Sidekick - Winter 2014 - (Page 26)
Can a Single Piece of Technology Make That
Big of a Difference...Oh yeah!
TONY SOILEAU, DDS
I have a general dentistry
practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.
In the summer of 2005, I was practicing
out of a 900-square-foot office with three
operatories. I made a very good living, and
I was profitable because I had little overhead. But my office was certainly nothing
to brag about; it was dated and run down.
And of course, it was too small for my
growing practice. I was, however, quite
high-tech with computers in every room,
digital X-rays, digital cameras, DIAGNOdent, and all the other "toys" you could
think of. And then disaster struck...
$5,000 to $20,000. My concern was not
whether I prepped enough units, but if
there were enough single posterior units;
so I delayed getting the technology. In
November 2005, I was contacted by a new
company named D4D Technologies. They
had seen several of my published articles
on high-tech dentistry and wanted my
opinion on a new CAD/CAM system that
used no powder and would compete with
CEREC. Even though it was still a beta
version, I fell in love with the system.
For the first year, I only used the E4D
system to restore posterior teeth, which
at that time was all it was intended to do.
The biggest portion of my lab bill,
however, was not the posterior crowns,
but the anterior cases. The lab charged
more for these restorations, and I prepped
more of them. How much could I save
with the E4D system if I did ALL of the
teeth with it?!
I altered my thinking to believe
In the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina
hit New Orleans. A second hurricane
named Rita hit Lafayette a few weeks later
and devastated the city. We struggled for
several months to recover. On top of our
own problems, much of New Orleans
had relocated to Lafayette into temporary
shelters. It was a nightmare. No one had
money, and those that did certainly were
not spending it on their teeth. As you can
imagine, the last half of 2005 was not
a good year for me from a business
perspective.
In the aftermath, I made sure I had as few
bills as possible. I attempted to reduce
my overhead as much as possible and
still provide quality dental care to the few
patients willing to come in for treatment.
I knew it would be a while before my
production numbers went back to normal.
Over the next few years the E4D system
developed better anterior restoration
functions and the ability to scan impressions. I altered my thinking to believe I
could do just about any restoration with
the E4D system, and my entire way of
thinking about CAD/CAM changed.
At that time, the one technology I didn't
have was CAD/CAM. I had been looking
at it for several years, but with only three
operatories between myself and my
hygienist, I questioned if it was right for
me. I did more than my share of fullmouth rehab cases and a lot of veneer
cases. My lab bill each month ranged from
26
About this time, Lee Culp, who is a master
at ceramics, joined E4D. Perfect! I spent
a lot of time learning how to do anterior
cases with the E4D system from Lee.
I no longer worried if we scanned the prep
in the mouth (most profitable), off the
impression, or off a mounted model. As
long as the patient agreed to pay for the
crown that day, we did the work. Most
posterior cases were completed in a single
appointment. If that was not possible due
to the patient's schedule or ours, we had
Sidekick | Winter 2014
I could do just about any
restoration with the E4D system,
and my entire way of thinking
about CAD/CAM changed.
the patient come back at the end of the
day to cement. If that was not possible,
we placed the patient in a temporary
and cemented the following week. Either
way, I was still saving the lab bill, and
my profits were rising each month.
I started to focus on how to maximize
my profits with the E4D system. I realized we were pulling a lot of patients
from the hygiene room into my room,
so I sent my hygienist to train on the
E4D system. Now she asks each patient
not only if they want their crown done
but if they want it done today! She then
numbs the patient, performs the prophy,
and I come in to prep. She then makes
the crown, schedules the patient to come
back at the end of the day, or has the
assistant come in and place a temporary.
All on her schedule.
By 2008, we had had the E4D system for
three years. I had paid off a lot of debt,
and I realized that I needed a bigger
office! So, in 2009, we started looking
for the perfect property in Lafayette. By
2010, I had purchased an acre and a half
of bare ground in a prime part of town.
In 2011, we moved into our brand new
3,000-square-foot office fully designed
around the E4D system.
The bottom line is I went from a 900
square-foot-office into a beautiful brand
new 3,000-square-foot office mostly
because of the E4D system. No other
piece of technology in my office could
have done that.
Dr. Tony Soileau's general dentistry
practice in Lafayette, Louisiana,
focuses on restorative rehabilitation
and cosmetic enhancements. He's
a highly sought after national and
international lecturer on digital
photography and computer assistance
in diagnosing, treatment planning,
and performing comprehensive dental
procedures. Dr. Soileau is a faculty
member at the Institute of Oral Art
and Design (IOAD) in Tampa, Florida,
and the Pacific Aesthetic Continuum
(PAC~Live), San Francisco, and serves
on the genR8Tnext seminars advisory
board. He is a member of the ADDA,
LDA, ADA, AGD, and the American
Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sidekick - Winter 2014
Sidekick - Winter 2014
Contents
TeamSmile Scores a Win for Children’s Oral Health in Atlanta
Amazing Decor and State-of-the- Art Technology Key to Innovative Business Model
Privileges
Featured Designs
Can a Single Piece of Technology Make That Big of a Difference… Oh Yeah!
Midwestern University Dental Institute
R.I.P. Windows XP
TechCentral
Market Report: Dental Of ce Rental Rates on the Rise in 2014
Better Patient Care Starts with Better Imaging
Henry Schein Financial Services
Save Money on Credit Card Processing
ProRepair
Building a Successful Pediatric Practice, From the Ground Up
Henry Schein In-Office Service
A New Era in Dental Management and Marketing
Professional Practice Transitions
Reinvent Your Practice as the Gateway to Health and Wellness
Sidekick - Winter 2014
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