Cerec World--User Tips for Efficiency & Profitability Douglas W. Voiers, DDS, FWCM & Mark R. Morin, DDS, FWCM

O.K. So you’re intrigued by this new wiz-bang CAD/CAM restorative gizmo thing. But you’re a little fuzzy about how to go about putting it to work in your practice. You’re sure not going to buy this machine and let it sit in the drawer like the electronic anesthesia gadget you thought was going to eliminate dental phobia forever. As a CEREC colleague put it recently, “In business, you don’t make an investment in capital equipment unless you know exactly what to do with it.” How do you utilize this new restorative medium to its maximum potential? Here’s an outline to help get you started:

STEP #1: Practice, Practice, Practice
The new CEREC owner should first become adept at preparation techniques, powdering the impression, taking the optical impression and designing the restoration. A pre-prepared model is provided with purchase of a CEREC, but it helps tremendously to practice preparing teeth on typodont teeth or on stone models. Once you feel comfortable, the next step is to work on your staff during non-patient care time. This will build further confidence and further, turns your staff into walking testimonials.

STEP #2: Define your restorative criteria
Before diagnosing and presenting CEREC dentistry to your patients you and your staff must have a clear notion of which situations call for a CEREC restoration and which do not. A clearly written set of guidelines for your restorative criteria is very helpful in removing any ambiguity in the office. It also helps maintain uniformity of care and consistent quality from patient to patient and day to day.

STEP # 3: Present treatment cases with confidence
One of the areas of greatest concern with new CEREC owners is a fear of rejection of cases presented. Dentists that work together with their staff to develop dialogue that concisely and conveys the many benefits of CEREC dentistry find case acceptance rates to be extremely high, with little resistance.

STEP # 4: Quadrant dentistry
Understanding how to develop quadrant CEREC dentistry is one of the keys to financial success. Many patients today have entire quadrants of failing amalgams that are in need of a long-lasting, durable, conservative, aesthetic treatment that does not take multiple appointments. Learn how to build value into this incredible service and how it can be done quickly and effectively.

STEP #5; Market your CEREC services
This technology is so new in the U.S. that few people out there have ever heard of it or what it can do for them. Utilization of specific targeted external marketing strategies can support internal marketing techniques for a synergistic effect. Visual aids strategically positioned and used properly by doctor and staff can drama-tically enhance case acceptance rates. Effective implementation of CEREC dentistry can yield tremendous returns in a surprisingly short period of time. Unharness the unlimited power of this revolutionary new technology with proven integration techniques.

What are your concerns?
If you have a CEREC question, please send it by fax to 480-598-3450 or send by email to: dwvdds@earthlink.net or carol@dentaltown.com

Douglas Voiers is a reconstructive and aesthetic dentist who has won top honors in the annual Dental Economics' Practice of the Year Awards. He maintains a full time practice in Avon Lake, OH and is currently a clinical instructor for restorative dentistry at the Great Lakes Educational Center in Southfield MI. Douglas recently earned a fellowship in the World Congress of Microdentistry. His other affiliations include the Pankey Institute, the Academy of Computerized Dentistry, the ICOI and the AACD. Douglas can be reached at 440-933-3270 or by email at: dwvdds@earthlink.net.

Mark Morin, DDS, FWCM, graduated from the University of Detroit in 1985 and immediately started his new practice in Southfield, MI. He became one of the first dentists in North America to begin using CEREC I technology. He currently places 10-15 CEREC restorations daily and continues to study CEREC technology extensively in Germany and Switzerland with inventor, Dr. Werner Mormann. Dr. Morin maintains a 6000 sq ft office and ExperDent training. He is one of 10 internationally certified CEREC trainers in North America and has had the distinction of training some of dentistry's most well-know clinicians such as Dr. Rela Christensen and Dr. Howard Farran. Mark can be reached by email at: drmorin@earthlink.net or by calling 248-828-9989. Visit his website at www.drmorin.com.