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Ivoclar: Innovating the Dental Industry for Over 100 Years

This year, Ivoclar, one of the world’s leading suppliers of premium-quality, integrated dental solutions, proudly looks back on 100 years of company history. The family business has had a fascinating past, shaped by innovation, continuous development and growth.

In June, Ivoclar will be inaugurating its new administration, visitor and training centre at the company headquarters in Liechtenstein. The building houses 300 attractive, state-of-the-art workspaces and allows visitors to immerse themselves in a unique dental world of experience, the Ivoclar Experience, which brings to life the company’s mission of “Making People Smile.”

Ivoclar New Headquarters

Congratulations to Ivoclar on its 100th year anniversary! Ivoclar is well known for superb, innovative and industry leading products that help the dental team and the patients we serve. A prime example is the Optrasculpt Pad instrument which has made direct composite restorations easier to place in less time than conventional composite instruments. Optrasculpt allows you to place and sculpt the resin while leaving the surface 95% finished and polished. Additionally, Ivoclar is to be commended for always providing significant educational programs to help our profession provide high quality care. That, coupled with excellent customer service, is a reason why I always look to Ivoclar for the products and solutions to help me practice excellent patient care.

Dr. Howard Glazer

The Ivoclar Group’s history of innovation began in the late 1930s with the introduction and rise to popularity of the artificial teeth produced by the firm’s predecessor, Ramco AG. In the mid-1950s, the company launched the first glass-fibre-reinforced silicate material for filling anterior teeth. The significant innovations of the 1960s included Silicap and Silamat, which were both developed for direct restorative applications. Fluor Protector was introduced in 1975. It was the first dental varnish that protected teeth from caries and periodontal disease. In the mid-1980s, the company developed Heliomolar, the world’s first-ever radiopaque dental composite filling material.

In the early 1990s, Ivoclar revolutionized the dental industry with the invention of IPS Empress, the world’s first press ceramic system. “Our press technique has proven itself over many years of clinical use. The restorations fabricated with this technique show excellent fit, function and esthetics”, explains Dr Thomas Hirt, CTO of the Ivoclar Group. In 2005, Ivoclar launched the newly developed IPS e.max Press, a lithium disilicate press ceramic featuring impressive esthetic properties.

Linking the past to the present 2023 anniversary year: Today’s leading supplier of integrated solutions for high-quality dental applications started off as a manufacturer of highly esthetic artificial teeth
Linking the past to the present 2023 anniversary year: Today’s leading supplier of integrated solutions for high-quality dental applications started off as a manufacturer of highly esthetic artificial teeth.

Ivoclar went on to play another pioneering role, this time in CAD/CAM chairside dentistry. The development of the legendary “blue blocks” called IPS e.max CAD represented an industry-wide innovation. IPS e.max CAD is the product of more than a hundred years of experience, in-depth expertise and constant further development.

Over the years, Ivoclar also set numerous industry standards in the field of direct restorative dentistry. The Tetric line of products has grown consistently over time. Today, it comprises four fully coordinated direct composite filling materials. They combine proven quality with modern technology. In 2004, the company introduced OptraGate, the world’s first latex-free lip and cheek retractor, which is more comfortable for everyone involved.

An innovation from Ivoclar: Ivotion allows dentures to be milled from one disc in one uninterrupted process, without any complicated, time-consuming manual steps.
An innovation from Ivoclar: Ivotion allows dentures to be milled from one disc in one uninterrupted process, without any complicated, time-consuming manual steps.

In 2020, therefore, the company introduced the Ivotion Denture System, which revolutionized the way in which removable dentures are fabricated. This innovative system is a part of the company’s “Digital Denture Workflow.” Ivoclar developed the PrograWorld product range to ensure a smooth digital workflow throughout the entire treatment process: from digital impression-taking using the intuitively operated VivaScan intraoral scanner in the dental office to the digital fabrication of the restorations in the dental laboratory. To date, Ivoclar’s digital expertise covers scanning, milling, sintering and even printing.

ivoclar.com