Dentsply’s Digital Solutions Solve Laboratory Challenges

 Published in Lab Management Today, September 2009, written by Kim Molinaro

Sound familiar?

Here’s how it works: The system includes two calibration tools that must be used when taking the patient’s photo: an Index square and Cosmetix™ mouthpiece. Both are made of soft, biocompatible gray foam. The gray color enables the program to adjust the patient’s image so skin tones and tooth shades are color-balanced. The Index square is placed on the patient’s forehead and guides the measurement calculations. The mouthpiece tells the software where the likeness of the patient’s new smile should be positioned.

 Also, since the patient participates in the selection process and can see an approximation of the final outcome, he has a greater understanding of the proposed treatment plan, which helps to eliminate anxiety, enhance patient buy-in and increase satisfaction with the end result.

The dentist is the only one who needs the TruRx software but both the dentist and the lab can purchase it from a Dentsply authorized dealer for $99 (suggested retail). Currently, Dentsply offers a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for TruRx as well as a buy-one-get-one-free IPN shade guide offer.

Another Solution: Compartis® USA SmartSourcing

Two years ago, Charles Mecca, CDT, MDT, MDP, owner of Associate Dental Corp. in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, wasn’t completely satisfied with the two CAD scanners he had bought in order to outsource milled zirconia restorations. The first system, while profitable for single units, wasn’t large enough to scan bridges. The second unit produced restorations that weren’t cost effective; in Mecca’s rural area of the country, he couldn’t sell the restorations at the price he needed to be profitable.

So when Dentsply began offering CAD/CAM services via Compartis USA—the company’s centralized milling center—the timing was just right and Mecca invested in the Cercon CAD scanning system. “The prices of their services allowed us to be cost competitive with both singles and bridges,” says Mecca. “I still use one of my other scanners for more complex cases, but only about once a month. My Cercon scanner is our everyday CAD scanner.” Since it began offering Cercon restorations, the laboratory has seen a 70% increase in the number of zirconia restorations it fabricates.

Dentsply also made the transition a seamless one for the laboratory. The Dentsply technical representative simply came in, set up all of the equipment and—since the staff was already experienced with scanning and designing—had the lab up and running after just one hour of training. “They made it very easy for us and allowed us to hit the ground running,” says Mecca, noting that his rep also comes to the lab to install software updates.

The company has provided valuable marketing support by sponsoring a CE-approved Cercon program for the laboratory’s clients on the applications of zirconia—providing the speaker and all marketing materials at no charge. “This was one of our most successful programs to date and, with 40 dentists in the room, it was one of our best-attended courses ever,” says Mecca, who only had to pay for the cost of the room rental.

Mecca also likes the fact that the menu of Compartis restorations keeps expanding. For instance, in February, Dentsply announced the availability of Compartis ISUS Bars and Bridges, CAD-designed and CAM-milled implant suprastructures that eliminate the need for waxing, casting, seating, finishing and stocking implant abutments in-house. The laboratory plans to hold a seminar on Compartis ISUS to generate client interest.

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