GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Feb. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nobel Biocare, the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions, is today launching NobelRondo(TM) Zirconia, a high esthetic and exceptionally strong dental ceramic porcelain that maximizes the benefits of using zirconia substructures such as crowns, abutments and bridges.
Easy-to-use and ergonomically designed, NobelRondo(TM) Zirconia offers high-end esthetics with strength of 120 MPa, which is outstanding in porcelain crowns. Nobel Biocare has already incorporated the advantages of zirconia - high mechanical resistance, biocompatibility and fractural toughness - into its unique Procera(R) range of individually designed crowns, bridges, laminates and abutments that today comprises more than 5 million fabricated units.
The recently launched Procera(R) Bridge Zirconia, a two-to-four unit bridge that can be used in any part of the mouth, gives the ideal combination of high esthetics and strength finished with the new ceramic porcelain.
With NobelRondo(TM) Zirconia, Nobel Biocare now offers the optimal restorative system for all indications. Moreover, the combination of beauty and strength ensures a simple and predictable clinical procedure, excellent esthetic results and improved long-term performance.
Heliane Canepa, President and CEO of Nobel Biocare, says, "NobelRondo(TM) Zirconia complements the previously launched NobelRondo(TM) Alumina ceramic porcelain, and further demonstrates Nobel Biocare's commitment to offering a one-stop-shop for beautiful natural esthetics. The ceramic and porcelain materials, offered by Nobel Biocare, have the advantage of being tissue friendly as well as showing superior esthetics, which is of importance for a market that is increasingly driven by such factors."
More information about NobelRondo(TM) Zirconia will be published 16.30 CET today on www.nobelbiocare.com
NOBEL BIOCARE HOLDING AG
For further information please contact:
Suha Demokan, Head of Investor Relations Tel +41 43 211 53 30, +41 79 430 81 46 e-mail suha.demokan@nobelbiocare.com Gunilla Ekholtz, Investor Relations Officer Tel +46 31 81 88 36, +46 708 81 88 36 e-mail gunilla.ekholtz@nobelbiocare.com
Nobel Biocare is a medical devices group and the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions with its brands Branemark System(R), Replace(R) Select, NobelPerfect(TM), NobelDirect(TM) (dental implants) and Procera(R) (individualized dental prosthetics).
Nobel Biocare is a one-stop shop for restorative esthetic dentistry, offering a wide range of innovative Crown & Bridge & Implant products, as well as training & education and clinically documented treatment concepts.
Nobel Biocare has 1,430 employees and in 2004 revenue totaled EUR 388 million. The global operational headquarters are located in Gothenburg, Sweden, while production takes place at four production sites in Sweden and the US. Nobel Biocare has its own sales organizations in 29 countries.
The shares of the parent company Nobel Biocare Holding AG are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange and on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Sweden.
Nobel Biocare Holding AG, Postfach 8058 Zurich-Flughafen, Switzerland