Dr. Robert Schmidt was recently interviewed regarding his initial feedback on CEREC Connect and how it has affected his practice thus far. Here’s what he had to say:
How does CEREC Connect benefit your practice by sending digital impressions?
“I don’t have a stain and glaze furnace, so when the case requires greater esthetics, I can now send them to my laboratory and still utilize the same technology to receive highly esthetic restorations.”
How do you decide which cases to send to your laboratory and which cases to mill yourself?
“I prefer to mill my posterior restorations in-house with my CEREC. When it comes to anterior restorations, I opt to send these to my laboratory. It’s the perfect way to divide up my digital dentistry!”
How are the fits of the restorations you receive from digital impressions versus those received from physical impressions?
“With digital impressions, the fits are better! You just can’t beat a computer-milled finish, whether it’s with CEREC or inLab. For example, prior to CEREC Connect I would never have put a posterior butt joint on my preps, but now I can do it because the fits are outstanding. The predictability with digital impressions is much better and more consistent than with physical impressions.”
What is your favorite aspect of CEREC Connect?
“I love the speed at which the lab receives the file. Within seconds, the lab receives the restoration, reviews it, and then can begin designing and milling. The time savings are incredible!”
On the other end, Steve Killian, CDT was also interviewed regarding his feedback and how CEREC Connect affects his laboratory. His comments were:
How is the working relationship with your doctor when using CEREC Connect versus the conventional method?
“We are excited about what we have partaken in together. The mood is up, and communication and cooperation are at high levels! I really love that we see eye to eye throughout the entire process.”
Comment on the number of remakes with digital impressions versus physical impressions.
“We haven’t had a digital impression remake yet, which is the main reason we got into digital impressions initially, to reduce remakes. Now we also realize we’re saving time and materials by using virtual models.”
What is your favorite aspect of CEREC Connect?
“As a laboratory, we are responsible for the fit of restorations but we have virtually no control of the master impression. Digital impressions are monitored in great magnification on the computer screen allowing doctors the ability to improve on their quality control like never before. Instantly they can be correcting voids/mistakes on the computer screen.”
Do you feel that CEREC Connect will increase or change your business?
“We are optimistic about the future. Although we’re in a conservative industry, we feel we should see a complete change over to digital impressions within 10 years. There is too much to lose by not changing over, but there is so much to gain and the bottom line is we all benefit - doctor, patient and laboratory.”
