How often do you solder? Have you ever asked yourself how important soldering is in the overall context of dental laboratory work – and which requirements are essential to achieve a successful soldering result? If you have, then you may find this background information insightful. Come with us on a journey through the past, present and future of the (dental) soldering technique!

Soldering: indispensable in the dental lab

“Soldering” as a joining technique is an essential aspect of everyday work in the dental lab. In dental technology, soldering has been used for over a hundred years – the method of soldering, however, has been known for much longer than that. Soldering was practised even in antiquity. The soldering methods of those days involved copper ore and helped goldsmith to design intricate pieces of jewellery.

Soldering is the most common method used to join metal materials and the principles on which this technique is based will not change in the future.

In spite of modern welding and bonding techniques, soldering has not lost its importance in dental technology due to its universal range of applications. In the dental lab, the daily number of soldering processes still clearly exceeds the number of other joining methods.

What is soldering?

Soldering is the process of joining pieces of metal using a molten filler metal, known as solder. The processing temperature of the filler metal is below the solidus point of the alloys to be joined. The solder wets these alloys but does not melt them during soldering.

During the soldering process, the liquid solder and solid-hot alloys undergo a process of mutual diffusion. The bond strength (= quality of diffusion structure) and resistance to corrosion are the decisive factors for the long-term success of the solder joint.

Solders: Resistance to the oral environment is essential!

Only hard solders are used in dental technology as resistance to the oral environment is essential. In addition to pre-solders (main solders), specially designed post-solders (secondary solders) having lower processing temperatures are available.

Solders are classified into high-fusing solders having a melting range between 950 and 1,200 °C and low-fusing solders with a melting range between approx. 700 and 900 °C. The different melting ranges accommodate different purposes. It is important that the solders and alloys are compatible with each other. A high degree of care is required to achieve a reliable solder joint. An understanding of the materials involved in the soldering process and knowledge of how to apply them correctly form part of a careful approach to soldering.

Below follow the most important requirements for successful dental soldering:

1) Compatibility of metals

The solders selected for the soldering process should have a processing temperature that is suitable for the alloys to be soldered. Dental solders must be resistant to the oral environment and their composition must be similar to the composition of the alloys being soldered. This means that (metallurgical) compatibility and similar coefficients of thermal expansion of solders and alloys are prerequisites for achieving a reliable solder joint.

2) Effective wettability

The solder’s capability of effectively wetting the alloy is another requirement for a successful soldering process. If the solder has ideal wetting properties, it spreads out evenly on the alloy, wets both surfaces and fills the soldering gap. If the solder has poor wettability, it forms droplets. In this case, the solder does not flow and diffusion does not occur; or in other words, the metal compounds contained in the alloy and the solder fail to intermix. An ideal diffusion structure forms if the difference between the processing temperature of the solder and the solidus point of the alloy is minimal.

3) Clean metallic surfaces

Clean soldering contact surfaces are a basic requirement for adequate wetting. The contact surfaces should be free of grease and oxide. Grinding and/or sandblasting can be used to prepare the soldering contact surfaces.

4) Oxide-dissolving flux

It is advisable to use a flux to prevent the formation of oxide. The flux dissolves the oxygen compounds on the surface of the alloy. During the dissolving process, the flux absorbs the oxides and prevents any further oxidation from occurring. The soldering process should be completed immediately after the application, as the solubility of the oxides captured in the flux is limited. This process is assisted by using the “reduced zone” of the flame.

5) Evenly pre-heated framework components

The framework components to be joined should be sufficiently preheated to ensure adequate flow and optimum wetting of the alloy. The temperature at the soldering site should be higher than the processing temperature of the solder but it must not exceed the solidus temperature of the alloy.

6) Soldering gap walls should be as parallel as possible 

Only if the walls of the framework components are parallel to one another is the solder pushed into the soldering gap by the pressure being released (capillary filing pressure). The walls should be aligned at an even gap from one another at a width of approx. 0.05 mm to no more than 0.2 mm.

The post Why soldering remains important in dental technology appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

Many clearly recognize the importance of requiring dental laboratories to disclose to the dentist the point-of-origin and the material content of materials used in dental restorations as the accuracy of this information is essential to protect the patient safety. What many don’t recognize is that most states lack basic minimum standards for dental lab materials accountability and the risks that this creates for dentists and their patients.¹

The essential basic minimum standard for materials accountability requires that labs provide dentists a written materials disclosure for each restoration coupled with required dental laboratory registration.  In their absence, if a dentist catches that a rouge lab sold them cheaper gray/black market restorations or components, or misrepresented the point of origin and passed them off as what the dentist ordered, the risk to the offending lab is most likely only the loss of that one dentist as a customer.

Patient safety is compromised when a dentist, thinking they have receiving what they ordered, instead unknowingly places the adulterated or counterfeit components they actually received. Higher failure rates cost dentists lost chair time and adverse incidents expose the dentist to additional liability and possible reputational impact.

Imagine the nightmare of discovering that for the last year or two you have been unknowingly placing something other than what you prescribed. Would you be ethically required to notify your patients of the possibility? How would you determine whether potentially affected cases you placed were genuine or not without great discomfort to your patients, and great expense and professional embarrassment to yourself? Scary but cases like this actually happen.

Most dental laboratories are ethical and reliable. However, the economic pressure of the modern dental practice especially for debt laden younger practitioners, combined with the absence of basic minimum standards for accountability in most states, creates a fertile environment and an economic incentive for bad actors to profit from these practices.

In states where required material disclosure is coupled with a dental laboratory registration requirement, bad actors risk the loss of their registration and with it their ability to do dental laboratory work in the entire state. The result is increased accountability. Implementing these two basic minimum standards for materials accountability greatly reduces the likelihood that dentists and their patients will have to experience these unnecessary additional risks.

ADA policy has long supported written material content and point of origin disclosure and has more recently adopted an ADA policy specifically urging all state dental boards to register dental laboratories. Now is the time for those involved in restorative dentistry to actively demand that these important policies be implemented?

¹ Currently only FL, KY, MN, SC & TX have both disclosure and registration requirements for labs.

About the Author

Eric Thorn serves as in-house counsel for the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL). He is a leading voice for American dental laboratories on regulatory topics and works with state dental laboratory associations across the country helping to develop, present, and advance proposals and legislation relating to basic standards for the dental laboratory technology profession nationwide.

Eric Thorn formerly served as the General Counsel of the Florida House of Representatives. Prior to joining NADL, he spent over a decade in private practice with a prestigious Florida-based law firm representing businesses and associations in governmental relations and business development matters.

The post Materials Accountability Standards Matter appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

We all know how busy the dentist and staff are in a successful practice.  As a matter of course, those practices work with successful and reputable dental laboratories.  The trend follows because of the need for expert technical assistance from the most experienced dental technician/technologist in the laboratory.  The dental technologist is in the position to serve the practice and as such makes him or herself immediately interruptible and available to the dentist and staff any time they call or visit the lab.  This is a great position to be in as a highly valued member of the dentist’s team.

This brings me to the meat of the subject – communication.

Too often a dental technologist will call or email the dentist or staff to ask for items that were not included on the work order and, too often the dentist and staff are too busy with a patient in the chair to respond.

Keep in mind that the dental technologist is acting for a patient who is expecting their new smile to be delivered on time, yet the response to the dental technologist may be given low priority.  The call back comes too late or is completely ignored leaving it up to the dental technologist to continually follow-up by phone or email.

Keep in mind that the dental technologist is acting for a patient who is expecting their new smile to be delivered on time, yet the response to the dental technologist may be given low priority.  The call back comes too late or is completely ignored leaving it up to the dental technologist to continually follow-up by phone or email.

In my lab of 75 core dentist clients this is the rule rather than the exception.  I think the solution is to view the dental technologist more as an advocate for the most important patients in the practice and not as an interrupter who can be ignored.

Some time ago I wrote a pictorial article explaining my suggestion that all dentists should, at some time in their career, pour casts from their impressions and trim their own master dies.  In my experience, all dentists who have followed this practice have improved their impression techniques immensely.  Following that practice all dentists begin to look at their own impressions much more critically and their impressions improve as a matter of course. The resulting restorations fit far better and the dentist’s appreciation for their own personal skill raises to one of fulfillment.

At the end of the day, both the dentist, dental staff and dental technologist want to provide the best experience and restoration for the patient.  Clear and timely communication and great impressions will help go a long way in ensuring a positive outcome.

Steve Killian studied dental technology at Southern California College of Medical and Dental Careers, graduating in 1973, number one in his class. Soon after he joined with Jim Glidewell Laboratories and became senior ceramist and general manager for two of his laboratories, El Toro Dental Ceramics and later Cal-West Dental Ceramics. In 1980 Stephen became a National Board Certified Dental Technician in Ceramics. With his growing interest and attention to premium esthetics and quality, he opened his own laboratory in 1983. Steve began to partner

with his brother Greg in 1985 allowing Steve to focus on the technical side while Greg focus’ on the administrative side of Killian Dental Ceramics, Inc, CDL a 30-person lab in Irvine. Steve has served on NADL in various capacities since 2011 and now serves on the board for The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology, promoting education and awareness in the profession, while raising money for scholarships, grants and on-line learning programs.

Notable Positions

• The National Association of Dental Laboratories, The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology – January 2017 Fundraising Committee Chair, three-year term
• The National Association of Dental Laboratories, The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology – August 2013 Elected to Board of Trustees, three-year term
• The National Association of Dental Laboratories, Board of Directors – January 2012 Dental Laboratory Representative at Large, two-year term
• The National Association of Dental Laboratories, Board of Directors – January 2010 Dental Laboratory Representative at Large, two-year term

The post A Little Communication Goes A Long Way appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

LMT asked dentist-participants in our 2018 Dentist Survey to rank the challenges they assume laboratory owners face. Interestingly, they were correct in choosing the top two, saying a lab’s biggest struggles are hiring competent staff (which lab owners ranked as their #2 problem) and making do with inadequate work by clients (which labs ranked as their #1 challenge.)

With regard to the challenge of hiring qualified technicians, some dentists expressed concern about the future of our community, citing declining educational programs and the aging technician base. “Let’s concentrate on actually supporting the dental technology industry with training programs, rather than pushing everything onto a computer,” says a dentist from Florida. “There is so much we cannot do digitally and we will need to have people who still understand this.”

Some dentists also commented on the difficulty laboratories have in dealing with subpar work from their clients, urging laboratories to hold them accountable.

“Feedback is crucial; don’t be afraid to tell us you need a better impression or more information. Any dentist who is too proud to receive feedback is not serving his/her patients and will not improve clinically,” says a dentist-participant from Tennessee. “Don’t be afraid to hold your dentists to the same standards as they hold you.”

Labs Weigh in

Similarly, laboratory-respondents to LMT’s 2018 Relationship Survey were asked: what do you think are dentists’ biggest challenges when running their practices? They were right on the money, not only choosing the same two problems the dentists did—dealing with insurance companies and hiring competent staff—but also in the correct order.

It’s possible laboratories were so easily able to identify a dentist’s number-one struggle because it has an effect on them. “Insurance reimbursement is the biggest issue; we have great clients who are constantly battling this problem,” says Kelly Pickworth, CDT, Owner, Ohio Dental Lab, Mason, OH. “The impact of this on our lab is huge: they are constantly requesting lower fees to deal with reimbursement problems.”

The post Dentists and Technicians in Sync on Biggest Challenges appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

In LMT’s joint survey with Dental Economics, 46% of dentists say they’ve switched their primary laboratory—meaning the one they use most often—in the last five years. Here’s what leads them to end laboratory relationships and what they look for next time around.

The more things change, the more they remain the same: while dentistry has undergone unprecedented changes over the last 25 years, the number-one reason dentists switch laboratories has steadfastly remained the same: inconsistent quality.

Dentists first told us this in 1994 and have emphasized it in all of our dentist surveys since, including the most recent one conducted with Dental Economics (click here for survey demographics), where 71% said inconsistent work was the impetus to end their relationship with their last laboratory. The unpredictability of what they might receive from the lab hits dentists where it hurts the most, costing them chairtime and damaging their relationships with patients.

“Too many adjustments. Too many returns. Too much chairtime,” says a dentist-participant from Vermont. “That was the situation last time I switched laboratories. I hate adjusting porcelain; the micro fractures lead to breakage and then I have to explain to the patient why the crown needs to be replaced.”

As in the past, some dentists say the quality of work they receive from laboratories routinely starts to decline as time goes on. “What labs do is tough and good work should be applauded. But I just hate when I use a lab for awhile, then start getting back junk. I literally have used the same burs, the same impression trays, the same material, etc. but am told it’s my fault when cases start coming back incorrect,” says one. “Then I switch labs and magically everything is perfect again for a while. That gets old.”

Although laboratories have long lamented price-shopping dentists, price is a distant second to inconsistency, with only a third of dentists saying it was a factor last time they switched labs (see chart). In fact, the majority of dentists say they expect labs to increase prices once a year or every two years.

While this seems at odds with what we hear from laboratory owners, it likely comes down to a misperception: what laboratory owners may perceive as shopping for price, dentists view as shopping for value. In other words, the prices they’re willing to pay are in direct correlation to their estimation of the quality of service they receive.

For example, one dentist switched from his last lab because a fee increase and reduction in staff coincided with a perceptible decline in quality; he suspected the lab started outsourcing without acknowledging the change. Another dentist says he knows he pays higher-than-average lab fees but feels the ease of the relationship and excellent work are worth it.

A dentist from Illinois shares this story: he was paying $155 for a hard/soft nightguard at his long-time laboratory and came across a similar one at a larger lab for just less than half that price. “I called my technician and then sent him a sample of the other lab’s nightguard; he agreed it was similar in quality to what he was offering but acknowledged he didn’t have the thermoforming equipment to enable him to produce it for that price,” he says. “We had an honest and upfront conversation; I would never end our relationship just because of price, but if there’s something that doesn’t sit right, I’ll talk about it with him.”

There’s a tie for the third most common reason dentists change laboratories: delayed turnaround/late cases and prescriptions not being thoroughly followed. “When a technician doesn’t read and follow an Rx, the lab needs to be replaced. The problem—especially when you work with a lab for awhile—is the technicians assume they know what you want and then stop reading the instructions thoroughly, causing delays and frustration,” says one dentist. “Read the Rx and follow it! If you disagree, call to discuss your concerns.”

When dentists are ready to make a move, the top features they look for in a new laboratory are high-quality work, good communication and reasonable prices, in that order (see chart).

To find that new lab, they value their colleagues’ advice more than anything else; in fact, 44% of dentists say a referral from another dentist is how they found their last laboratory. They also respond to in-person sales calls and seeing samples of the lab’s work.   

When Loyalty Lasts

In all this talk about switching, let’s not overlook the fact that many dentists are relatively loyal to their laboratories: in the past five years, half of them have NOT switched their primary laboratory.

Our dentist-participants also acknowledge the positive connection they have with their technicians: nearly all say their relationships with their current laboratories are good or even excellent, and many noted it takes effort on both sides to make quality work and effective communication happen. “I’m not one of those dentists who call and scream at the lab when something goes wrong with a case,” says a dentist from Missouri. “It’s just as easy for me to screw up too. I work hard to give my lab quality work and I appreciate the quality I get back.”

Repeatedly, dentist-participants say a commitment to consistent quality, effective communication and the assurance they can rely on their labs is the key to a long relationship. “My technician and I have been working together for 30 years; he has great skills, helps me out when I get stuck, suggests clever ways to find solutions and is my friend,” says Dr. John Leitner, Grand Haven, MI. “It’s pretty simple, really.”  (Read profile of Dr. Leitner and Laboratory Owner Rick Knecht here)

The post Why Dentists Switch Laboratories appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

The landscape of the dental industry is ever-changing: demographic shifts, business model transitions and technological evolutions present new opportunities and challenges for dentists and laboratories alike. Proactive laboratories are making a point to stay on top of these trends, setting themselves up to be invaluable resources to their clients as well as leaders in the dental community.

TREND: Growing Population of New Dentists

In the last 25 years, there’s been a 15% increase in the number of dental schools and 28% increase in dental school enrollment. At the same time, many schools have decreased the amount of dental technology training in the curriculum.

To support soon-to-be dental graduates, NDX Lord’s Dental Studio works with Marquette University Dental School, where it’s part of the curriculum for senior dental students to spend a day at the laboratory; Lord’s provides lunch and bus transportation to and from the school. One of Lord’s clients—a Marquette alumnus and dentist who owns multiple practices in Wisconsin—gives a presentation on how to work with a laboratory, emphasizing how to grow and strengthen the partnership so it’s a win-win for both the practice and the lab.

Students then get a comprehensive tour of the lab where they can watch technicians work and experience some of the technology (the laser welder is a favorite). “They love being able to talk with the technicians while they’re working and are amazed at how advanced materials and technologies are being applied in today’s dental laboratory,” says Mike Zavada, General Manager of the DePere, WI, laboratory. “This day gives them a whole different view on how a lab works; for many, it’s their first experience inside a laboratory.”

Another approach aimed at helping new practicing dentists is the Young Dentist Program, a mentoring and education program created by Utah Valley Dental Lab and well-known educator Dr. David Hornbrook. The program—open to dentists who have been out of school no more than five years—consists of three educational weekends over a six- to eight-month period.

During the first weekend, dentist-attendees have the option to present a particularly challenging case, each of which is discussed and treatment planned by the group. Ultimately, they vote, selecting one of those cases to be done by Dr. Hornbrook while they observe during two future weekends (one for prepping and one for seating); the case is chosen not only based on the educational potential but also on patient need.

This year, the program has 40 dentist-participants. They pay only their travel expenses; the program itself is free and Dr. Hornbrook and the lab donate their work and time.

“The program gives these young dentists an opportunity to work side by side with Dr. Hornbrook and essentially have him as their mentor,” says Jim Thacker, Vice President/Business Manager of the Lindon, UT laboratory. “It also exposes them to the level of work we do and helps them see the laboratory as a partner and not just a vendor; once we’ve established that relationship, we’re the ones they call when they encounter a difficult case.”

TREND: More Female Dentists in Practice

According to the ADA, in 2017-18, women made up almost 50% of the dentist population, up from 36% just two decades ago. And it’s estimated that female dentists will make up an even larger proportion of the dentist workforce in the future.

To support leadership among women and tap into the growing appeal of women-only entrepreneurial groups, Glidewell Dental has launched Guiding Leaders, a new year-long educational program exclusively for female dentists.

“The program is designed to teach women about the business of dentistry. What I’m seeing in the industry is that male dentists are getting this type of training through networking and mentorships and the women are not,” says Stephenie Goddard, Executive Vice President and the program’s visionary. “Women face some different issues than men. For instance, it’s still more typical for a woman to put her career on hold or modify it if/when she has children. Our goal is to build a group of women who support one another and can give advice from real experiences that other women can relate to.”

Presented by industry leaders and executive consultants, the courses are held monthly in one of three locations: day-and-a-half programs at the Glidewell International Technology Centers in Newport Beach or Louisville, KY, and two-hour courses held online. Participants are also paired with an executive coach whom they will work with twice a month, both in person and via video chat software such as Skype.

“The biggest question I get is ‘why is Glidewell doing this?’” says Goddard. “The answer is simple: We recognized a need and this is just one way we want to give back to the industry that has made Glidewell what it is today.”

The inaugural program begins in April and includes 12 currently practicing female dentists with five-plus years of clinical experience. For more details, visit guidingleaders.com.

TREND: DSOs on the Rise   

According to the ADA Health Policy Institute, 7.4% of all practicing U.S. dentists are affiliated with a DSO and that number more than doubles—to 16.3%— for dentists ages 21-34.

Larger DSOs typically send out an RFP (request for proposal). Labs invited to participate present a complete proposal for laboratory restorative work based on the particular RFP requirements. The DSO then awards contracts to the lab(s), typically based on pricing, turnaround times and lab qualifications. Some DSO dentists can continue to work with any lab they choose, however, since the contracted labs have lower prices, dentists have financial incentives to use them.

When Knight Dental Group, Oldsmar, FL, had the opportunity to bid on a large DSO contract seven years ago, its digital capabilities were already well-honed and it was able to offer an enticing package to the group: volume capability, consistent quality and attractive pricing.

It landed the one-year contract and, through word of mouth, the lab’s DSO business took off. Today Knight works with five DSOs—representing almost 1,500 doctors—and this segment of the lab’s business comprises a significant proportion of its annual revenues.

The volume of incoming DSO work allows the lab to offer reduced contracted prices over its typical fees and, to further maximize its margins, the lab only bids on offering certain types of restorations. “We focus mostly on fixed restorative work, like zirconia and e.max because these products allow us to utilize digital technologies,” says Barbara Warner Wojdan, CDT, AAACD, President of Knight. “On the other hand, we usually don’t bid on removables since digital capabilities are still limited. We find that many smaller DSOs prefer to work with smaller, local removable labs that can offer very personalized local service and multiple in-office visits.”

Although there are no specified volume guarantees from the DSOs Knight contracts with, the lab applies very specific metrics and conducts its due diligence, such as checking the DSO’s recognized business ratings and asking for information such as how many types of crowns it places each year. “At the end of the day,” says Wojdan, “fixed pricing, consistency and on-time service are key factors for gaining clients in this arena.”

While the sheer volume of work has had a huge impact on the lab’s business, it’s also created some challenges. For instance, since many DSO dentists have monthly patient quotas to fill, the lab used to get deluged with cases at the end of each month. To fix this issue, it instituted a monthly cut-off date by which clients have to submit cases in order to have them completed by the month’s end. It also had to hire more technicians; purchase additional equipment such as mills and printers; and implement 24-hour shifts so it could better handle the increased caseload.

Another necessary change: since every DSO client new to Knight gets teamed up with a Client Technical Service Representative (CTS), the lab had to boost the number of people in the department. “The increase in staffing was essential to manage the routine communications from the increase of DSO clients who are new dentists,” says Wojdan.

The CTS operator handles all communication with the dentist, like reviewing incoming and outgoing cases, identifying where more training is needed and assisting with technical improvements—such as taking better impressions or tooth preparation requirements. “While many of the DSOs offer their own training programs, we’ve definitely had to take on more of an education-provider role to help these younger dentists,” says Wojdan.

There are also some distinct benefits to working with a DSO—like the fact that Knight’s DSO clients tend to be ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. “These accounts are moving to digital dentistry faster than many of our traditional ones,” says Wojdan. “In fact, one of our largest DSO clients just distributed over 800 intraoral scanners to its doctors. As a result, the number of digital impressions we receive has gone from about 85 files a day to over 250 per day, which has gone a long way in streamlining our production and further reducing our costs.”

TREND: Proliferation of Intraoral Scanning

The percentage of dentists with intraoral scanners has nearly quadrupled in the last six years, from 17% to 61%, according to a comparison of LMT’s 2012 and 2018 Dentist Surveys; another 17% plan to buy a scanner in the next year. However, lab owners say that about a quarter of the digital impressions they receive are inadequate and many are pitching in to minimize dentists’ learning curve and help ease integration into their practices.

Lonni Thompson, CDT, Owner, Image Gallery, Dublin, OH, has determined it takes a doctor an average of 10 cases to get digital impressions down. “They’re going to have questions and they don’t want to look bad in front of their patients,” she says.

To be a resource for her clients, Thompson builds time into her schedule to go chairside to assist them, especially with large or complicated cases. For example, she was recently on site to ensure the dentist followed the proper scan sequence for a full-mouth rehabilitation; when she was also chairside for the seating appointment, there were minimal adjustments required. “It’s truly amazing technology when it’s used correctly,” she says.

Kevin Westrich Jr., Lab Manager, FEDL/D3 Solutions, Maryland Heights, MO, agrees that it’s key for laboratory owners and managers to help with their clients’ transition to intraoral scanning. In fact, five years ago, he became so well-versed in intraoral scanning techniques that he was invited by a manufacturer to lecture on the topic and now offers five to six presentations a year to his dentist-clients and other groups about digital workflows.

“I’ve worked with doctors who get really frustrated with the technology early on and the scanner ends up sitting in a dark corner of the practice, collecting dust,” he says. “The best thing you can do as a lab owner is help  them through the growing pains.” (Click here for more advice from Westrich and Thompson.) 

TREND: Expanding Digital Workflows

Less than a decade ago, only half of laboratories said clients were interested in trying new technologies and even fewer were prescribing milled restorations. However, that’s transitioning quickly and more and more dentists are embracing the digital revolution, lauding the streamlined workflows and more accurate results.

To help the dental team get the most out of digital technology, brother-and-sister dentists Drs. Alan and Barbara Jurim launched CADPro Academy and its web component, cadproacademy.com, last year.

The concept originated in the Jurims’ in-house lab, Jurim Dental Studio, Woodbury, NY, founded by their late father, Adrian Jurim, MDT. The lab was receiving a lot of phone calls from dentist-clients asking for technical advice on intraoral scanning. “When we looked to see what resources were out there for dentists, we saw a lot of misinformation, which gave us the idea to offer the right information ourselves,” says Barbara. “And having an in-house lab means we understand both the clinical and laboratory side of things, so we can offer a range of education for the whole team.”

Open to technicians, dentists and auxiliary staff, CADPro’s courses take place at its 25,000-square-foot facility, conveniently attached to the Jurims’ dental clinic and laboratory. It offers lectures and hands-on courses on digital technology and workflow, many of which are related to using 3Shape’s TRIOS^®scanners and software.

It also hosts live patient courses such as a two-day guided implant surgery program. “We cover the entire process, from doing intraoral and cone beam scans on a patient, designing a surgical guide and printing it overnight in the lab, and then using that guide to perform surgery the next day,” says Sunil Abraham, CTO, the technician in charge of the digital department at Jurim Dental Studio.

CADPro Academy offers three membership levels with varying benefits, including training videos, webinars, blogs, literature reviews and a user discussion forum on its website. To learn more, visit cadproacademy.com/become-member-now.

About The Author

LMT Communications, Inc.

www.lmtmag.com

LMT Communications delivers the business strategies, information, dental laboratory news and education that dental laboratory decision-makers need to succeed. In Print. In Person. Online.

The post 5 Dental Market Trends Labs are Facing Head On appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

Whenever we drive a car, purchase something online, use a cellphone or take our children to an amusement park, we are benefiting from minimum quality standards without even knowing it.  Standards have become such an integral part of our daily lives that the average person gives little to no thought to everyday products and services and how they work. We trust that the person providing the product or service is providing quality.  However, as many of us have experienced, not all products or services are equal.

Standards establish specifications and procedures designed to ensure the reliability of the materials, products, methods, and/or services people use every day. Standards address a range of issues, such as the various protocols that help ensure product functionality and compatibility, facilitate interoperability as well as support consumer safety and public health.

Dental laboratories and trained and educated dental technicians play an important role in the delivery of quality dental care. Dentists and patients deserve to know where their dental restorations are coming from, who is making them and what materials are used in the process.  This is where standards come into play.

Certification is the professional standard in dental laboratory technology. The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC) administers two programs – the Certified Dental Technician (CDT) and the Certified Dental Laboratory (CDL) credentials.  Additionally, the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) administers the Dental Appliance Manufacturers Audit System designation.  These programs are a means to identify the dental technicians and dental laboratories that have demonstrated their technical qualifications against a national standard and displayed their commitment to maintaining quality within the services and products they deliver to dentists and patients.

In the U.S., certification is voluntary. Currently, no state in the U.S. requires a dental technician to be licensed and only 4 states in the U.S. require certification of at least one dental technician in the laboratory (Texas, South Carolina and Kentucky) or continuing education (Florida) for a laboratory to operate in that state.  All other states have no minimum qualifications for someone to work as a dental technician.

When you partner with a CDT, CDL or DAMAS lab, you are working with professionals dedicated to compliance with documented standards but also a desire to be an industry leader.

The CDT certification measures competency of a predetermined body of knowledge and the skills deemed to represent the successful, professional-level practice of dental technology. To become a CDT, a technician must demonstrate their knowledge and applied skills through both written and practical (hands-on) examinations. CDTs are required to earn a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education each year to retain their CDT status. Per a recent survey completed by the NBC (National Board for Certification) 61% of CDTs have earned a 2-year degree or higher, 30% hold 2-year degrees in dental technology and the average CDTs experience is 24 years. The CDT credential is the only certification program for dental technicians recognized by the American Dental Association.

The CDL certification requires stringent infection control, personnel training, equipment, facility and case management standards with a Certified Dental Technician overseeing technical quality in the laboratory. The CDL is recognized by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP). It also receives outstanding support and participation from U.S. military services.

The standards required to be a DAMAS dental laboratory closely mirror the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Quality System/Good Manufacturing Practice (QS/GMP) specifications and provide a clear-cut process for improving documentation in every facet of laboratory operations including: dental prescriptions/work authorizations; patient contact materials; subcontractor/supplier agreements; material and equipment purchases; employee training; maintenance and calibration of equipment; labeling; customer complaints; and material traceability.

At a personal level, we can see why standards are important. They provide a guarantee of safety, predictability and usability. We do not have to worry whether our electrical wiring is safe, or that a piece of paper will fit into an envelope and we can plug a light bulb into any lamp.  In the case of dental restorations-when you work with certified professionals, standards ensure that you can be confident the services provided and the materials and processes used to fabricate your restorations meet or exceed industry guidelines and regulations.

To learn more visit: www.nbccert.org, www.nadl.org, www.dentallabs.org

Heather A. Voss, CDT, owns and operates Legacy Dental Arts in Hamburg, NY. She is a second generation dental technician and has been in the dental laboratory technology field for over 25 years. She is an LD Pankey graduate and a LVI certified master esthetic technician. She has been published in various clinical and technical journals and has lectured for both dental technicians and clinicians throughout her career. Her experience working in small family owned labs as well as large privately owned and corporately owned labs has given her unique insight and expertise in the technical, production and business management aspects of the dental laboratory business. Heather currently serves on the National Association of Dental Laboratories Board of Directors and was previously the Chair of the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology.

The post Why it is Important to Work with a CDT, CDL or DAMAS Laboratory appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

The post Digital change: Promote your dental lab with a sound marketing strategy appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

Competitive forces are driving change in the dental laboratory business at a lightning pace. Two of the most significant forces are dental practice consolidation and offshore competition. However, regardless of these forces (and others), one thing is certain: as we look to the future, dental labs that listen intently to their customers will be the most successful.

As a national lab network, my responsibility as CEO and that of our executive team is knowing that we must satisfy two distinct and diverse customer bases: dentists and patients. We know that keeping a keen eye on changes in both groups is critical. We also understand that demand for our products and services will continue to change, and we must adapt in order to compete. As we look to the future, we diligently remind ourselves that in order to survive these turbulent times in the dental lab industry, we must evolve to stark market realities.

How can we, and labs like us, evolve in these challenging times? The first step is to become better business partners to our dentist customers.

Becoming better business partners

For years, dental labs have been essential partners for dentists. But where is the relationship headed?

Traditionally, dentists have relied on dental labs to provide three things:

• reliable case consults
• high-quality work requiring fewer adjustments
• uncompromised aesthetics

This will not change. But in the future, dentists will do business with labs not only for quality products, but for increased convenience. Dental practices are businesses, and businesses care about efficiency and ease-of-transactions. Dentists are already looking to labs for more predictable outcomes for smaller, routine cases. (After all, consistency and quality go hand-in-hand.) But for larger and more complex cases, dentists are seeking a concierge experience, including digital services and customized workflows.

The future of the dentist-lab relationship will require labs to be better business partners by providing additional value. Labs will need to provide solutions-driven resources rather than just restoration work.

Quality outcomes will drive business evolution

Treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction are key drivers of our health-care system, and dentistry is no exception. As an industry, we must look for innovative ways to serve our customers and provide better outcomes. Improved shade-matching, increased longevity of restorations, higher quality of restorations, and the pursuit of materials with more lifelike appearance will continue to be market mandates.

Quality outcomes go hand-in-hand with investment in technology, improving processes, and changing the way we think about the dentist-lab business relationship. For our company, the fastest growing aspect of demand is digital impressions. We also see significant growth in implant dentistry and removable restorations. Our main objective in these areas—as in all areas of our business—is producing quality outcomes.

When we look to the future, we see that business services are essential to the evolution of the dental lab business. For example, digital impressions and digital file storage help reduce the need for conventional impressions and improve the customer experience. As an industry, digital opportunities will surely continue to enhance the experience for both dentists and patients.

Dental labs today must simplify their end-to-end partnership with dentists—from initial engagement, to product delivery, to ongoing support. Interactions with dentists must be seamless, regardless of the system used. For example, real-time and on-demand access to labs is key—especially for doctors working late nights or weekends. By enhancing dentist-lab interactions, labs become more aligned with the needs of dentists and patients.

Offshore competition: A blessing or curse?

Offshore competition is formidable—especially in the production of zirconia-based crowns. We see this trend continuing, as foreign and offshore investments see opportunities to capture market share in the United States.

For our company, we do not see offshore options for dentists as a threat. Our customer partnerships—from dental support organizations (DSOs), to group practices, to institutions, to single-practice owners—are always transparent. For some customers, offshore options are the desired solution because price is a real issue for them and their patients. Our company is clear and open about our offshore options as part of our comprehensive portfolio.

As with our domestic labs across the country, we have high standards and rigid processes for selecting and monitoring our offshore partners. This is to ensure quality outcomes and high customer satisfaction. By providing customers with an array of options, whether domestic or international, our team can focus on quality and customer service. This drives additional value by meeting each customer’s preferences.

A challenging—and bright—future ahead

We see the graying of America as a great opportunity to serve dentists and patients alike. As the population ages, individuals will require everything from single-tooth implants to full-mouth reconstruction. In our case, our talented team makes a difference as they guide our customers through the myriad of available options. They ultimately help our customers choose the option that makes their patients happy. In this regard, our industry—more than ever—must provide dentists with end-to-end solutions. This includes case planning,  chairside guidance and delivery of the best restoration to match the patient’s needs. This is the key to our industry’s growth.

The dental industry has changed considerably in the past 10 years. With the rise of DSOs, rapid technology cycles, and offshore competition, labs must look at their business models and adapt. 3-D printing is a good example: This technology is in its early stages, but it has shown success in certain product applications. We know we must keep a careful eye on what 3-D printing technologies can—and cannot—realistically deliver.

Higher costs for goods combined with demand for efficiencies will drive dental labs to enhance logistics and production coordination. This will create a larger capacity through a “network” approach for products and capabilities. Moreover, this will improve access to customers and improve overall treatment outcomes. These improvements may happen through industry consolidation or organically—if costs and efficiencies can be achieved by individual labs.

As an industry, our focus on dentists and their practices must remain steadfast: it must guide us in everything we do. Helping dentists through improved workflows and efficiencies will help create stronger bonds and improve business relationships.

We can always do more to improve our relationships with dentists. We know that most in-office technologies are not suited for complex cases, and that is where the lab-dentist relationship becomes even more valuable.

In the end, those improved, trusted, relationships make good labs extraordinary!

The post The future of the dental lab business is now appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.

The post Three steps to heightening the productivity of your dental lab appeared first on Cbite Dental Products.