You’ve heard the phrase ‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’ It’s so true. The more detailed information you’re able to provide us, the better the outcome of your cases. Pre-operative pictures and models are the best and only method of communicating the needs of your patient. While a phone call or a simple email can often enhance specific case directions, emailing a digital picture of the case to your lab technician can increase your chances of getting the perfect fit each time. Please try to make this a standard part of your case planning. Got questions? Contact our customer service team at 215-393-8330 or by email at info@americandentaldesigns.com. Our lab works as a team to give you the very best products and service you’ve come to expect from your dental lab partner.
Case Planning
American Dental Designs – Dental Lab treats each case with individual attention. Whether you’re looking for crowns… bridges… implants… or dentures, we’re here to assist you with every day cases… to the most difficult or challenging ones. Call us at (215) 393-8330 or email us today at info@americandentaldesigns.com to send your case to us! Our priority is to help reduce your chair time and improve the outcome for your patients. We understand your job is to help give your patients their best smile. We provide the products to help make that happen. Your relationship with your dental lab should be a business partnership… because your patients are our concern too. We look forward to serving you and your patients.
Tip #1: Use pictures.
Tip #2: Get a good impression.
A good impression is the foundation of a successful restoration and selecting the right tray for your case (triple tray, stock trays or customized impression tray) is extremely important. Wondering which tray and/or material is best for your case? The best impressions are done by using a heavy body with wash technique or by creating a custom tray. For more information, contact one of our expert lab technicians at (215) 393-8330 or info@americandentaldesigns.com. They’re happy to answer any questions you may have.
Tip #3: The importance of bite registrations.
A good bite registration is critical for a successful restoration. Although every situation is unique, here are some general tips:
- Oftentimes, the patient is numb and generally has no understanding of their centric bite. The dentist or staff member should assist them through the process of getting the perfect bite.
- The less bite material used between the opposing dentition, the better the bite registration.
- The more memory (rubbery) the registration materials are, the tougher it is for our lab to accurately set and mount the opposing casts.
- Opposing casts also need accurate impressions to help cut down on occlusal interference from bubbles or missed areas in the impressions.
Tip #4: Get the perfect shade.
Achieving the perfect shading technique can be challenging for any case. However, if you include a picture with your case, it can increase your success rate. By including a small piece of white paper and a shade tab with your case, we can color correct the image and also observe the subtle shading differences unique to that specific tooth.
Tip #5: Fill out your prescription completely.
Filling out an accurate and complete RX is paramount to a successful case. By doing so, it helps our lab technicians understand and record the specific details needed to provide you with the perfect outcome for your case. Be sure to indicate the patient’s correct tooth number and shade, as well as specific designs, and other important details for your case. Lastly, don’t forget to sign your RX!
Tip #6: Common problems with temporary restorations.
Temporary restorations that don’t fit can cause frustration for both the dentist, patient, and the lab. In order to prevent this from happening, we’ve outlined below some common problems that are typically the cause of most final adjustments with temporary restorations:
- If the temporary is loose in contact with the adjacent teeth, tooth movement can cause tight contacts for the final restoration. This may require multiple adjustments in order to successfully set the crown.
- If the temporary is tight in contact with the adjacent teeth, tooth movement can cause open contacts for the final restoration. This would require adding porcelain and an additional appointment for the patient.
- If the temporary is loose in occlusion with the opposing teeth, the tooth could erupt and the final restoration may need multiple adjustments.
- If the temporary is for a bridge, the temporary must include the pontic to splint the preparations in place during the bridge fabrication. Without splinting, the bridge may rock or not fit at all.
- There are times when large, difficult cases need to be reviewed for accuracy and should be tried in prior to case completion. This will require extra steps and an additional appointment for the patient. However, extra steps and additional time are far less severe than having the case fail altogether.
Tip #7: Ask us.
A dental prosthesis or restoration is a form of art. Despite detailed case planning and case communication tools used by both the dentist and the lab, the final outcome can still be subjective. That’s why our staff is always standing by to quickly and accurately make any necessary adjustments for a successful case outcome. We invite you to work directly with our staff to create and adjust your case preferences. We believe by working together, we can continually improve the quality of your prosthesis and restoration. As your lab partner, American Dental Designs provides you with excellent service and high-quality products — all of which translates to happier patients for you and your growing practice.