Swiss Dental Ceramics shares their proud history in Traditional and Digital Laboratory Manufacturing
Swiss Dental Ceramics | Australia
Swiss Dental Ceramics is a family-run dental laboratory in Perth WA that specialises in manufacturing Crown and Bridge as well as Implant restorations. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Swiss Dental Ceramics are committed to providing high quality, Australian-made products using the best materials in the market by blending digital and traditional Dental Laboratory manufacturing workflows.
To stay competitive, embracing digital technology was a must. It not only saved us time and money by allowing us to do our manufacturing in-house, but also ensured we didn’t lag behind our competitors.
Before
- Swiss Dental Ceramics have always tried to embrace the latest dental technology and was one of the first laboratories in Perth to purchase a dental scanner in the early 2000s.
- When Phil was contemplating taking over the business his father had started in 1987, the competition and the risk of falling behind, loomed large.
- They outsourced the manufacture of zirconia restorations, creating a bottleneck in the process.
After
- When they purchased their first DGSHAPE DWX-52D Dental Milling Machine, Swiss Dental Ceramics brought the manufacturing aspect in-house, allowing them to have further control over the end product.
- Adding the manufacturing has enabled them to grow the business, simplify their operations, relieve business stress and grow their profitability.
- They had such great success with their first machine, that when the time came to increase their manufacturing capability, a second DGSHAPE DWX-52D Dental Milling Machine was purchased just 2 years later.
Swiss Dental Ceramics was founded in Perth in 1987 by Lorenz Schibli, who’d emigrated from Switzerland to Australia only 10 years earlier. Lorenz worked for renowned dental professional Dr Patrick Henry, in the few years prior to starting his business, which gave him local experience and reputational benefits that were helpful as he was building his initial customer base.
Swiss Dental Ceramics has always strived to embrace the latest dental technology, becoming one of the first laboratories in Perth to purchase a dental scanner from Nobel Biocare in the early 2000's.
When it was time for Lorenz to pass his business onto his son Phil, the competitive environment and risk of falling behind loomed large. Phil realised that embracing digital technology was imperative to staying competitive.
In-house manufacturing gives competitive advantage
In 2019, Swiss Dental Ceramics adopted computer-aided manufacturing with the purchase of their first DGSHAPE DWX-52D Dental Milling Machine.
Swiss Dental Ceramics benefited significantly from the ability to produce their own restorations. In-house manufacturing allowed Swiss the freedom to select high quality materials for the production process. This choice of premium materials allowed Swiss to produce superior restorations, thereby enhancing the overall quality assurance offered to their customers. Adopting the manufacturing has provided Swiss Dental Ceramics with cost savings, operational efficiencies, and a competitive edge in their local market. By taking control of their production process, they were able to better meet customer demands, innovate more rapidly, and ensure they remained competitive in the market.
Nowadays, they blend digital as well as traditional workflows and techniques as the central premise of their entire operation, specialising in Ceramic Restorations inclusive of Implant and denture work. Their milling machines are predominately used to manufacture Dental Restorations from Zirconia, PMMA and Wax which previously had to be outsourced.
Ultimately, transitioning towards in-house CAM capabilities alongside traditional methods can offer the best of both worlds—enhanced customisation, quality control, and efficiency along with cost advantages. This approach aligns with the evolving landscape of digital dentistry and patient-centred care.
Outstanding reliability and value
Phil says “Choosing the right technology wasn't easy, with so many options available, but after talking to other businesses and checking online forums, DGSHAPE machines stood out for their reliability and value.”
The reliability of their milling machines is more important than any other technology in their workplace because they’re running all day, 5 days a week.
We knew we'd made the right choice buying DGSHAPE devices because Craig Davidson from Roland DG provided consistent and reliable support from the very start. One piece of advice that really stuck with me was to make sure we had a powerful PC to run the software smoothly.”
Run in conjunction with a powerful PC
When asked for his thoughts on his DGSHAPE devices Phil says “The machines' quality and reliability are outstanding. We hardly encounter any issues, but when we do, it's usually related to computing power, not the machines themselves; having a powerful and well-maintained PC is crucial.”
Phil highly recommends DGSHAPE machines for no other reason other than ‘they make life easier.’
He says “Nothing is worse than trying to diagnose and fix issues with technology in your workplace because it eats into your profits and causes unnecessary stress. DGSHAPE machines are fantastic and the value for money they offer is just a bonus.”