Digital Valplast!

I love Valplast!    It is such an amazing material to use as a removal partial denture or as a “flipper.”  In my practice, there are very few patients that want to be missing a tooth that is visible in the “smile zone” while they are waiting for their implant to be completed.   So, we do a LOT of Valplast partials (“flippers,” Nesbit, etc.)  We jokingly say it is their “church tooth!”   “Gotta have that tooth when you go to church!”   It makes light of the situation, but we always emphasize that the result will look really good, and people won’t even notice the missing tooth.   

The advantage to a Valplast partial is that the gingiva resin/acrylic portion is VERY resilient!   The stuff just takes a beating and goes right back to position.  Therefore it can be worn confidently by the patient.   The added bonus is that it is very esthetic.  The retention arms are typically made out of the gingiva portion and they blend right in the dentition.  This is because they have just the right amount of translucency and the underlying gingival color will bleed through it.   

The historical disadvantage to Valplast is that there was a lot of labor to make it.   It is made, essentially, using the lost wax technique.  It is pressed into shape.   But it is NOW PRINTED!   It has taken many years of development to reach a state where the high quality name of Valplast can go on the printed version.   

Arfona prints Valplast!   They have numerous printers to tackle the large volume of orders and to get your order our in a timely fashion.   All you have to do is digitally scan the area, and upload the STL files to their website.  In a very short time you will receive a request to approve the design.   There you will see the design in three-dimensions and will be able to rotate and analyze the case from any angle.  After approval, the technicians at Arfona go through a rigorous finishing and polishing process to get them ready for shipment.   

The two main advantages of printing Valplast for the clinician is obviously the shorter turnaround time, but it is easy to order another one if it is lost.   Just contact Arfona, and they print you another!   No more sending back the stone models that were used for processing, that were typically broken or chipped.   

Check out Arfona Printing!

A breakdown video on Digital Enamel TV is coming.