Sidekick - Winter 2013 - (Page 25)

20/20 Dentistry DOUGLAS KLEIN, DDS It was 1983 when LensCrafters® first opened, bringing a clinician (optometrist) and a laboratory (lens grinding) together under one roof to offer control of the entire procedure and offering patient convenience like never before.1 In the 1980s, Figure 1: Typical preoperative condition with failing restorative amalgams (PM #191). three dental pioneers (Duret, Moermann and Andersson2) began work on a similar concept in dental care utilizing digital data for computer-assisted design with computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM). Even though it’s been more than 25 years since the introduction of a chairside restorative system, only around 10 percent of dental practices in North America have this technology.3 Why? Most of us have heard the stories where occlusion had to be created by hand. Or cases show up in our offices and attribute less-thanideal restoration to the evils of CAD/ CAM dentistry, somehow forgetting that those restorations weren’t placed by the CAD/CAM systems, but merely fabricated by them. It seems those experiences and stories create prejudices against any possible improvement in the technology and its resulting possibilities. So, it’s nice to see the clinical successes of CAD/CAM documented and discussed in a wide variety of online forums, as well as clinical documentation of the quality and efficiency of the entire system.4 Chairside CAD/CAM dentistry will open your eyes to all the possibilities that modern dentistry has to offer. Best of all, the return Figure 2: Combination case maximizing conservation and effective utilization of technology with same-day IPS e.max restorations and direct composite restorations (PM #195). Direct restorations completed while ceramic was milling, thus maximizing production. on investment provides you an even greater financial opportunity to access additional technological opportunities (e.g., lasers, diagnostics, digital communication and record keeping). I just celebrated the 10th anniversary of my own private practice utilizing technology in which I provide state-ofthe-art dentistry in a friendly, safe and cost-effective environment in Grandville, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids. I have always invested heavily in technology, incorporating intraoral cameras in 2002, hard- and soft-tissue lasers in 2004, digital radiographs and charting in 2008 and the E4D Dentist System in 2009. I made the decision for chairside CAD/ CAM dentistry after seeing the quality of restoration possible combined with the ease of use of the software, powder-free scanning and unlimited online support via S.O.S (Support On Site). My patients immediately appreciate the fact that I offer them the latest technology, and that once it’s been implemented, it will provide a better solution. It is amazing that once you incorporate chairside CAD/ CAM dentistry into your routine care, patients also appreciate and see the difference. In my experience, when they do have that opportunity, they are engaged in the process. What’s more, the presence of CAD/CAM technology in the dental office gives patients a different perspective about the practice…one that says, “Wow, they’re on top of it and they’re willing to bring in new Sidekick | Winter 2013 25

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sidekick - Winter 2013

Sidekick - Winter 2013
Table of Contents
Kokodynski Orthodontics
Privileges
Insurance Coding Changes for 2013
Digital Imaging: Enhancing the Delivery of Health and Happiness
Back to Basics: What Do You Need in a Laser?
Same-Day Crowns with the 3M True Definition Scanner and E4D
20/20 Dentistry
Featured Designs
East Kentucky Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, PSC
Exclusive Tx STUDIO Software for i-CAT Debuts New Version
Embracing Technology to Streamline Your Practice
Small Town, Big Surprise: 2012 Gendex Sweepstakes Winner
Why Your Team Hates You
TechCentral
The Science of Early Detection
Henry Schein Service
Hutchinson Family Dentistry
Henry Schein Nationwide Dental Opportunities
Your First Associate…Growing Successfully
Do You Need a Marketing Plan?
The Dawson Academy’s Unique Collaboration
Professional Practice Transitions

Sidekick - Winter 2013