Renee Knight is a freelance writer and editor who's been covering the dental industry for 15 years. 

Renee Knight

Between CE and the time spent walking the tradeshow floor, anyone who attended last week’s Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting learned about a lot of new products and techniques designed to improve the way dentists practice. Problem is, all too often dentists walk away with this information and never incorporate any of it into their daily routine.

Take the time to talk with your staff about what you saw at the 

. Determine which products might make your practice more efficient or provide better patient care. If you and your staff have questions, follow up with the manufacturer before making your final decisions. Get staff input before going forward with large purchasing decisions, and make sure they’re on board to help make this new technology or product a success in your practice.

When you take the time to make improvements to your practice, patients notice. 

Attending tradeshows gives you the chance to take a look at products that help you do that

, and the great CE you attended gives you the tools to up your game even more. Take this opportunity to make your practice even better than it was a week ago.

Your patients are your practice. Without them, where would you be? You have to know the best ways to attract them to your practice, get them to accept treatment and make them happy, life-long patients.
	
	That’s where we can help. Check back regularly for tips on how to keep your patients happy, healthy and loyal.

Missed the meeting? Check out this video from Drs. John Flucke and Lou Graham: 

Articles

Put what you learned at the Midwinter Meeting to use in your practice

Check out these companies exhibiting at the Midwinter Meeting for the first time.

There are certain companies you know will be at the Midwinter Meeting every year. But with more than 600 exhibitors in 2013, there were bound to be a few new faces and products to get to know.

Father and son team Patrick and Curt Hertel was among them. Their two-man company, 

, decided to exhibit at this year’s show based on a recommendation from a colleague.

Dean Dental Systems provides compressed air and vacuum for the dental office, and launched their Oil Free Silent Compressor at the show. Featuring a small footprint and designed to eliminate the mess, expense and cost of routine oil changes, this compressor’s three-stage filtration and integrated air dryer is said to extend the life of handpieces.

also made its Midwinter Meeting debut. The Hillside, Ill.,-based company has been in the dental market for two years now, and decided it was time to exhibit at the local show.

They stayed pretty busy, Regional Account Executive Nate Van Drunen said, talking with dentists interested in their direct mail services.

BlueWingDental offers a full solution service that does everything from designing direct mail pieces to obtaining mailing lists to mailing the material to tracking it.

looking for a U.S. distributer and was another new face at the meeting. The company was established by a group of clinicians, maxillo facial specialists and opinion leaders who have worked on dental implant development in the past.

was also new at the show and Account Executive Joe Gelfand said they were happy with the traffic they saw at the booth. The New York-based company is looking to grow more in the Midwest, and saw the Midwinter meeting as a perfect opportunity to help get them there.

This two-year-old company specializes in building websites and handling marketing for health care professionals. They offer Internet marketing solutions, website optimization, social media and website design.

This is just a small peak at the many new Midwinter exhibitors that took their place at this year’s show. Transcoject, Kaboom Dental Sticks, Tech1Dental and Base Vac Dental are among the many others who made their Midwinter debut in 2013.

Check them all out online and you just might discover a new product or service for your dental practice.

Chicago Midwinter Meeting newbies

at Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting  Celebration of Smiles reception updates dentists on the foundation’s latest programs and successes.

A child’s smile shouldn’t cause embarrassment or pain.

Yet, there are millions of children who suffer from pediatric dental disease, a preventable disease that can lead to so many problems and unnecessary pain. That’s why 

The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation

 exists, to eliminate pediatric dental caries by providing programs and comprehensive resources to deliver community based prevention, educational and treatment services.

After the first day of the2013 Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting came to a close, dental professionals who believe in this organization and what it does gathered for a reception Thursday evening at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. They were treated to food, cocktails and an update on the foundation’s programs.

Dr. Gordon Christensen gave the audience an overview on various programs, including:

		The Oral Health Zone Program, which brings together community stakeholders to educate about the importance of oral health

		Dentists by Designation, which celebrates dentists who commit to oral health promotion within their community

		Tomorrow’s SMILES, a program that enables teenagers who otherwise couldn’t receive treatment to get the treatment they need, pro bono. These teens then pay it forward by serving as mentors in their community.

		Students United for America’s ToothFairy, which engages students in promoting oral health in their community

		America’s ToothFairy Kid’s Club, a program designed to send children personalized messages and get them excited about oral health

		The Ester Wilkins International Education Program and Legacy League, which is now in 100 dental hygiene schools with 400 hygienists involved. By 2016, they expect to reach 1 million caregivers and children with this program.

Savannah Robinson, 14, an America’s ToothFairy ambassador, shared her story with the audience. She was bullied as a child, and was embarrassed by her smile. She was recommended to participate in the Tomorrow’s SMILES program through the Boys and Girls Club, an America’s ToothFairy partnership that is set to expand to 4,000 clubs nationwide. Savannah couldn’t be more grateful for what Tomorrow’s SMILES has given her.

“It’s so amazing they’re going to help fix me,” she said” They’re going to give me a smile. It means the world.”

The teen sang “Beautiful” at Thursday night’s reception, and the audience responded with a standing ovation.

“This is Tomorrow’s SMILES,” President and CEO Fern Ingber said. “This is what it’s about.”

America’s ToothFairy at Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting  Celebration of Smiles reception updates dentists on the foundation’s latest programs and successes.

A standing ovation at the Celebration of Smiles reception

Dreaming of creating a high-tech practice? Let Dr. Kristine Aadland’s high-tech success story inspire you.

Dr. Kristine Aadland knew exactly what she wanted.

She wanted to open her own practice in the town she grew up in, a practice that patients looked forward to visiting and felt comfortable in. She envisioned a practice that gave more of a spa-like atmosphere than a dental office, complete with the most up-to-date technology that would not only wow her patients, but provide them with the best care possible and make her and her team more efficient in providing that care.

Her vision was clear. All she needed was a partner to help her get there. She visited her first dental convention to find that partner, and after two other dental suppliers told her she was crazy for dreaming so big, the then 26-year-old met someone who believed in her vision and who understood what it would take to build her $1 million practice. For the next three years Greg Sork of 

 walked Dr. Aadland through the entire process, from checking out sites in Vancouver, Wash., to making sure her office was equipped with the technology so key to her vision.

Dr. Aadland didn’t always want to be a dentist. Her family owned a construction company, and early on she assumed that was the career path she’d follow. After rooming with a hygienist in college who was so passionate about dentistry and getting to know others in the profession, a career as a dentist seemed like the right fit. She loved the patient experience, and her engineering background helped her understand the importance of technology to enhance that experience. After looking at possible locations to build her practice with Sork, she decided to go back to her roots and build a brand new facility on the site where her family had their construction company.

Like many of the patients she sees, Dr. Aadland once hated going to the dentist. It terrified her, and when she decided to build her own practice, she knew she had to help patients get over their fears. The technology she has incorporated, such as 

digital radiography, Galileos 3D cone beam, CEREC and Eaglesoft Practice Management Software

“The technology definitely increases efficiency, which helps with dental phobic patients,” she said. “We know they don’t want to be in a dental office so we strive to be proficient and give those extra comforts to help them relax. So much of being scared is mistrust and not knowing what’s happening to them and around them.

With intraoral cameras, extraoral cameras, and 3D cone beam, they see exactly what we see. This creates trust and empowers them to make decisions about their own care and not rely purely on the advice of someone they just met.

Equipment like CEREC, where we can make and deliver crowns in one appointment, means so much to them. They can be in and out and don’t have to worry about the anxiety to come back again.”

Technology also helps with patient education and case acceptance. If someone is missing a tooth, the team can virtually place an implant and crown with 3D scans and show him exactly where the tooth will go. Patients can see digital X-rays and photos of their teeth blown up on flat screen monitors right in front of their dental chair.

Showing patients what’s going on in their mouth, versus just trying to explain it, leads to quicker understanding and fewer patient questions, making hygienist Erin Voss’ job easier. When she’s working on periodontal patients, Voss can chart through Eaglesoft and show them how much their gum health has improved. When the doctor comes in, she can add needed treatment into the chart and create a treatment plan.

That plan, which prioritizes treatment and breaks down cost, is ready before patients walk to the checkout counter and easily can be emailed to them later if they have questions.

Many people believe high-tech dental offices are only for the wealthy. Not Dr. Aadland.

“I built my office from scratch so I’m in a unique position,” she said. “I became a provider for 15 different PPOs to grow my patient list, hoping that with good customer service and care, the patients who participate in PPOs would then refer their friends and family members as well. Consultants continually tell me that when you have a high-tech office you’re not supposed to do that. But because the technology makes us so efficient, we can afford to be on PPO lists.”

Dr. Aadland wants every patient to consider her and her team members friends, to trust them and to joke with them, to be comfortable and know they’re receiving high quality care, no matter their income or dental plan. The technology investment and the continued support from Patterson makes that possible.

When Dr. Aadland moved into her space in 2010, she planned to have four cross trained staff members but has added staff as the practice grows. The practice has five operatories and 1,756 active patients, with about 50 new patients joining the practice monthly. Most of those patients find out about the practice via word of mouth and Google. She doesn’t do much outside marketing, because she doesn’t have to.

Patients notice her practice is different the moment they walk in. The reception area has a warm, family room feel, and all the operatories look out to a calming landscape. She even brings her dog, Bronco, to work, and many patients seek him out as another source of comfort. Who wouldn’t talk up this practice?

Dr. Aadland knew creating her dream practice was going to take a lot of time and dedication, but she also knew it’d be worth it. Meeting and working with Sork from 

 was crucial to making this happen. Sonya Rose, her current Patterson rep, also has been instrumental in the practice’s growth. Patterson has helped her prove it is possible to create a successful practice with technologies running in the background to bring greater profitability and efficiency, such as Eaglesoft.

“Patterson has been absolutely invaluable to my growth, to what I have accomplished,” she said. “They’ve been there to hold my hand every step of the way, not to just sell me a product and then never hear from them again. They’re here for every need and that allows me to be confident in my purchasing decisions and my dentistry. I use a lot of technology. I push the edge. I train. I mentor. I love it and I know Patterson is next to me to support me in any way they can. I have Sonya’s cell number on my favorites list and can text her at any hour and know she’s going to answer my questions or get the answers I need. It’s so comforting knowing they are right there beside me. I strive to have the same customer service in my practice that I receive from them.”

Dr. Aadland's Must-Have
	Dental Technology

Patterson Dental’s Eaglesoft Practice Management Software

 comes with a host of features designed to make using the software and running a practice much easier. One of the most important updates to the program is the line-item accounting feature, which allows the user to apply a payment directly to a specific line item.

This method is an excellent way to group services and payments that are related, making the user’s account ledger easier to manage. User interface upgrades include new customizable windows and dockable panels that let the user choose how much information to display on the Account, Appointment, and OnSchedule windows, as well as where to place the information within those windows. The Patient Bar lets the user quickly access patient specific information from a toolbar with customizable icons. To help streamline the practice, Eaglesoft now has the ability to process a walkout for all family members at once when they are all in the office on the same day-all on 1 receipt.

 system helps dentists harness the full potential of digital impression-taking. Thanks to Bluecam, capturing half-arch impressions in 40 seconds and full-arch impressions in 2 minutes and then creating multi-unit restorations of the highest esthetic quality is possible. CEREC AC provides a balance of speed, ease of use, and precision for both chairside CAD/CAM applications as well as stand-alone digital impressions for use with CEREC Connect labs nationwide.

inLab MC XL features a modern, elegant design with solid, heavy-duty construction. Milling precision has been optimized to +/- 25 microns. The burs spin at 60,000 rpm resulting in considerably faster milling times-approximately 6 minutes for a crown. The machine is powerfully productive and can mill 40-to-60 restorations per day, with 4 gearheads capable of milling all available materials.

The GALILEOS 3D imaging system with cone beam technology goes beyond traditional diagnostics and treatment capabilities. The unit rapidly scans the oral maxillofacial region, producing more than 200 x-ray images in a single 15-second scan. The images are combined into a large volumetric 3-D image set, which is processed and presented in GALAXIS software.

The software works in conjunction with the GALILEOS system to provide new options for pre-operative planning and enables clear navigation and diagnosis in the traditional pan, ceph, and cross-sectional images. With its integrated software, the system maximizes efficient workflow.

Featured Practice: How technology can help build the dream dental practice

It all can be just a little overwhelming. There’s so much to think about when it comes to dental imaging, from whether it’s time for your office to make an investment in cone beam technology to what kind of digital camera you should use to document your cases.

Digital sensors, servers to store your images, pan/ceph technology, intraoral cameras-they’re all part of the imaging spectrum, and with each technology there’s plenty you should know and plenty to learn.

To help expand your imaging knowledge, we put together a set of true/false questions that cover the dental imaging gamut and asked industry experts to give us their take on why each question is true or false. Liabilities, staff training and going digital are all covered in this 10-question dental imaging overview.

Before you read their answers, test your imaging IQ.

Take a look at the questions and see how many you can answer correctly, then benefit from the knowledge and experience of dental experts who know what these types of products and services can do for a practice and its patients.

Paul Hinman, Vice President of Technology for Liptak Dental Services

1. All digital sensors are created equal. The only real difference is price and customer service the company offers.

 The image a sensor produces is just one factor in the critical decision over which sensor to purchase, and the major brands’ sensors are getting very close to one another in image quality. The other factors are almost as important as image quality, if not even more important. The details on the warranties is a huge sensor battleground-ask a lot of questions!

Our main focus at Liptak is compatibility: Will it work the way you want it to with the software you already have? This is business-critical, not diagnostic-critical. As technology consultants, we know the impact of having many extra steps, frequent driver issues, future software incompatibilities and other obstructions to efficiency in the dental office. Multiply this by the 18 images in an FMX times the number of patient exams per week times your relative payroll factor. That’s a LOT!

As a business owner, you should remember the following: Never buy a software or hardware technology product with a small user base if you intend to run your business with it for any length of time. Windows and the computer world change rapidly. A small company cannot afford to maintain the development investment it takes to be a partner in your daily life.
	 

Dr. Terry Myers, who writes about and lectures on CBCT

 is far too advanced for a general dentist.

 The manufacturers have done a great job of making today’s systems turnkey. Patient positioning is the key as with a pano system. All assistants and hygienists in our practice are capable of acquiring an image. If a GP is unsure of the anatomy and possible pathology he or she is viewing, oral and maxillofacial radiologists can view them for a nominal fee.


	As a general dentist in this economy, we try to be as profitable as possible. Many cone beam systems are purchased for the intent of implant placement. However, cone beam systems are a valuable asset to general practice in all disciplines: teeth crowding and eruption for orthodontics; canals, morphology, underobturated canals and fractured roots in endodontics; periodontal defects for possible grafting, in addition to nerve location for impacted extractions or implant placements. It’s very beneficial to be able to evaluate the TMJ system 360º prior to restorations.

These above mentioned can be captured in unbelievable detail with one 10-14 second image acquisition. By having more details with the 3D image, it allows us to keep more procedures in house rather than refer to specialists like we did previously.

Dr. Marty Jablow, Pride Institute Best of Class Technology Award panelist

3. If I invest into a specific pan/ceph technology, I’m locked into that piece of equipment for the next 10 years.

 Just because a newer technology comes along it doesn’t render the technology you are currently using obsolete. Think about all the old x-ray heads still in use. If it does what you need there is no reason to upgrade.

And like all expensive equipment you have to define what you want it to do and if it will provide what you need. So some research is needed to determine if a pan/ceph is right for your office based on the treatment you provide. Will the equipment be upgradable to cone beam if you want to move in that direction in the future? So you need to self access your office and equipment needs.

Dr. Martin B. Goldstein, a digital dental photography pioneer

4. Digital photography offers significant value to a general practice beyond showing beautiful before and after photos of an esthetic transformation.

Showing patients their transformations might be the tip of the iceberg with respect to our digital photography capabilities in dentistry. Atop my list of uses resides “co-diagnosis,” the shortest path to gaining treatment acceptance that I know of. “The picture is worth a thousand words” still rings true. Add to this list the photographic documentation of “how you found it before you started” on everyday dentistry as well as treatment planning assistance when your patient doesn’t happen to be in the chair, and your digital camera becomes an indispensable tool that’s no less important than your digital x-ray system.

5. To be a digital dentist you need to hire a server specialist.

 To properly run a business on computers, in any fashion, requires the advice and support of professionals.

Anyone can do it improperly, and this wastes more money every month than the computers themselves. The inefficiency of old and misdirected computer networks makes them an anchor around the neck of your business rather than the fast, critical tools that they should be. Speed, reliability and data security are what the pros live by.

Any kid can build a computer-they are even color-coded inside to make it simple. It takes a national hardware manufacturer and an experienced professional to design a business-appropriate network and a good five-year plan on the table for that pro to make the right decisions today.

6. You must tell your patients how much radiation they’re being exposed to in a given procedure.

 Changing “must” to “should” would make this true. As with all treatment, you should inform before you perform. When patients hear CT they think of big hospital based units.

Reassurance of low radiation with comparison to regular dental x-rays for each system would be advised.

Patients have concerns over radiation. The unfortunate recent events in Japan have brought these concerns to the forefront. It is our duty to educate the value of having 3D imaging that provides a more accurate diagnosis. For a medium field of view 3D image, the radiation dose is only 30-40 microsieverts (μSv) as compared to 150 μSv for a full-mouth dental 2D x-ray series or 3,000 μSv for a hospital based spiral CT.

Scott Bender, Sales Manager Film Digitizer Business Line, VIDAR Systems Corp.

7. I have too many film hard files to go digital.

 Moving from analog to digital is a decision that should not be taken lightly. However, the number of analog films you have should not be the determining factor.

The VIDAR Dental Film Digitizer allows you to easily convert all of your hard copy films to digital in just seconds. The digitally converted images are diagnostic quality and can be stored in your patient records for easy access. VIDAR Systems Corp. has been in the imaging business for 25+ years with more than 21,000 medical grade film digitizers installed worldwide, enjoying an 85% market share.

8. Once I’ve taken a scan, I can just attach it to an e-mail and send it on to an insurance provider or a specialist.

Great sentence. It really IS almost that easy. There are so many cool things about scans. I love that we can send them and share the joy with others. There are, however, a few things you will need to attach to an e-mail.

First, to share with the insurance companies, you will need attachment capabilities. Your insurance clearing house may offer that ability. Most clearing houses charge you a fee to send the insurance claims, they may charge an additional fee per attachment. I would recommend taking a look at your contract and ask for a bundle package or a flat fee, not a charge for every attachment. If you are not sure of the abilities, check out NEA Fast Attach. They can give you a great idea of what to expect.

The next thing that is super cool about the scan is to be able to share it with your friends, better known as referring dentists. You can send the scan anywhere, but for someone to view the scan will take a little bit more than just an e-mail. The easiest way to do this sharing is through a portal. For example, if you subscribe to a portal or even storage on the cloud, you upload the scan to your portal, send an e-mail message to your “friends,” and they can then log in with access to view the scan. There are several services out there that will give you this capability. Some of the companies you are using now may offer this and you don’t even know it. For example, if you currently use Solutionreach, formerly Smile Reminder, you have the ability to share right now! Sharing just became so much more fun!

9. As long as a dental assistant in your practice is trained on using your imaging equipment, you’re good to go.

 It is essential for the leader to look at the assimilation of a new clinical advancement or technology not from just the viewpoint of “how does it work.”
	For successful integration, you need to consider the systems that may be affected by the new technology (scheduling, finance, treatment presentation, continuing care, etc.) and make sure the ENTIRE team is on board and trained. If for no other reason than being aware of the features and benefits, so they can inspire patients. Including only the clinical team in direct training is a costly mistake.

10. I use digital cameras and digital x-ray, so I don’t really need my intraoral camera any more.

 Point and Shoot along with DSLR cameras along with digital x-rays do not replace an intraoral camera. Newer cameras allow for easier use as they are directly connected to computers via USB. This makes them ultra portable. There is no setup for taking the picture. For extraoral cameras you need to have mirrors and retractors.

An intraoral camera can easily document fractures and decay during the procedure. 

Acteon’s SOPROLIFE is an intraoral camera with built in caries detection. Intraoral cameras make documentation and patient education easy.

It all can be just a little overwhelming. There’s so much to think about when it comes to dental imaging, from whether it’s time for your office to make an investment in cone beam technology to what kind of digital camera you should use to document your cases. Digital sensors, servers to store your images, pan/ceph technology, intraoral cameras-they’re all part of the imaging spectrum, and with each technology there’s plenty you should know and plenty to learn.

Test your imaging IQ with our DPR Quiz

One clinician’s take on the Lighthouse 360 patient communication system.

Dr. Leonard Tau needed a better patient communication system, especially when it came to recall and recare patients. He started doing research and heard about Lighthouse 360 and all its features on Dentaltown. He reached out to the company to learn more, and soon decided it was time to make a switch. That happened 2.5 years ago, and he couldn’t be happier with his decision. Here’s why.

What are the main benefits of Lighthouse 360?

The name for this program should be set it and forget it. It does everything for you. It’s automated for you. The recare system is amazing. I get a lot of patients who automatically click on a link asking them to schedule a recare appointment when they’ve had to cancel or are overdue. It confirms appointments automatically and takes a huge role from the staff. They don’t have to call patients to confirm appointments.

I see a lot of patients in my office and some of them do not come back. Two years from their last visit I get an email through Lighthouse informing me and asking if I would like to send a reactivation letter to the patient. I also have the option of inactivating the patient. In most cases, if someone has not been to my office for 2 years they are more than likely not coming back, so I can remove them from my system.

Another great tool Lighthouse offers is alerting us when a patient is 6 weeks overdue via an email. We don’t have to go into our practice management system and pull a report to tell us who is overdue. The whole process is a very seamless set up and then you don’t have to look at it again. It’s pretty amazing the ability this program gives you. Brian Smith, one of the owners, is always very responsive. Overall, the customer service Lighthouse offers is terrific.

After an appointment Lighthouse will send an email to the patient asking him or her to leave a review, which can be posted to various sites like 

Lighthouse 360 is an automated, comprehensive patient communications system for dentists and is reportedly the only system that can reach 100% of patients with email, text messages, automated phone calls, postcards and letters.

This system reminds patients when they need an appointment, confirms existing appointments, and asks patients to post an online review about their appointment when it’s over - all automatic. This helps improve team efficiency and decreases broken appointments. Lighthouse 360 requires no contracts and works with dentists’ current practice management systems.

Patients are constantly reminded they have an appointment, which is positive for the dental office and the patient. They get a virtual appointment card 1 hour after they make an appointment, which replaces the physical appointment reminder. Three weeks before the appointment they get a reminder and then three or four days before the appointment they get a notification asking them to confirm the appointment. Then they receive a reminder an hour before the appointment to prevent people from forgetting at the last minute. This is great from a patient perspective. It’s an easy way to communicate and you’re not annoying them with a phone call. Patients also appreciate being communicated with and kept informed with e-newsletters or other functions.

Another big advantage for dental offices is Lighthouse 360 will call patients if you want them to. They will mail postcards to patients as well if a patient doesn’t have a cell phone or email.

Why would you encourage other dentists to give Lighthouse 360 a try?

It takes a practice to the next level. It puts them in the 21

 century. Patients appreciate it. One feature I think docs will really like is auto confirm. It reaches 100 percent of patients, so not just patients with cell phones and emails. They will quickly get a lot of reviews, which can be posted to Google, Yahoo and Facebook. It basically replaces the person at the front desk and costs $299 a month. You’re spending a lot less money with this program than if you hired someone to do all this stuff.

			One clinician’s take on the Lighthouse 360 patient communication system.			Written by: Dr. Leonard Tau			Lighthouse 360 patient communication system			Date published: 02/08/2013

REVIEW: Lighthouse 360 ‘takes a practice to the next level’

When Robin Carden and the team at Glidewell Laboratories began the BruxZir development process in 2007, they wanted to create a monolithic zirconia material with improved translucency and strength. Carden led the process, with a team of about 50 people contributing. Thanks to President/CEO Jim Glidewell’s commitment to R&D and investment in the machines necessary to make it happen, BruxZir® Solid Zirconia was released in 2009, and has been gaining in popularity ever since. Here’s the story behind this esthetic, strong solid zirconia material. 

Q: Where did the idea for BruxZir come from?

A: The idea first came up in 2005 when Jim Glidewell made a crown out of DENTSPLY’s Cercon®, but it was really opaque and bright - nowhere close to matching teeth. I was originally working as a consultant on Prismatik Clinical Zirconia™ when Jim called and asked me to be vice president of research and development. This opportunity is what ultimately led to the creation of BruxZir.

Having worked with advanced ceramics since the 1980s and zirconia on a variety of different applications, I was very familiar with these materials. When we started working on BruxZir, we knew we needed a high strength, high translucency material. One way I’ve learned to work with ceramics is to chemically and mechanically treat the powder. You want the powder to be as high in purity as possible.

We’re the only company in the world that uses powder that has no binder in it. Every other manufacturer uses binder to hold the particles together. After you fire the material, the binder remains and you get weaker strength and poor translucency. So we asked ourselves “How do we improve on this?” We get specially made high-purity powder with no binder in it. When the powder comes in we convert it into what we call a “zirconia milkshake.” We use a patent-pending colloidal process that starts by breaking down the raw zirconia powder mechanically and chemically to make this “milkshake.” We then pour that milkshake into discs and use pressure to condense it and vacuum to remove the water. This process leads to higher density that improves strength and translucency when compared to other monolithic zirconia materials.

Read this lab's story on the ROI it saw from using BruxZir...

In layman’s terms, if you ever walked in a desert or on dry lake bed and crunched clay square pieces, that’s similar to how the particles come together and filter out during the BruxZir processing. With this colloidal process we developed that has four patents pending, we’re able to actually achieve higher densities without the use of binders. This processing gives us high translucency in the warm spectrum. You can have good translucency in cool or white colors but we don’t want that. We want high translucency in the warm color range,500 to 800 nm-that’s the warm color of the mouth. As you put a BruxZir restoration in the mouth, it almost disappears. So that’s how we developed the material. It’s going very well-there are more than 200 authorized BruxZir labs worldwide now.

The real benefit of working at Glidewell Laboratories is that Jim Glidewell continually invests in R&D. We also have one of about every testing fixture that’s needed in advanced ceramics, which was key to developing BruxZir and the new BruxZir™ Shaded material. Our fixed department has switched over to using this new pre-shaded BruxZir material. It’s a real time saver because you don’t have to dip the restoration after machining. That’s going to save labs a lot of money. One of the problematic processes we see in labs is dipping, not to mention the time it takes. When you dip into a liquid, if you over or under dip, it comes out the wrong color. Someone has to watch these things. Very rarely does a restoration meet the appropriate dipping time. With BruxZir Shaded you have 100 percent color saturation and no drying time.

Q: What is the main benefit for dental professionals?

A: They seat faster without adjustments. Dentists also like it because the margins are very sharp and have an ideal emergence profile because BruxZir is a monolithic material. With a PFM, you have the metal, you have the opaque and porcelain, and you have the glaze, so you have four materials coming down to the margin area; this does not make for a sharp margin or an ideal emergence profile. Also, with BruxZir, if a patient crunches ice or drinks hot tea, the material moves all as one - a physical phenomenon called thermal expansion. But with PFMs, there are actually four materials that have to move: porcelain, metal, opaque and the glaze on top. So you have four materials moving, and they’re very weak materials. When you put in a PFM, a lot of patients come back because of chipping around the margin, which the dentist then has to fix, usually with composite. But you don’t have chipping or wear issues with BruxZir. It also wears equally with the opposing enamel. So I think from the lab standpoint, they get a lot of positive feedback from dentists who are looking to prescribe this material more and more.

The digital age allows zirconia to be a part of restorative dentistry. It never would have entered the dental market if CAD/CAM weren’t available to machine it. Because of BruxZir’s strength and esthetics and the consistency of digital CAD/CAM systems, you get the same dimensional control on the contours, margins, contacts and occlusion. Once you have a digital design file that can be machined, you get high accuracy. By producing BruxZir with our patent-pending colloidal system, we get super accurate dimensional repeatability.
	
	

A: The ability to produce a consistent fitting, strong and esthetic material with minimal returns for chips and breakage. If you look at our block return rate for all of the blocks we produce, it’s not even measurable. It’s less than 1 percent. The material is consistent. So I’m most proud of the consistency of strength and translucency, and the feedback we get about the fit. Another thing that’s happening because of the material’s high translucency is that even though it was originally intended just for the posterior, dentists are now also using it for anterior cases. Especially to replace PFM anterior bridge cases that keep breaking. That’s exciting.

When Robin Carden and the team at Glidewell Laboratories began the BruxZir development process in 2007, they wanted to create a monolithic zirconia material with improved translucency and strength. Carden led the process, with a team of about 50 people contributing. Thanks to President/CEO Jim Glidewell’s commitment to R&D and investment in the machines necessary to make it happen, BruxZir® Solid Zirconia was released in 2009, and has been gaining in popularity ever since.

I MADE THAT: BruxZir Solid Zirconia

 in 1990, running the New Mexico-based lab as a mom and pop business until about 3 and a half years ago. That’s when their son, Josh Olson, moved to Roswell to partner with his dad and expand the lab. Today the lab has five employees, and because of the demands of their clients and the driving force of going digital, Ceratek has transitioned from a strictly 

 lab to an all-ceramic crown and bridge lab (PFZ, full-contour zirconia, and IPS e.max). They also have branched into custom implant abutments, both PFZ and FCZ, which is fast becoming a thriving part of their laboratory.  

Designed to streamline the production process, the 

 uses zirconia, wax and PMMA to create precision dental prosthetics, including copings, crowns, full bridges and zirconia.

The compact and easy-to-use milling machine features 5-axis simultaneous machining capability and a 5-station automatic tool changer with tool length sensor for additional production convenience. It also comes equipped with a virtual panel for easy desktop operation, along with a diagnostic notification system that alerts the system operator of system errors or job completion by email, making it possible to carry out the milling process with minimal operation intervention.

As they were transitioning Ceratek Dental Lab to an all-ceramics lab, Dwight and Josh Olson knew it was time to make a change, that they needed to add a milling machine to their lab. At the time, they were outsourcing their zirconia and wax, and the amount they were spending on outsourcing was exceeding the cost of buying their own milling machine, Josh Olson said. They knew they wanted something with an open-architecture system, and they knew they’d have to do their research to find the right milling machine for their lab.

“When we narrowed down the cost and materials we kept coming back to the 

,” he said. “We first heard about the Roland milling machines from Mark Jackson at a CDLA conference in Denver. He kept telling us how much of a reliable work horse it was. That combined with our need to make a decision, Dwight and I decided we needed to do our research on this particular machine.”

 in June 2012, and Olson said it’s not only been a reliable machine, but an invaluable asset at Ceratek. They’ve shortened their turnaround time from 10 business days to 3-5 days, which has been a huge benefit for the lab. The shortened turnaround time combined with the lab’s other digital aspects has helped them strengthen relationships with their clients, and that benefits everyone-including the patient.

“Being able to mill in-house compared to outsourcing for us has put a more personal touch on each crown that comes through the lab,” Olson said. “Also having an in-house mill we can quickly, more precisely, and accurately trace any problem that has occurred, fix it, and get back to work, saving valuable time and resources.”

Not only does that save the lab time and money, but the fact that the machine is working even when no one is at the lab has been a huge benefit for the lab as well, Olson said. They set the machine to mill, and when they get from back from lunch or even come back to work the next day, the machine has finished milling something that before would have taken a half to a whole day for the lab to complete-and it does it with better consistency and accuracy.

There are so many great features that come with the 

, including a 5-axis machine that saves Olson money because he can tilt a larger restoration to fit into a thinner and much less expensive zirconia puck. The front mounted vacuum hose makes it easy to quickly clean out the DWX-50 after a run. The easier it is to clean, the more likely it will get cleaned and the longer it will last.

One of Olson’s favorite features is the simulation setting in the CAM software his re-seller bundled with the mill.

“Our doctors drop by every so often, and to throw the simulation feature on the screen and see their faces say “Wow” is kind of entertaining,” Olson said. “They really enjoy seeing where the technological advances are taking the industry. To see the machine simulate the job before actually milling the product and to test if there will be any issues has saved us on a couple of occasions.”

Ceratek is a small lab, so the Olsons didn’t have the capital to spend a lot of money on a full-room milling operation. So the fact that the 

 came with a small footprint and strategies already built in, as well as being easy to use and economical, made their decision easy.

“Being a small lab, cross training all of our employees on everything is a must,” Olson said. “Having a machine that is user friendly, economical, precise and durable made it easier to do this. Roland simplified the process, while making it versatile.” 

The ROI behind Roland's DWX-50

Ever buy a car or any other big-ticket item when you were in a bad mood? Neither have your patients.

If you’re feeling a bit like Ehore today and just aren’t in the mood to spread the cheer, you’ve just given yourself another reason to be in a bad mood: you’re losing money.

No one feels much like spending money when they’re in a bad mood, and the way you act in the operatory is contagious. People don’t want to buy much from Debbie Downer, said Penny Reed Limoli, owner of the 

, and if you or a staff member is giving off a negative vibe, your patients will pick that up and shrug off any treatment you might recommend.

Even if you’re just not feeling it, you and your team members have to find a way to give off positive energy to your patients. It makes their overall experience so much better, and makes them want to come back to your practice. Stay upbeat and you may even help cheer up a patient who’s having a bad day or simply doesn’t want to be at the dentist. And, of course, happier patients are more likely to go forward with needed treatment and tell family and friends what a great experience they had at the dentist today.

Need tips to help improve your mood this winter?

Help boost your patients’ mood

Dr. Norman Dahl is always on the lookout for products that make him more efficient or improve patient care. If he finds something better than what he’s currently using, he doesn’t hesitate to make the switch. But after using 

 for nearly a decade, he doesn’t envision making a switch any time soon. Why? He simply hasn’t found anything better. Here’s why ...

What would you say are the main benefits of Build-It FR?

It’s easy to use, dispense and place. I’ve had people I’ve done build-ups on come back a few years later to get their crowns done. The builds-ups I did were so good there wasn’t any break down; they were just like I left them. They held up almost like a composite over time. Beyond that, the material also has good density. When you’re prepping the tooth for a crown, it doesn’t slide off the tooth structure and dip into the material. It holds up well so you can prep uniformly around the tooth. It has a great bond to tooth structure and is easy to place. And it has a great working time. It’s very versatile. To me it has all the properties it needs for the job that it’s doing.

Why did you decide to try this product in your practice?

I try anything that might do a better job for me, any kind of material that’s advanced and holds better properties than the previous version. Have I tried other core materials since then? Yes. Does anything perform better than what I use now? No. Through it all this particular material has worked best.

Build-It FR Core Material contains all of the features of an optimal core build-up material-it cuts like dentin, contains fluoride, is dual-cured (shades A2, A3, and Opaceous White), and it is radiopaque. The addition of specially treated glass fibers enhances the compressive strength to an 280 MPa. Benefits include: it’s available in 25 mL auto-mix cartridges and 4 mL Mini-Mix™ syringes; both are syringeable and stackable for greater ease of use; dual-cure (light-cure or self-cure) for maximum flexibility; radiopaque for easy detection of marginal areas on X-rays; available in 5 shades, A2, A3 and Opaceous White for cosmetic restorations and Gold and Blue for margin definition.

Why would you encourage other clinicians to give this build up material a try?

 Build-It FR Core Material is going to offer them everything they need to do a post and core build up. It’s going to bond well, it’s going to handle well, it’s going to last a long time and it’s going to prep well. The build-ups I do with Build-It FR hold up really well under the crowns and have proven to stand the test of time. Why wouldn’t you use something like that, something you can push beyond its limits and it holds up? I wish all materials worked like this, as far as doing what they’re designed to do.

REVIEW: Build-it FR - 'I wish all materials worked like this...'

			One clinician’s take on Pentron’s Build-it FR Core Material.			Written by: Renee Knight			Pentron’s Build-it FR Core Material			Date published: 01/25/2013

Dr. Norman Dahl is always on the lookout for products that make him more efficient or improve patient care. If he finds something better than what he’s currently using, he doesn’t hesitate to make the switch. But after using Pentron’s Build-It FR Core Material for nearly a decade, he doesn’t envision making a switch any time soon. Why? He simply hasn’t found anything better. Here’s why ...