DENTAL PROFILE
The business of sleep By James Yau
Over the past 12 years, Panthera Sleep has refined its digital approach by using highly efficient and precise CAD/CAM techniques, to deliver the highest-quality, least-invasive and most durable appliances for its practitioner partners. “By introducing the power of fully digital workflows, we have been able to consistently produce accurate, durable, and effective sleep appliances that streamline treatment processes for dentists globally. This strategic focus has allowed us to manufacture over 150,000 products, each meticulously designed to brighten smiles and improve the lives of patients worldwide,” Spray added. Part of these capabilities involve the investment in what has been said to be one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing centres in its industry, where the integration of Industry 4.0 philosophies
Iain Spray, business development director for Panthera Dental
and practices supports Panthera’s commitment to digital innovation.
Founded in 2012 by siblings Gabriel and Beatrice Robichaud, Panthera Dental is widely known for its CAD/CAM-led manufacturing, distinctive marketing, and custom-made solutions. These traits have become hallmark features across the Canadian-based company’s three divisions, producing implant, prosthetic, and sleep breathing products. At the 2nd Asia Pacific Dental Sleep Medicine Fellowship Day on 23 Aug, clinicians, researchers, and manufacturers from the field of dental sleep medicine (DSM) gathered in Singapore for a day of education and networking. Dental Asia caught up with Iain Spray, business development director for Panthera Dental, as he shared the latest trends and technology from its Sleep portfolio. DIGITAL SLEEP DENTISTRY 4.0 Panthera Sleep, a division of Panthera Dental, is focused on providing innovative dental sleep appliance designs manufactured with cutting-edge digital technologies.
“At Panthera Dental, our strategic development in dental sleep appliances is deeply rooted in our commitment to digital excellence. As pioneers in digital dentistry, the Robichaud family recognised early on that integrating CAD/CAM techniques with advanced materials like medical-grade nylon would revolutionise the treatment of sleep- disordered breathing,” explained Spray. Dental sleep appliances operate by stablising the jaw in a forward position to ensure that an open airway is created and maintained for a patient to breathe without obstruction. The removable dental device offers a non-invasive alternative to other methods commonly employed to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) such as surgery or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. While the first iterations of dental sleep appliances were known to be bulky or cause discomfort for patients, the advancement of CAD/CAM, digital dentistry and additive manufacturing technology, has enabled manufacturers to produce devices that are more precise, comfortable, and efficient.
The 40,000ft 2 facility in Quebec City, Canada, is purpose-built around the workflows of its three product lines — Sleep, Implant, and Prosthetic — leveraging the latest advancements in AI, smart-automation, and robotics to achieve unmatched accuracy and efficiency. “The digital workflow begins with precise chairside scanning and continues through sophisticated digital design, all the way to state-of-the-art 3D printing and milling. This seamless integration has allowed us to produce over 150,000 devices, each patient matched to fit perfectly and function effectively from day one,” said Spray. The Panthera Digital Sleep Apnea Device (D-SAD) comes with a three-year warranty, the longest in the industry Spray highlighted, which reflects the confidence in the quality and durability of the product. The facility’s design, including features like vibration-free floors and advanced construction techniques, ensures that every
28 DENTAL ASIA SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
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