The Odyssey of an Asiga Dental Expert
About the author
Marithe, aka: “InnovativeToothFairy” works at a high volume 30,000sq ft general and cosmetic dental practice in Springfield, Missouri at a fully digital in-house laboratory where she specializes in all fixed hybrid restorations, as well as 3D printing various appliances.
My name is Marithe Baclagon. I’m a Certified Dental Technician. I’m also a technologist, and graduated with my Master’s Degree in Instructional Design and Technology. I was a ceramist and a digital technician for a family owned lab for 8 years, then moved to dental education for 3.5 years at VCU School of Dentistry helping teach the lab side of digital dentistry and then found my passion for full arch dentistry and left to work in private practice as an in-house lab technician. I worked as a lab manager at Full Implant Choice as well as a certified instructor for the Atlantic Implant Institute teaching about same day immediate load all-on-X surgery with implementation of full facial scanning and photogrammetry. Then, I got an even more amazing opportunity to go work for a cutting edge, one-of-a-kind dental practice. Innovative Dental sees 160 patients a day with an intake of 100 new patients a week.
We opened Rheostat Dental Laboratory in June 2023 after 7 months of extensive planning with my current doctor and cross country move. I was able to create an entire lab of my own. So you ask what my first piece of equipment was purchased? An Asiga UV Max along with a table top scanner. Then came all my other machine babies.
Being a technician for over 14 years, I obviously invested in the digital wave and revolution we have been experiencing for almost 20 years. Asiga hit the market in 2011, and with the relationship of WhipMix it gained my attention. 3D printing with Asiga creates faster turnaround times, more accuracy, more time to multitask other duties within the lab, and with the open source print availability you are able to use quality resins of your choice with great esthetics and high probability of 50 micron precision with INI files attached to each resin profile.
I chose Asiga DentaModel for models, Keystone Soft Splint for Nightguards, Lucitone and Flexcera for prototyping and denture teeth, I use Asiga Gingival Mask for Gingival Masks, and NextDent for Denture Bases. Asiga is so commendable because the innovation, quality behind their technology and resins are unmatchable. Research and workflows are well thought out and efficient. The creativity and influence of all things being able to be 3D printed in the health industry is so amazing amongst the Asiga development team. If support is needed the network of Asiga users is overwhelming and so helpful. There is an entire community of lab techs to help support each other with questions.
“I see myself really honing in on the technology of 3D printing with Asiga because once milling becomes less utilized, I want to be knowledgeable on the in’s and out’s of 3D Printing with the new resins that are being released.”
Marithe Baclagon, CDT, TE
Share:
