DTUS0910

COSMETIC TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · US Edition Publisher & Chairman Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com Vice President Global Sales Peter Witteczek p.witteczek@dental-tribune.com Chief Operating Officer Eric Seid e.seid@dental-tribune.com Group Editor & Designer Robin Goodman r.goodman@dental-tribune.com Editor in Chief Cosmetic Tribune Dr. Lorin Berland d.berland@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor/Designer Implant & Endo Tribune Sierra Rendon s.rendon@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor/Designer Ortho Tribune & Show Dailies Kristine Colker k.colker@dental-tribune.com Online Editor Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com Product & Account Manager Mark Eisen m.eisen@dental-tribune.com Marketing Manager Anna Wlodarczyk a.wlodarczyk@dental-tribune.com Sales & Marketing Assistant Lorrie Young l.young@dental-tribune.com C.E. Manager Julia E. Wehkamp j.wehkamp@dental-tribune.com Dental Tribune America, LLC 213 West 35th Street, Suite 801 New York, NY 10001 Tel.: (212) 244-7181 Fax: (212) 244-7185 Published by Dental Tribune America © 2010 Dental Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. Cosmetic Tribune strives to maintain utmost accuracy in its news and clini- cal reports. If you find a factual error or content that requires clarification, please contact Group Editor Robin Goodman at r.goodman@dental-tribune.com. Cosmetic Tribune cannot assume respon- sibility for the validity of product claims or for typographical errors. The pub- lisher also does not assume responsibility for product names or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune America. Do you have general comments or criti- cism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Cosmetic Tribune? Let us know by e-mailing feedback@ dental-tribune.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Tell us what you think! 2B Clinical COSMETIC TRIBUNE | April 2010 f CT page 1B tist’s approval. Both parties can then have confidence that the case has been fabricated exactly as envisioned by the dentist and the patient. This process of instruction, feed- back and adjustment has allowed more dentists to deliver an increas- ingly sophisticated product created by more clinically astute and in-tune technicians — usually in less time and with greater precision from the begin- ning. A laboratory technician would always prefer to work with a photo- graph and would prefer this level of information than not, thus, these tools have become the new standard of care. It must be said that in addition to increasing the predictable results, using these communication tools increases profitability for both the lab- oratory technician and the dentist. When you consider the cost of remakes and adjustments as well as sending cases back and forth mul- tiple times — not to mention patient dissatisfaction with these frustrations — the savings are real and the profits are equally real. When professionals spend more time at the beginning and avoid costly mistakes, the benefits are tangible. Even with these improved technol- ogies, the most important tool we have is the time the dentist and laboratory technician invest in one another. By taking the time meet and discuss cases, being clear about mutual expec- tations and giving immediate feed- back to one another, the dentist and technician can build a strong working relationship that can last for years and even decades. Labs evaluate you too We all know that dentists are constant- ly evaluating their laboratory techni- cians and relationships, but the same is true for the technicians. When we receive a case from a cli- ent who communicates well, makes expectations clear, works in a collab- orative partnership and gives candid and timely feedback, we know we have to be on our toes and it chal- lenges us to do our very best. When we work with a dentist who sends clear impressions, focused pho- tographs and who alerts us to the arrival of the case, we know that den- tist is serious and that his or her expec- tations are high. However, when impressions are distorted, margins are unreadable or prescriptions are incomplete, it sends a very different message indeed. Per- haps it doesn’t matter much to some dentists? Perhaps, just about anything will do? Perhaps your case can wait? In many larger laboratory environ- ments, the most highly trained tech- nicians are assigned the cases of the first dentist — the one who sent clear impressions that is — because their time is too valuable to work with poor material and information. Here’s a little secret: technicians are naturally pleasers and we want to impress you, make you happy and rise to meet your needs. If you want the best technicians working on your cases, make it your business to send them the best, com- municate with them until you work like a well-oiled machine and demand excellence in return. The way you communicate will affect all of this. In modern dentistry, it is easy to do the right thing. We have the tools. We have the standards. We have the desire. We can work better together. Just tell us what you want and we can deliver. CT g CT page 4B What to include • Clear, full arch impres- sions • Bite • Photos • Face bow or stick bite • Pre-op models • Model of temps or diag- nostic wax-up to follow • Concise instructions When looking for a new lab … • Call and introduce yourself, communicate what it is you are looking for and what is missing from your current lab relationship. (We need to know what you don’t like so it’s not repeated!) • Ask to see photos of their work, and find out who receives the e-mail photos that you will be attaching to your cases. • Ask how the lab assigns your cases to a technician(s) and request to speak directly with the technician you will be work- ing with. • Visit the lab if possible, or use Skype for instant communi- cations online. • Ask for a bisque bake photo to be e-mailed to you for approval before sending the case out. This saves time and the dentist can give useful feedback at a time when modifications are easily made. • Schedule quarterly phone or in-person meetings to discuss how everything is progressing; so engage in regular meetings. • Ask other dentists what their experience has been with the laboratory you are considering. • Outsourcing cases overseas has increased in the laboratory profession. If this is important to you, you may want to inquire as to where your restorations are being made.