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What’s Going On at Your Dental Lab

Administrator — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:09:59 +0000

The dental lab industry is feeling the economic pinch just like you are. DentalLabProducts eUpdate this week includes “Exclusive: 2009 State of the Industry” report for labs. In the article, Pam Johnson tells us that the past six months have taken a toll on dental laboratories.

Those seasoned, hardworking lab guys who had planned to retire in the next few years have put their plans on hold. Still, they enjoy their jobs. About a third think profits will drop, and another third think they’ll increase. Mostly, small labs are concerned with lower profits. As with any industry, no one seems to know what the future holds. The survey gives us a picture of what’s going on, though. It tells us that lab employees are working more and getting less right now. However, if we step back and look at the three-year picture, we see that gross income has actually increased quite a bit. Check out this link to review the survey results for yourself.

Lead in Crowns

cranham — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:17:54 +0000

On the issue of lead being found in dental work outsourced overseas: On the topic of outsourcing, we should keep in mind that many of the international labs are going to continue to get better. The lead issue is serious, no doubt, but it does not mean that all dental work from overseas is substandard. More importantly, I think that a dentist should consider the relationship benefit of using a local lab. I use a local lab that does everything in house. If something goes wrong with a case, I can call and talk to my lab about it. Cost is a factor for restorations, but I like trouble shooting with my local lab. The lab industry, in my mind, is relationship-based. Easy access and familiarity gives you an advantage that you just don’t have if you outsource your lab work overseas and call them when you need to discuss something.

New Paging & Message Software

Corine Leech — Thu, 11 May 2006 03:19:49 +0000

Replace outdated light paging systems

Monitor patients in the office and where they are

communicate between Team members

Check this new system out looks pretty neat. We downloaded trial version and are playing with it. I have no vested interest in this just think it looks neat.

www.Patient-Tracker.com

Gradia Composite Veneers Easy Case

soileau — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 10:10:47 +0000

This is a case I did yesterday. Lady could only afford to pay for wax blueprint and 3 composite veneers. This case tool me a little over an hour. We scheduled an hour and a half but we finished way early. The key is to have a wax blueprint and then make the stint with windows. After that it is just a matter of filling in the stint and sculpting, cure, place the next stint, sculpt, ……. You do have to choose the right enamel OPACITY and dentin COLOR. But if you choose that correctly, the rest is easy. I polish with a latch type Robinson brush and MI Paste. The hard part is getting the texture of the composite to match the texture of the rest of her teeth. Cool case. She cried when we were done. Not a big deal to us but a very very big deal to her.

Feel Free to Ask! Dental Blogs is about sharing ideas without confrontation.

soileau — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 14:44:40 +0000

We have all been on other forums where anyone can post anything about anyone. This often leads to angry and self-ritious grandstanding. In other words, confrontation for the sake of protecting ones turf, as opposed to simply sharing ideas for the simple sake of helping others. All the authors of this forum have the obligation and responsibility to maintain an environment where anyone feels comfortable asking a question or sharing a view without being ridiculed or interrogated. There are too many forums where this mentailty exist. The end result is that only a few meaningful post are presented which are then attacked and no one else post anything. That will not happen here. If you have any question or want to share an idea in a thoughtful way, please do so. That is what this forum is about. We have the best and brightest here and they truly want to help others achieve the same success that they have. They willingly share their ideas and experiances without any form of compensation other than the warm feeling of knowing they made a difference. So I personally invite all of you to ask or share whatever you wish because I bet you will have more to teach me as I have to teach you.

Tony

Wax Blueprints for Provisionals with Premade Wax Forms

soileau — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 16:15:47 +0000

For all my provisionals in the anterior and most in the posterior I use a wax blueprint or wax-up. We do these in house by myself or my assistant Andrea does them for me. We use pre-made wax forms from Lab Innovations, www.labinnovations.com, which allow us to quickly and easily create amazing wax-ups. This particular wax-up took 20 minutes. Listen to the voice attachment for an in-depth description of each step.

This is what my set up looks like for waxing.

Close up of hand carvers.

Wax forms.

Close up of wax forms.

Pre-op model.

Wax form tried for fit.

Facial view.

Carved to place.

Tacked with wax.

Begin Lingual Fill.

Start of Lingual Anatomy.

More Lingual Anatomy.

Start of Facial Fill.

Round Line Angles.

Refine Lingual Anatomy.

Finish Facial View.

Finish Lingual View.

Listen to Voice attachment

Dentistrytogo Podcast with Dr. Steve Marcus

Administrator — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 15:42:39 +0000

Dr. Tom Hedge interviews Dr. Steve Marcus, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Steve has evolved his practice and professional life by getting involved with internet forums and advanced continuing education courses. He tells us his story over 35 minutes of great tips and suggestions of how to be a better dentist.

Download the Podcast Interview

Second Dentistrytogo Podcast with Dr. Rick Coker

Administrator — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:41:59 +0000

Dr. Tom Hedge interviews Dr. Rick Coker of Tyler, Texas. This 38 minute interview covers Dr. Coker’s practice and his incorporation of the NTI into restorative treatment and headache treatment.

www.nti-tss.com

Download The Podcast Interview

Third Dentistrytogo Podcast with Tom Gildersleve

Administrator — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 22:45:29 +0000

Dr. Tom Hedge interviews Tom Gildersleve of Harmony Dental Lab in Jacksonville, Florida. In this 30 minute interview, they cover digital technology and how it impacts dentist to laboratory communication. There are many great tips on an ideal laboratory relationship.

Visit The Website

Download The Podcast Interview

Vita Easyshade

Administrator — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 12:16:56 +0000

This is a tremendous tool to evaluate shades for indirect, direct, and bleaching shades. It is quick and easy. Worthy of a look at the next dental meeting or on the web at www.vident.com. Just under $4000.

Clinical photo series for new patients

Administrator — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:47:09 +0000

Listen to Voice attachment