How we push the limits with Asiga’s Open Material Platform
By Blake Barksdale, CDT
In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital dentistry, the “closed system” is becoming a relic of the past. For years, dental laboratories were often married to specific 3D printing material manufacturers. Typically, if you bought a printer manufactured by Company A, you were restricted to resins from Company A. While that provided a certain level of predictability, it often stifled the very thing that we need most to survive and thrive: versatility and adaptability.
At Barksdale Dental Lab, our mission has always been to provide our doctors with the highest quality restorations using the most efficient workflows possible. To achieve this, we have anchored our additive manufacturing department around Asiga 3D printers. One of the main reasons is simple: Asiga’s open platform allows us to curate a boutique library of third-party resins.
"Asiga has been the most accurate printer I have worked with. The ease of use, the support I get and I can choose just about any resin I want to choose"
By combining Asiga’s precision with the world’s best materials from partners like Detax and Pac-Dent, we aren’t just printing splints and dentures. We’re doing much more. We’re engineering specific clinical outcomes. Take a look at how we utilize this open system to push the boundaries of what a modern dental lab can deliver.
The Foundation: Accuracy in the Model and the Casting Room
Before we can talk about high-end final restorations, we have to talk about the foundation. Accuracy in the digital workflow is only as good as the physical representation of that data.
Asiga DentaModel: The Gold Standard for Fit
For much of our fixed restorative work, the model is the source of truth. We utilize Asiga DentaModel because of its incredible dimensional stability and high-detail surface finish. When we are seating a crown or checking the occlusion on a complex bridge, we need a material that doesn’t shrink or warp, and we need the assurance that the interproximal contacts are accurate. DentaModel provides a stone-like texture that feels familiar to technicians used to traditional gypsum, but with the micron-level precision that only 3D printing can provide.
Lucitone Digital Print Denture: Uncompromising Strength and Precision
The shift from traditional analogue processing to a fully digital denture workflow requires a material that doesn’t compromise on strength or aesthetics. By running Dentsply’s Lucitone Digital Print resin on our Asiga printers, we can produce high-impact denture bases that surpass the ISO standards for strength.
The primary advantage here is the high-impact transition, which provides incredible resistance to breakage. Because the Asiga Max 2 measures each layer for accuracy, we get a predictable denture every time. This ensures that the fit is far superior to traditional heat-cured acrylics, which often undergo significant shrinkage during processing. This combination allows us to deliver a final prosthesis that is more durable, better fitting, and delivered in a fraction of the time.
Redefining Patient Comfort: The Detax Partnership
One of the biggest growth areas in our lab is the production of occlusal guards and splints. Historically, these were time consuming and often uncomfortable for the patient. By utilizing the Asiga printer’s ability to handle third-party resins, we have integrated the Detax SplintMaster line into our daily production.
Detax SplintMaster TAFF (Tough and Firm)
For patients with heavy bruxism or those who require a rigid appliance to maintain a specific jaw position, we use SplintMaster TAFF. This material is exceptionally durable and resists the pitting that often occurs with traditional acrylics. It remains clear and aesthetic over long-term use, providing a high-strength solution that doctors can trust for their most aggressive grinders.
Detax SplintMaster Flex: The “Body Heat” Revolution
The holy grail of splint therapy is a device that is rigid at room temperature (for easy insertion) but becomes slightly flexible at body temperature. Detax SplintMaster Flex achieves exactly this. This thermo-active property allows the splint to seat perfectly without being overly restrictive or causing pressure points. Doctors report significantly higher patient compliance with the Flex material because it moves with the patient rather than fighting against them
The Frontier of Fixed Prosthetics: Pac-Dent Rodin Materials
Perhaps the most exciting development in our lab is the shift toward longer-term 3D printed restorations. This is where the Asiga system truly shines, allowing us to utilize the Rodin materials from Pac-Dent.
Pac-Dent Rodin Try-In: The Ultimate Test-Drive
Complex full-mouth rehabilitations require a test drive. Before we commit to a final prosthesis, we print a try-in. These resins allow us to verify the doctor’s vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO), esthetics, and phonetics. Because the Asiga prints these with such high fidelity, the doctor can make precise adjustments chairside, which we then can scan back into the software to finalize the permanent restoration. It eliminates the guesswork.
Pac-Dent Rodin Titan: The Future of High-Impact Restorations
The newest addition to our arsenal is Rodin Titan. This is a ceramic-nanofilled resin designed for long-term provisionals and even permanent crowns in specific indications.
We use Rodin Titan primarily for AOX cases where we need a balance of strength and shock absorption in a long-term provisional. It’s an incredible tool for doctors who want to offer their patients fast, high-end solutions without sacrificing quality.
Why the Printer Matters: The Asiga Advantage
You might ask: “Why does it matter which printer you use if the resin is the same?” The answer lies in the material freedom and consistency. There is an immense peace of mind that comes with knowing that when we need to print a new 3rd party material, we aren’t going to run into problems.
Because Asiga is an open system, they collaborate with these manufacturers to provide validated material files. This means that when I select Rodin Titan on my Asiga interface, the printer knows exactly how to handle that specific chemistry. We get the freedom of third-party materials with the reliability of a closed-loop system.
At Barksdale Dental Lab, we view ourselves as more than just a dental laboratory. We are a technology partner for our doctors. By investing in the Asiga platform and leveraging the best materials from around the world, whether it’s the precision of DentaModel, the comfort of Detax SplintMaster Flex, or the strength of Rodin Titan, we are ensuring that the patients in the chair receive the best the industry has to offer.
The digital revolution is no longer about just being digital; it’s about being versatile. Through these advanced materials and our open-system philosophy, we are proud to offer a range of restorations that are more accurate, more comfortable, and more aesthetic than ever before.
About the Author
Blake Barksdale, a second-generation Barksdale who has grown up immersed in the world of dental laboratories. From an early age, Blake has been a constant presence in the lab, learning the ins and outs of the business from his father, Steve Barksdale. With each passing day, Blake’s passion for dentistry and his determination to carry on the family legacy grew stronger.
Blake continues to shape the landscape of dental technology by pushing for the latest developments and catalyzing progress. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a genuine passion for improving the lives of others, he stands as one of the industry’s visionaries, dedicated to advancing dental care and revolutionizing the field for the benefit of all.
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