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By Rick Ferguson, DMD, DICOI, DABOI, FACD
Two headlines, one day. Coincidence? Maybe. But it’s closer to inevitable—digital dentistry is ripe to break out, and platform strategy (not closed boxes) will set the pace. On the same day SprintRay made news, Pac-Dent acquired Ackuretta—another signal that consolidation is accelerating and that the next phase will be platform vs. platform, not product vs. product.
Media analysts got it right: Pac-Dent is choosing an open-system path—keep validating third-party printers while offering a fully validated in-house route via Ackuretta’s SOL line and Alpha AI CAM. Freedom plus confidence is exactly what most practices tell me they want.
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Pac-Dent executes. A lot of companies make slides; Pac-Dent ships. Over three decades, they’ve built a reputation for disciplined execution—from preventive and infection-control to today’s digital play. In my world, they became the go-to in OEM manufacturing and staples such as disposable prophy angles by out-manufacturing and out-supporting the field. That operating DNA is now pointed at digital dentistry—precisely what you want behind a platform promise.
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Materials leadership is real. Pac-Dent’s resin portfolio has become a yardstick in my evaluations—especially Rodin® Titan, Sculpture 2.0, RapidCeram, and the N2-Free finishing system. These aren’t me-too SKUs; they’re defining performance expectations chairside and in the lab. If you want a bulletproof proof point, Rodin® Sculpture 2.0 took a 2024 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award, recognized for pushing crown-and-bridge materials forward. For clinicians: Titan is engineered for impact-resistant, full-arch and hybrid work; RapidCeram is tuned for same-day speed; and N2-Free glaze neutralizes the oxygen inhibition layer to simplify finishing—practical steps that turn “cool prints” into repeatable, billable outcomes.
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The “iPod moment” for everyday practices. I’m often asked, “When does 3D printing become as routine as composites?” Answer: when the workflow disappears—AI handles the drudgery, validation removes guesswork, and the hardware just…works. Pac-Dent is putting ALPHA AI CAM and data acquisition at the center, aiming squarely at chairside practicality and lab efficiency. That’s how we move from enthusiasts to everyone—an iPod-style inflection, not just another spec bump.
Open platform vs. closed box
Pac-Dent is staking out an open ecosystem as the differentiator. Practitioners get validated options across multiple printers and a fully supported in-house path if they want it. That matches how clinics actually buy, learn, and scale. Regarding SprintRay’s announcement the same day: given the seller’s Chapter 11 context, many clinicians read that move as partly a continuity/clean-up for legacy EnvisionTEC users—stabilizing supply and support after the bankruptcy backdrop—while the longer-term commercial upside will hinge on integration quality. It’s also worth remembering the brand has navigated legal friction before (e.g., a 2021 preliminary injunction in Germany restricting sales), which helps explain why some see the latest deal as providing structure and clarity as much as expansion.
What to watch next
Execution tempo. Integration is where good intentions go to die. Pac-Dent’s history suggests they can ship the validation packs, training, and service depth that make “open” real.
- Invisible AI. Alpha AI CAM and data tools must cut setup time and rework—not add clicks. If first-case success rates rise, you’ll feel it chairside.
- Materials × hardware × software synergy. Expect faster iteration loops—without abandoning openness. That’s how you get consistent margins, occlusion, esthetics, and fewer remakes.
Bottom line
Pac-Dent focuses on being the best materials company and on partnering well. With Ackuretta in the fold—and a public commitment to stay open—Pac-Dent is now positioned to set the bar for what modern, AI-assisted, 3D-printed dentistry should look like, from same-day chairside to high-throughput lab. That’s good for innovation—and it’s good for clinicians.
For more details on the Pac-Dent × Ackuretta acquisition and its impact on digital dentistry, read the full official press release here.
