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Guided Implant Placement Supported by CEREC®
Recent advances in technology have made implantology an increasingly attractive treatment option for both dentists and patients. For patients, CEREC technology and 3D imaging have been instrumental for increased treatment plan acceptance by providing a detailed overview of their specific procedure. Dentists who use a CEREC and a 3D Imaging System can expand their treatment capabilities by seamlessly integrating implants into their practice in four steps: Scan, Plan, Place, Restore. 1. Scan Capture highly detailed X-ray images of your patient’s mouth from many different angles and levels of magnification using a 3D imaging system. This degree of flexibility makes for a much easier planning phase of the implant procedure by
Panoramic Radiography
It is a technique that produces an image of the teeth and jaws on a single film, but it also depicts a somewhat bewildering array of hard and soft tissues in the head and neck. Some of these structures are also seen on intraoral radiographs but appear different on panoramic films, whereas other landmarks are found on panoramics but not intraoral films. Because of the unique physical nature of panoramic image formation, some structures are projected in areas of the film where they don’t exist. Although dentists may concentrate only on the teeth and their supporting tissues when examining panoramic radiographs, they should also be able to identify anatomic
Don’t Fail Your Next Exam
A complete comprehensive evaluation leads to complete comprehensive treatment. Without the necessary information, conditions and situations may exist that, if missed, may lead to misdiagnosis, maltreatment, and negative outcomes. Without a basic understanding of the coding nomenclature and the components of each of the evaluation codes, errors are likely. The purpose of this article is to help your team understand the different codes and what is required of each. Let’s deal at the onset with one of the most widely held misconceptions. Codes DO120 through DO180 are being applied as exam codes. In actuality, they are evaluation codes with the exam being one aspect of the evaluation. The definitions
Top 5 Sterilization Area Designs
Sterilization may not be the first thing that comes to a patient’s mind when choosing a dentist. Normally, it’s more about efficient treatment plans or cost-effective care methods. But, why not give a patient another reason to choose your practice? Like a focus on infection control and sterilization. Take a look at how five practices created peace of mind with effective and efficient sterilization areas. Complete Cosmetic Care Dentistry Glenpool, OK Complete Cosmetic Care Dentistry offers its patients a state-of-the-art dental practice, with an environment focused on patient comfort and safety. Part of this focus is displayed in a well-designed and highly functional sterilization area, which is intentionally visible to
Exclusive Tx STUDIO™ Software for i-CAT® Debuts New Version
Dentists will now discover even more treatment planning possibilities with the latest version of Tx STUDIO™ 3D software for i-CAT systems. The newest features enhance Tx STUDIO’s comprehensive solution for diagnostic and treatment planning needs. Tx STUDIO is the only software package designed for a CBCT system that includes clinical tools for implants, surgical, orthodontics, TMJ, and airway analysis. The latest release of Tx STUDIO expands the clinician’s control over viewing anatomy and treatment planning in 3D. This system is already dynamic and robust, but the latest release features: * The Automatic Nerve Canal Tracing tool. It enables clinicians to quickly identify the nerve for implant
Putting Caries Detection to Use
Encouraging patients to participate in their dental care is not easy, so I like to educate them with technologies that offer a visual representation. For example, when patients can see dental caries on their teeth, they understand why I recommend certain restorative procedures. DEXIS CariVu™ caries detection device offers a no-radiation, highly accurate, visual option for caries detection and patient education. CariVu gives an impressive visual image of caries similar to an X-ray. The enamel appears transparent, and caries shows up as dark areas that are easy to see and understand. CariVu, with its broad use for occlusal, interproximal, and recurrent carious lesions and cracks, offers 99% accuracy. We
Dentrix & the Digital Scan: A Connection That Makes A Big Impression!
“I’ve had Dentrix since 1999, and I use it for everything,” says Dr. Dean Vafiadis, prosthodontist and founder of the New York Smile Institute in New York City. And he’s not exaggerating. Through Dentrix, he’s connected to just about everything in his office, including patient records, patient communication, billing, and digital X-rays. Recently, he added digital impressions to that list with the investment in an intraoral scanner. “With Dentrix, anyone in the practice can view a digital scan and evaluate the corresponding digital X-ray with the scan,” explains Dr. Vafiadis. All of this is possible thanks to Dentrix Connected. By partnering with dental companies whose products have been certified
Brand Consistency: Why It’s So Important
By Douglas Sligting | Dental Branding, CEO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TWO KEY PRINCIPLES THAT DETERMINE HOW AND WHY PEOPLE MAKE BUYING DECISIONS. PRINCIPLE #1: PERCEPTIONS DICTATE ACTIONS All the choices we make are determined by our perceptions. When you look at both the quantity and the quality of your patient base, it is always a direct result of the perceptions you create. I have seen many examples of practices in the same community where one practice is struggling to attract patients while another is overflowing with new patients. Or one practice has an average per patient value of $325 and their neighbor has an average per patient value of $750. The most important question to
Company Spotlight: DCI
SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS AN IDEA AND A PASSION TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE AND CAREER. If you ask John Spencer, CEO of DCI, he will add that the overwhelming support of your spouse certainly doesn’t hurt. His wife, Janelle, was working as a hygienist for a clinic that served low-income patients in Portland, Oregon, when they met. Together they knew that they had the discipline, drive, and ability to create a successful business and give back to their community. As two young parents in 1982, John and Janelle took a chance and risked it all to create Dental Components Incorporated or DCI as it
Simply Inspiring Imaging
Patients buy what they value. When they “see” the problem or the caries in high definition, their value for your recommended treatment goes up, and they often have no problem understanding, accepting, and scheduling the appointment. Using digital X-rays is almost like allowing patients to co-diagnose their problems alongside clinicians because they are able to take part in the education of what they are viewing. Schick 33 intraoral sensor from Dentsply Sirona combines high-resolution images and dynamic image management. The sensor’s patented imaging technology offers a theoretical resolution limit of 33 line pairs per millimeter, the highest in the industry. Schick 33’s image quality is based on a combination of
Is Your Hardware Right for Your Dental Software?
A full-featured practice management software is essential for any dental office — but it’s only as good as the hardware it runs on. When you use outdated hardware in your practice, it can cause crashes and delays that bring headaches and can hurt your business. Hardware or Software Problem? Computer problems can be hard to diagnose — most often we attribute issues with the software and overlook the hardware, but there are some common signs of hardware failure you should look for such as the computer won’t boot properly or computer performance and speed are running slower than usual. Although most practice management software doesn’t require a lot of
It's Coming! Dentrix G7
Dentrix G7 is coming soon in spring 2018. With Dentrix G7, Dentrix users will enjoy additional features and enhancements that reflect new, ground-breaking imaging technology, along with responses to their feedback on the customer suggestion site, User Voice. These enhancements enrich aspects of delivering great patient care. Here’s a quick run-down of new features in Dentrix G7. DENTRIX SMART IMAGE The dental market has evolved with respect to distribution agreements for various imaging vendors. With that in mind, we are expanding Dentrix imaging integration, bringing many vendors and tools into the Dentrix Patient Chart. This integration includes enhanced integration capabilities that go beyond what is available today in Dentrix. For
It’s the Picture, Not the Words, That Moves Them
I had always been called “the nice dentist” by sales people—until the day a certain distributor representative came by and tried to sell me a cone beam device. His angle? He was trying to convince me of the cone beam’s usefulness in Dental Sleep Medicine. You see, my niche is screening and treating sleep apnea. Dental Sleep Medicine has revolutionized my practice and my life. I love it. So I pretty much became unglued at this salesperson’s approach. “There is no correlation to someone that is upright and awake to someone that is horizontal and sleeping!” I stated rather loudly. The rep walked—almost ran—away as soon as possible
Moving from Analog to Digital Workflows in Dentistry
3 REASONS TO "GO DIGITAL" There’s no way around it: the future of dentistry will be digital. With advancements in scanning, treatment planning, and digital manufacturing, what was once prohibitively expensive is now accessible, already transforming thousands of dental labs and practices worldwide. As computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) become the standard of care, digital solutions have become a necessary consideration for any dental business. 1. High Quality and Precision: Digital dentistry reduces risks and uncertainties at every stage of the dental workflow, providing consistency, accuracy, and precision. Intraoral digital impression scanning removes many of the variables
Seeing is Believing with the New 3Shape TRIOS MOVE and Apps
If you can visually show a patient what they need, the patient gets excited and is more likely to accept your treatment proposal. Using an intraoral scanner can help accomplish this. But positioning the intraoral scanner’s screen in the operatory is challenging. Ergonomically, the doctor needs to see it when scanning, as does the patient when seeing the results. We developed 3Shape TRIOS MOVE – a brand-new hardware setup that makes it easier for doctors to share their intraoral scans with patients and excite them but also ergonomically move the setup. TRIOS MOVE can be adjusted in any direction to ensure the screen is in the right position:
Company Spotlight: Planmeca Group
Innovation and a determination to improve clinician comfort and workflow are how Planmeca started. Planmeca, one of the largest privately owned dental equipment manufacturers in the world, was founded in Helsinki, Finland, by Mr. Heikki Kyöstilä in 1971. The company started as a small-scale business, manufacturing dental stools and instrument cabinets. From this humble beginning, the company expanded its product range in the 1970s to include patient chairs and dental units. In the 1980s, the company grew through rapid international expansion, as subsidiaries in the U.S., Italy, and Sweden. Planmeca USA, the North American subsidiary, was the first to introduce Finland’s concept of a software-driven dental care unit. In the
Hurricane Harvey Can’t Submerge the Hope and Success of New Katy, Texas Office
SMILES OF KATY - KATY, TEXAS | DOLORES MORA, DDS When Mother Nature releases her fury on a community, there are stories of families, neighbors, and businesses coming together. Dr. Dolores Mora and her general dentistry practice, Smiles of Katy, is one of those inspiring stories. At 62 years of age, Dr. Mora took a leap of faith and constructed a new dental practice right behind her existing building in Katy, Texas. The plan was to move into her dream office, built with 10 fully equipped operatories and a sparkling waiting area with crystal chandeliers and luxurious seating, and then raze the former building. However, Hurricane Harvey had
New Operatory Equipment Refreshes College Dental Clinic
NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA | COLLEEN BRICKLE, DEAN OF HEALTH SCIENCES; CAROL LARSEN, DEPARTMENT CHAIR; DEB SIDD, FACULTY Technology is transforming dental offices, but to maximize the impact of that technology, every dental professional must be trained to use it to its fullest potential. Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota—the largest community college in the state—is one of those training grounds. Its dental hygiene program has existed since 1969, and it recently expanded to offer the first Advanced Dental Therapy Master’s Degree program in the country through a partnership with Metropolitan State University. That degree allows licensed dental hygienists to complete routine restorations and extractions. As a college clearly
All Families Welcomed to Pediatric/General Dentistry Practice Start-Up in Indiana
SOUTH SHORE SMILES - ST. JOHN, IN | ROGER SHIEH, DDS; RACHEL DUNLOP, DDS, MSD South Shore Smiles in St. John, Indiana, a city of about 14,000 residents, was founded by the husband and wife team of Dr. Roger Shieh and Dr. Rachel Dunlop, as a place where patients of every age—from toddlers to senior citizens—can receive dental care. While that might not sound entirely unique for a dental office, South Shore Smiles is different because it brings together the passions of a pediatric dentist with that of a general dentist—essentially creating two distinct practices under one roof, with one side for the “littles” and one side for the “bigs.” The combination has attracted
Can a Sterilization Center Save Your Staff Time?
Sterilization is a vital, but time consuming, part of the daily routine in a dental office. So naturally, a centrally located sterilization center that maximizes flow, efficiency, and materials turnover is key. But let’s take that a step further. The sterilization center should reflect a process-based design system: one that follows a streamlined process to ensure that materials and instruments are properly sterilized—and remain sterile while in storage. Take the A-dec Inspire® sterilization center, for example. A-dec Inspire follows recommended CDC protocol for the sterilization center, creating a safe, consistent process and streamlining the flow of materials. The layout groups together related steps, strategically following CDC guidelines with a specified
Ohio Dental Practice Redesigns Space to Maximize Dental Technology and Patient Care
SULENS DENTAL STUDIO - ZANESVILLE, OH | MICHAEL T. SULENS, DDS For Dr. Michael Sulens, there really is no place like home. This Zanesville, Ohio, native grew up in the town where he now practices dentistry. Deeply devoted to his community, he not only returned home with the intention of setting down roots there, but he’s expanded those roots, anchoring them with a new 3,500 square-foot state-of-the-art dental office that he built in August 2017, a practice he renovated after he purchased it from a local doctor. Sulens Dental Studio underwent a dramatic transformation. He gutted the original red brick colonial building that had stood since the 1970s
Why I Use KaVo 3D Imaging
CONE BEAM TECHNOLOGY OFFERS ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES AND IMPROVED TREATMENT PLANNING WITH EXCELLENT IMAGING QUALITY. About 3 years ago, I invested in a 2D pan machine, and we used it routinely. However, my decision to start placing implants was the tipping point for upgrading to cone beam 3D imaging. Although it’s not a requirement for placing implants, a 3D image is such a valuable piece of information, and I thought it worth the investment to get a unit here in the office so I could thoroughly plan out the entire implant procedure and minimize or eliminate any surprises. After considering my options, I realized that KaVo was the
3 Office Lease Renewal Tips Every Dentist Should Follow
A well-crafted lease will allow your practice to thrive. Knowing it’s time to negotiate or renegotiate your dental office lease can feel like an impending cloud of doom, but there’s no reason to dread the process. This is an opportunity to turn the negotiation tables in your favor. Here are three simple tips to navigate a dental office lease renewal negotiation, and come out on top. 1. Get a head start on your renewal: By leaving your lease renewal to the last minute, you give up your leverage to negotiate better terms. If you’re late to the party, the landlord will demand a lease that favors their interests
Making Your Digital Dentistry Shine
By: David Broom | Henry Schein TechCentral Digital dentistry has unique needs. Since a local IT company, or your computer-savvy nephew, probably won’t understand those needs, it could take years to train them to effectively support your practice, resulting in frustration and reduced productivity. It is important that your digital practice has that strong “setting” from an experienced IT company, like Henry Schein TechCentral. TechCentral has more than 15 years of experience serving the dental and healthcare industries with a three-pronged approach to providing IT hardware, support, and data protection/preservation. Prong 1: Hardware Your high-end dental imaging equipment and practice management software is only as good as the supporting technology. Your