R&D, MANUFACTURING, QA/QC
DEDICATION TO PRODUCT INNOVATION
Because innovation, through research and development, is central to our success, RTD re-invests a large percentage of its capital in human resources and equipment for R & D.
The RTD development team includes dentists, engineers, and technicians specializing in dental materials science and chemistry.
Collaboration between the RTD team and the academic, clinical and scientific communities allows continued innovation, especially in the field of fiber reinforced composite. The constant in the forefront of our effort is improvement in mechanical properties; radiopacity, translucence, and the interfaces between the components, which improve fatigue and interlaminate shear strength.
To achieve these goals, RTD has created specialized laboratories for the synthesis of organic chemistries, and has acquired and integrated high-technology analysis equipment including:
• 4 fatigue test banks
• 3 Universal Testing Machines (Instron-type)
• Chemical and thermal DSC analyzer
• Thermocycling equipment
• Densitometer, to quantify and compare radiopacity
• Xenotest apparatus for measuring color stability
• Light energy and transmission test equipment
• Optical scanning microscope
• Profilometer to control surface roughness
As a testament to its creativity and hard work, RTD applied for 8 patents in 2006 alone.
Another illustration of the sophistication is the self-studies that RTD has developed and integrated:
• The Bonding (push-out) test
• The radiopacity test
• The thermocycling test
• The static Fracture Resistance test
• The Fatigue Resistance test
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
Over 40 years’ time we have adapted and developed innovative materials, equipment and techniques to exercise complete and caring control of the process, from the manufacture of the raw
To ensure an adequate, cost-effective world-wide supply of quality posts, RTD has literally invented an “integrated equipment” production line, which includes no less than six separate process steps; synchronized in a continuous pulltrusion process.
The process combines exacting and proprietary combination of temperature, chemistry, speed and tension to produce multiple sizes of its varieties of posts. RTD is certified 13485 documenting its complete control of this process in order to produce product of consistent quality
QUALITY IS KEY
RTD is highly automated and uses computer-driven technology to maintain full in-house control over raw materials for the FRC products: degree of polymerization, mechanical properties and dimensional tolerances- to name a few- on all of our posts.
The long rods produced by pulltrusion are first visually inspected for aesthetic or physical defects.
According to ISO specifications, samples from each production run are taken and subjected to flexural strength testing.
Interlaminate Shear Strength (between the fibers and matrix) and degree of polymerization (99%) are also confirmed.
Upon passing these tests, the rod material is machined into the final post shapes using state – of - the-art computer-driven shaping machines, to within tolerances of two hundredths of a mm.
These dimensional specifications are then confirmed with high-tech scanners looking for concentricity and tolerances.
Our ISO-mandated inventory control system facilitates tracking of all lot numbers of our material after it leaves our docks.
The RTD spirit of quality control also extends to our accessory products, drills composite resins and discs.
Our products are registered in many countries, and were the first fiber post to be registered with the US FDA and Canadian Health Dept. Registration is now being completed in such large countries as Russia, Japan, China and Mexico. Of course to achieve this, all the RTD products that stay in the mouth must be proven biocompatible under universal standards.
download ISO Certificates: ISO 13485 : 2003 & NF EN ISO 13485 : 2004
Download EC Certificate: CE 0459
