Precision Dental Arts: Adventures In Digital Dentistry

PDA Physical Marketing Materials

2012-03-20T22:13:21Z

Below I listed links to our print materials that we market with for some of our more popular materials.

All-Ceramic Alternatives - a detailed description of 3 of our most popular all-ceramic restorations.

InCoris TZI Full Contour Zirconia - a more thorough description of our full contour zirconia from Bruxzir.

IPS e.max CAD- By Ivoclar Vivadent. Our most popular all-ceramic material for crowns, veneers, and onlays.

Custom Zirconia Abutments- A list and description of the custom zirconia abutments that we are able to fabricate in our laboratory.

CEREC Connect Success- Our history, accomplishments, and qualifications with CEREC Connect.

CEREC Connect- More CEREC Connect marketing materials

CEREC Connect Information- More CEREC Connect marketing materials

Signing up with CEREC Connect

2012-02-08T18:37:34Z

CEREC Connect turns your in-office milling system into a digital dentistry powerhouse, allowing you to use your same CEREC scanner for restorations you are not able to do in-office. Metal based crowns and bridges, full gold restorations, zirconia based crowns and bridges, Bruxzir crowns and bridges, and esthetically demanding anterior cases can all be done utilizing the CEREC Connect digital impression process. CEREC Connect eliminates the potential errors of taditional impression taking techniques and provides a greater return on your investment.

In most cases the software is already loaded on to the CEREC Scanner, but if it isn't, downloading the software for CEREC Connect is safe, easy, and free.   Below I will walk you through both signing up, and downloading the software to your CEREC Scanner.

Signing Up:
1. visit www.cerecconnect.com
2. click on "Dentist Registration"
3. Choose a user id and press "next"
4. Fill out the appropriate information on the following pages and press "next"
        * Dentist information
        * Shipping and Billing information (you will not be billed for CEREC Connect)
5. Lab Search:
        * Type in "Precision Dental Arts, Inc." in the search box and click "search"
        * Select our laboratory and click "next"
6. On the next page select "submit"

Soon you will recieve an email (to the email you submitted) from CEREC with a temporary password. To change your password you can sign in at www.cerecconnect.com using the temporary password, then change your password under "Administration."

Now you can utilize the world's largest digital dentistry network!

If you do not have CEREC Connect on you CEREC Scanner, follow the directions below.

Downloading CEREC Connect:
Ensure your CEREC scanner is connected to the internet.
1. visit www.cerecconnect.com
2. Click on "downloads" on the top menu
3. Select the appropriate CEREC Connect software (view system requirements if unsure)
4. Download the software!

If you have any questions or need more guidance, don't hesitate to call or email Precision Dental Arts, Inc. at info@precisiondentalarts-online.com, or 503 639 5486

Can I Trust Zirconia Based Restorations?

2012-01-26T20:42:22Z

Can I Trust Zirconia Based Restorations?

Short answer... YES! Yes you can trust zirconia based restorations! But lets dig a little deeper into the discussion.

The restorative dental industry is as fast paced as it has ever been; a major shift in the industry is taking place right beneath our feet! Advancements in technology are guiding our industry into uncharted waters; digital impressions, cad/cam, and the topic of the day... new materials like zirconia.  If you want to stay in business and relevent in our industry, you have to adopt these processes and materials. Sometimes that means navigating these uncharted waters without a compass.

Sure we attend seminars and "hands-on" courses, but there is no greater learning experience than doing, and we did! We had a fair amount of success in the early days of zirconia, and we were lucky to be working with Dentists that were willing to push the envelope with us, but we also had failures.  As you probably know from experience, the zirconia never failed, it was the overlaying porcelain that would fracture and fail in high stress areas. This was a result from two things; the bond between the zirconia substructure and porcelain, and the design of the zirconia substructure.

What do they say about failures? Learn from them and turn them into successes.  So we learned, and we tweaked the process, and we are proud to tell you that we have a success rate that is near incalcuable at over 99.9%

So if you have been burned by zirconia based restorations and fracturing porcelain; fear no more!

How do we do it? What do we do different? It is simple really, we follow these 2 simple rules

Rule #1 - We use only trusted brand name zirconia, Vita InCeram YZ to be exact.
There is a lot of zirconia being sold out there, and you need to protect yourself and your patients. Differences among zirconia can be the level of zirconia purity, grain size, the processing of the zirconia into millable blocks or discs, and trace elements. These differences can result in clinical variances such as marginal fit, translucency of the zirconia, strength, and long-term viability. So in conclussion, know which brand of zirconia your lab is using.

Rule #2 - We support the high-stress areas of porcelain overlay with zirconia.
In order to prevent the fracture of porcelain we utilize reverse engineering to determine optimal zirconia substructure design. Utilizing our state of the art Sirona InLab design software and milling unit we design the final restoration first (Picture 1 & 2); and then reduce that 1.2mm all the way around for proper porcelain support, paying close attention to cusp tips and marginal ridges (picture 3). In the early days of zirconia (and even now sometimes), not much attention was paid to the support of the porcelain. When you outsourced your zirconia frameworks, you would recieve what we called a "thimble," a zirconia framework .5 mm all over (picture 4). When you have a "thimble" type framework, you can end up leaving over 2mm of porcelain "hanging" in high stress areas. A disaster just waiting to happen!

                 1                                  2                                    3                                4

Dr. Russel Giordano, a material science expert, has written and presented on the topic of zirconia based restorations. Here is a link to one of his recent articles concerning the background of the material and clinical success. Dr. Russel Giordano Article

Thanks for reading!

Translucent Full Contour Zirconia is here!

2011-10-21T16:35:31Z

inCoris TZI was launched in late September and since then we have been perfecting our technique with this new material to offer our clients another all-ceramic option. It is an extremely high strength option that is a great replacement for full-cast and PFMs with metal occlusions.
As with all our all-ceramic restorations, inCoris TZI is completed from start to finish right here in our laboratory utilizing our Sirona MCXL.

The link below will take you to our information sheet for this new material!
View our inCoris TZI info sheet here!

The PDA Report (newsletter)

2011-04-22T18:12:00Z

We just distributed our first newsletter!
Here is a digital copy of it. For a physical copy please contact us!

Link: The PDA Report: Volume 1, Issue 1

In This Issue:
Our First Issue - What you can expect from our new newsletter.
Buyer Beware - Staying away from off-brand restorative materials.
Beating Gold - Alternative restorations that can help you beat the increasing cost of gold.
What's New At PDA - Custom zirconia implant abutments milled in our laboratory.
The Deal - A special discount on e.max restorations

Digital Impressions: Dental Labs Are Eager, While Dentists Hang Tight

2011-04-22T17:47:00Z

A recent Lab Management Today article "More Labs Working With Digital Impressions, But Dentists Still Slow To Adopt The Technology" goes in depth into the state of the digital impression market.

Link to article : Digital Impressions

While labs are eager to join the digital impression revolution, their counterpart, the Dentists are taking a "wait and see" approach. Other topics covered in the article:
- Number of labs receiving digital impressions
- Financial impact of digital impressions
- How Doctors feel about digital impressions

There seems to be a lot of movement in the digital impression industry; Partnerships are forming amongst big players, new technology is being introduced, these companies are shifting their focus from milling in office, and per scan fees seem to be disappearing.

Our laboratory is currently accepting digital impressions daily from Cadent Itero and CEREC. Over 60% of our impressions come from some sort of digital platform. From the dental laboratory perspective, these impressions reduce a number of the production steps that can result in faster turn around times and reduced cost. When it comes to the success of these restorations we have had incalculable results with success rates of over 99.9%. Our Doctors that do use a digital impression platform have stated to us that seat times have been reduced, and that they are simply doing the best dentistry they have done.

Digital Impressions are the future, but when will they be adopted and become the present?
Thanks!

Comments? Questions?

High Strength All-Ceramic Options

2011-04-22T17:30:00Z

In a recent "Ask Dr. Christensen" Article in Dental Economics Magazine, Dr. Christensen is asked about alternatives to metal based restorations, specifically full contour zirconia. Dr. Christensen answers by covering all the potential for and against this and other high strength all-ceramic options. We feel he hits on so many important points about these all-ceramic materials that we felt it imperative to share with you.

Below is the link to the article on the Dental Economics website.

"Ask Dr. Christensen"

We have had great success with many of the materials he mentions such as empress and e.max from Ivoclar Vivadent, and we have always been proponents of using "major brand" materials in our production process. We too are new to full contour zirconia but the results have been promising so far. We look forward to exploring this material more.

Thanks!

Custom Zirconia Implants Process

2011-02-24T23:03:00Z

No longer are we sending implant cases to the implant manufacturers for custom zirconia implant abutments, and no more waiting for the shipment to arrive at our lab which results in longer turn-around times for our clients. Sirona has teamed up with the major implant manufacturers to offer in house custom implant abutments that we can design and mill in our laboratory.

Below is a link to a youtbe video briefly showing this process that takes place in our laboratory.

Custom Implant Abutments

Some highlights of the software and process.
* Ability to control the gingival margin depth of the abutment.
* Designing of the final crown and implant abutment simultaneously.
* The entire process is completed in our laboratory.
* Ability to do either a cement or screw retained implant.

Most implant systems are available with more pending FDA approval. For a complete list of impant systems available, please click the link below.
Impant Abutment List

"Fast Forward 2020" (article)

2011-02-24T22:49:00Z

Fast Forward 2020

The above link is an article about the future of restorative dentistry and the dental laboratory industry from Inside Dental Technology. This article addresses many concerns that owners of all lab sizes are facing as they prepare to adapt and change to our changing industry.

Some topics discussed are:
* pressure from off shore laboratories
* the shift to digital technologies
* new materials
* the changing landscape of our business

This is a great read for not only lab owners but for Dentists as well. We are entering a time in our industry where there is so much change and shift going on. As a laboratory we have experienced much of this change already and we are digging out a niche for ourselves in order to survive in our ever changing industry.

Custom Zirconia Implant Abutments from Precision Dental Arts, Inc.

2011-02-10T20:14:00Z

Custom Zirconia Implant Abutments are now available from Precision Dental Arts, Inc. Sirona, makers of the Sirona inLab milling system have teamed up with the most popular and reputable implant systems to give us the ability to offer custom implant abutments that are anatomically designed and milled in our laboratory!

Click the link below to see the most recent list of implant systems available through Precision Dental Arts, Inc.

Implant Abutment List

Focused on Improved Impressions (article)

2011-02-10T20:13:00Z

Looks like we are starting to see a trend towards collaboration between the dentist and dental technician through digital media. This is the second article in a week that we have posted to our blog about digital impressions enhancing the relationship between the Doctor and Laboratory.

Although we do not currently have any clients utilizing the LAVA COS digital impression system, their message is similar to the two digital impression systems our clients currently use.

The article was published in Dental Products Report and can be found online by clicking the link below!
Focus on Improved Impressions

Hope you enjoy the article and let us know what you think!

Inside Dental Technology interview with Dr. Todd R. Schoenbaum

2011-01-31T18:10:00Z

We came across this interview in the most recent Inside Dental Technology (January 2011) publication. Dr. Schoenbaum talks a lot about the implementaion of digital technology in the dental practice and the collaboration between the Doctor and the lab technician through digital media. It is a very brief interview and is well worth the read. He shares a lot of the same view points that we have as a dental laboratory on the cutting edge of restorative dentistry.

Click link below to read article.

An Interview with Dr. Todd R. Schoenbaum

Sharing Sirona inLab with the PCC Dental Technology students

2011-01-21T20:46:00Z

On Thursday of this week (January 20th), Precision Dental Arts was invited to share our knowledge and expertise on digital and CAD/CAM Dentistry with the 2nd year dental technology students at Portland Community College.

We demonstrated and presented on how technology is changing the way that dental laboratories produce restorations, communicate with the dentist, and recieve cases. The night started with the students viewing a brief demonstration from Vic Cao of Patterson Dental about digital impressions and how technology is effecting the dental practice. Then Doug Horton, CDT, showed them how the Sirona inLab system has made a positive impact on his laboratory and what the future holds for them as dental technology students.

We were able to utilize a computer lab on campus to give the 24 students a brief trial run on the Sirona inLab software. Each student was in front of a computer with the inLab software installed and I (Darin Horton) walked them through designing a full contour restoration and coping. The whole night was a success.

Below are some pictures from the night.

Custom Implants from Sirona

2011-01-19T17:06:00Z

It has been a long wait but it sounds like the implant abutment software for the Sirona inLab is finally through FDA and should be arriving in our lab shortly. This software allows us to have complete control of the fabrication of the implant components as opposed to outsourcing for the zirconium abutment. No more grinding on the zirconium abutment to make it anotomically correct for the final restoration. We have not heard a whole lot about the cost of the materials needed per implant restoration but we are positive it will be more cost effective for us than outsourcing for these custom implants, resulting in a better price for our clients.

Click on the link below to view a short video just released by Sirona about the new implant software about to be released via youtube.

In-house customized abutments from Sirona.

More information will be coming out soon once we get our hands on this.

Thanks for reading!

Darin

Featured Case: mini-implant utilizing CEREC AC Connect digital impression system and CEREC Connect

2011-01-19T17:04:00Z

For the 6 years we have been involved with digital dentistry we have always been pushing the envelope, testing to see what we can do with our Sirona inLab system and what some of our dentists can do with their digital impression system. So when Dr. Canfield called us and asked what we thought about taking a digital impression for a mini-implant case, we said, "Lets do it!"

The concern was that the mini-implant was so small, and so detailed that maybe the digital impression would not be able to give us an accurate replication of the mini-implant in the mouth. Just to be on the safe side he took a traditional poly-vinyl impression with a mini-implant in it. The detail was so fine on the digital impression that we ended up pouring the traditional model just for evaluation purposes, but did not use it for any production.

The restorations on the mini-implant on tooth number 12 and the prepped tooth number 14 are IPS e.max restorations.

                Before


              The Digital Impressions how they arrive to the laboratory


                  The models fabricated from the digital impression

           IPS e.max crowns

                         After

We have done bridges, maryland bridges, veneers, onlays, inlays, and crowns using metal, zirconium and lithium discilicate glass, but this mini-implant truly shows the accuracy of the CEREC AC Blucam and our Sirona inLab system, working together through CEREC Connect.

Thanks for stopping by!
Darin

Precision Dental Arts and digital impressions at the Oregon Dental Conference!

2011-01-13T18:21:00Z

Dr. Dale Canfield, DMD and Doug Horton, CDT of Precision Dental Arts, Inc. will be discussing how the dental team and dental technician, working together through a digital platform, can achieve superior results.

Topics Include:
-    The digital system components
-    Comparing digital impressions to traditional impressions
-    Open and closed systems
-    The digital process in the dental practice
-    Accuracy, efficiency, and ease of use for the dentist
-    Improving communication and collaboration
-    Creating successful digital impressions
-    Improving the patient experience
-    The digital process in the dental lab
-    The evolving dental laboratory
-    Increasing accuracy, efficiency, and productivity in the dental lab
-    Restorative options with digital impressions
-    Customized ceramic implant abutments

You can experience how digital impressions are quickly becoming the driving force in the evolution of restorative dentistry.

This course can be found on page 25 of your Oregon Dental Conference Preview Program.

This course is scheduled for Friday, April 8th, from 2-5pm
Course code 134
3 CE Credits

Click here for the Oregon Dental Conference Brochure!

November 18th Digital Impression Event

2010-11-09T17:01:00Z

Spaces is limited due to the hands on nature of the event.

Please view the official event flyer by clicking the link below
View official event flyer here

For more information about the CEREC AC Connect, follow the link below
CEREC AC Connect

Click here for map to Patterson Dental

Digital Impression News from Sirona

2010-10-13T17:17:00Z

If you have ever been interested in Digital Impressions, now is the time to take a closer look. Sirona just launched their new CEREC AC Connect digital impression machine and it is a great deal. This Digital Impression system is the latest advancement in chairside digital impressioning with NO MORE SCAN FEES.

NO MORE SCAN FEES!

For those unfamiliar with digital impressioning here is the run down. Every digital impression system available has a $20-$25 scan fee you pay for every digital impression you take and send, or you have the option of spending a good amount of money to have unlimited scanning. That is what makes this deal so incredible, the new CEREC AC Connect has neither and is at a very comparable price point with other digital impression systems.

Here is their deal... $25,999 for the machine and NO SCAN FEES FOREVER.

More information will be coming out soon, so check back with us soon.

You can check Sirona's information here undefined

New CEREC Connect software

2010-09-22T15:57:00Z

The new CEREC Connect software came out this week. CEREC Connect version 3.83 is available here!

The highlight of this new software is the introduction of the quadrant imaging function which makes creating full arch digital impressions much easier than before. Also, the new manual for CEREC Connect that is available is extremely user friendly and explains the entire CEREC Connect process in full detail.

Thanks,

Darin

Digital Impression Informative Event, September 15th

2010-08-06T00:07:00Z

Join us for an informational interactive seminar about digital impressions. With the recent abundance of information pertaining to digital impressions, we want to share our experiences and knowledge with you. This is not a sales presentation, rather an avenue for you to learn more about our rapidly changing industry.

You will have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Dale Canfield and Dr. Nathan Tanner who are currently using two different digital impression systems in their practice. You will also have the opportunity to hear from Doug Horton, CDT, a laboratory owner that has been utilizing CAD/CAM technologies and digital dentistry processes for over 5 years.

The three will share their stories of how digital impressions have changed their practice and laboratory as well as what they feel the future holds for them and digital impressions.

We hope to see you there.

View the official invite here!

The Bull Mt. Professional Center is located on Pacific Hwy. (99W) just 1/8 mile south of the Durham Rd. intersection. When traveling south on Pacific Hwy you will see a blue sign and 2 brown buildings to the right, turn into the parking lot and park at the first building.

11815 SW King James Place, Suite 50
Tigard, OR 97224

For Map and Directions click here