite extraordinary.

I’m also impressed by the way 3Shape built up the uniquely talented R&D force that made this journey happen. They are truly driven by purpose—to fi nd solutions for better patient care—and that passion amazes me. Finally, I am impressed by the sheer growth of the company and the way it has transformed from a startup in a small apartment into an international company and a leader in the dental industry with a very strong brand, all within such a short time

What is 3Shape’s greatest accomplishment?

The greatest accomplishment is the way we have continued to change dentistry together with our partners. We do this by working with our customers—always listening to the clinicians and lab technicians, and making digital workfl ows based on their input and needs.

Part of this is our open-system philosophy. We believe in giving doctors, lab technicians, and patients choices rather than limiting their options. Today, our systems work with most milling machines, materials, 3D printers, and implant systems, and dentists can connect to a huge range of treatment providers, including for clear aligners. Creating this open ecosystem of all digital dentistry can offer is one of our greatest achievements, and we will continue to nourish and expand it in the future

Innovation is a leading focus for 3Shape. What does the word mean to you?

You are completely on target when you say that innovation is our focus. Innovation is in our company culture and DNA. Our drive to innovate and bring new and needed solutions to the market is what has brought us to where we are today. This made possible our revolutionary hearing aid manufacturing solutions, powerful CAD/CAM software workfl ows, and our wireless TRIOS scanner, which is the only one of its kind.

For us, innovation is about many things. It’s about creative thinking, challenging the way things are now, and fi nding ways that no one else thought possible to do them better. But good innovation, for us, needs to truly add value to dental professionals and, especially, their patients. And natu-rally, it also must be applicable in terms of production and our overall business goals. Something that is unique for 3Shape is that we also invest heavily and focus on the design aspect in our innovation—not just in terms of ergonomics and usability, but also in the device’s esthetic look. We don’t think that patients in the dental clinic need to be surrounded by bulky hospital-like medical equipment. The dental practice should be a pleasant place to visit.

Has TRIOS moved the needle forward in terms of patient care?

Absolutely. Ten years ago, intraoral scanning was mainly considered one component of an expensive chairside system that featured a scanner and mill. The focus was on creating crowns in the practice. 3Shape was then—and still is—the leading company for lab solutions, so when we introduced TRIOS, it was designed to be a scanner for sending scans to the lab. This is still the key strength of TRIOS today compared to other intraoral scanners. Doctors can send the scans to the lab with a single click. The scan fi le contains an abundance of information like shade measurements, dynamic occlusion, and more that the lab can apply when designing and producing the restoration

What are some other ways TRIOS has impacted dentistry?

With TRIOS and the innovative technologies within, 3Shape raised the bar in terms of scan speed, scan accuracy, and ease of use. For example, AI technology makes scanning easier by removing excess soft tissue from the digital impression as you scan. We also developed new ways to use intraoral scanning beyond crown creation, including special software that lets the doctor use the scanner for preventive care or for showing patients before-and-after results of treatment proposals in 3D.

Another market changer was our launch of the TRIOS Basic scanner, which made intraoral scanning available to cost-con-scious doctors and their patients. And, fi nally, 3Shape’s open system philosophy gives doctors using TRIOS the freedom to choose to work with a wide range of treat-ment providers depending on the specifi c case and patient situation. Giving doc-tors and, thereby, their patients choices instead of locking them in to specifi c treatment providers is truly moving the needle forward in terms of the patient’s perspective of dental care.

What can you tell us about the company’s future growth plans

We  are very ambitious. It’s key for us to increase the adoption of intraoral scanning and digital dentistry among dentists worldwide and continue to take market share in this space. Our sur-veys show that there is massive potential in the market today with many thousands of doctors considering the purchase of an intraoral scanner within the next 3 years. We have leading products for practices as well as for labs, and we are continuously improving and expanding our services to our customers so that they can feel confi -dent when adapting to new technology. Based on this, we expect to grow signifi -cantly during the coming years.