3M ESPE introduces the 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Chairside Oral Scanner (COS), a digital impression system that allows the motion capture of accurate and precise impressions. The Lava COS supports conventional processes such as PFM as well as CAD/CAM processes including Lava Restorations.

Featuring proprietary "3D in Motion" technology, a new technique for capturing 3D data, the Lava COS captures continuous 3D video images to create a digital impression. Initiating the digital workflow by providing an accurate digital impression, the Lava COS incorporates hardware, high-speed image-processing algorithms, and real-time modeling software. Because the Lava COS has the ability to model data in real time on a touch-screen monitor, practitioners receive instantaneous feedback to ensure that all essential data is captured while the patient is still in the chair.

"With this ground-breaking technology, we’re providing doctors and labs the opportunity to experience enhanced productivity and efficiency facilitated by the digital workflow—ultimately transforming the practice of dentistry," said Eric Paley, general manager and co-founder of Brontes Technologies, the 3M Company responsible for the development of the Lava COS.