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Laser marking is the process by which manufacturers, in this case of dental devices or implants, can permanently mark products with identifying information. Laser marking can provide clear, precise marking information that meets regulatory requirements and can withstand the heat of autoclaving. As such, laser marking has replaced several outdated methods for tracking dental equipment.
In 2013, the FDA passed what is known as the UDI rule or the Unique Device Identification system. The goal of the rule was to increase both patient safety and efficiency within a dental office by helping teams identify equipment more easily rather than relying on colored tape or illegible serial numbers to identify equipment used in or prepared for procedures.
The rules, according to the UDI are:
These rules apply to all types of dental devices, not just tools. In fact, dental implants also fall under this rule and those UDIs are often included in electronic health records (EHR) in case there is a recall with an implant or dental device.
Laser welding has revolutionized the healthcare industry and has several applications within dentistry. State-of-the-art, free-moving laser welders have allowed operators to benefit from pin-point accuracy and localized heat. These two features produce excellent seam welds and eliminate thermal expansion on dental implants.
Because so many dental implants and devices rely on alloys, like titanium, welding is often an important part of designing and manufacturing implants and oral devices. Much like the highly technical requirements of other industries, dental device manufacturers and labs need to be able to meet precise specifications to ensure proper fit, but also need to be able to consistently produce high quality products. Laser welders enable that functionality.
Further, laser welding is highly suitable for most dental alloys including titanium.
As noted above, when it comes to laser marking, the primary use in dentistry is on dental devices, tools, and implants to ensure the manufacturing information is available and trackable. Additionally, items may be laser marked with:
Often, technology comes along and makes an industry wonder how it even worked beforehand. Laser technology does the same for dentistry. It helps improve dental safety and efficiency, benefiting both patients and practices.
Get in touch with the LaserStar team if you’re ready to talk about making the investment in the tools that will revolutionize your product and help improve patient and practice experiences.