Comments on: Dentists: Do You Trust Your Dental Lab? http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/ Jim Du Molin offers dental marketing news and dental practice management advice for dentists. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: soft-fit http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-11821 soft-fit Sat, 28 May 2011 21:45:00 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-11821 YOUR PRESENTATION IS  A TRIPLE EDGED SWORD!! WHO'S TO BLAME, THE DENTIST, THE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST, OR THE MATERIALS THAT ARE USED IN MANUFACTURING THE PROSTHESIS!!!! THERE IS SURELY ENOUGH TO GO AROUND FOR ALL!!!!!! I FEEL SORRY FOR THE POOR PATIENT. THEY DON'T KNOWN A DAMN THING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM!!! THEY MUST TRUST THE DENTIST!!! THEY KNOWN NOTHING ABOUT DENTAL LABORATORIES & MUCH LESS ABOUT THE MATERIALS THAT ARE GOING INTO THEIR MOUTH. THE DENTIST HAS TO BE THE FOCAL POINT. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH THE (EXPERTISE) OF THE DENTIST YOUR PRESENTATION IS  A TRIPLE EDGED SWORD!! WHO’S TO BLAME, THE DENTIST, THE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST, OR THE MATERIALS THAT ARE USED IN MANUFACTURING THE PROSTHESIS!!!! THERE IS SURELY ENOUGH TO GO AROUND FOR ALL!!!!!! I FEEL SORRY FOR THE POOR PATIENT. THEY DON’T KNOWN A DAMN THING ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THEM!!! THEY MUST TRUST THE DENTIST!!! THEY KNOWN NOTHING ABOUT DENTAL LABORATORIES & MUCH LESS ABOUT THE MATERIALS THAT ARE GOING INTO THEIR MOUTH. THE DENTIST HAS TO BE THE FOCAL POINT. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH THE (EXPERTISE) OF THE DENTIST

]]> By: Imabigskycarver http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-8810 Imabigskycarver Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:46:00 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-8810 What states allow patients to see dental labs for dentures? What states allow patients to see dental labs for dentures?

]]> By: Patti Depaola http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-8809 Patti Depaola Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:31:00 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-8809 I'm sick & tired of inferior & toxic product imported from China. China poisons our animals, feeds our food sources (like fish...why can't we raise tilapia?) antibiotics, creates childrens toys from lead & makes our clothes with formaldehyde. I'm sick of buying cheap products from china. The TSA uniforms are unwearable & itchy because of the formaldehyde preventing wrinkles. China's intentionally making us sick. Wake up America!!! I’m sick & tired of inferior & toxic product imported from China. China poisons our animals, feeds our food sources (like fish…why can’t we raise tilapia?) antibiotics, creates childrens toys from lead & makes our clothes with formaldehyde. I’m sick of buying cheap products from china. The TSA uniforms are unwearable & itchy because of the formaldehyde preventing wrinkles. China’s intentionally making us sick. Wake up America!!!

]]> By: Mike http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-4520 Mike Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:50:38 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-4520 Shrugging off China is a mistake. I have owned a cosmetic dental lab in Southern California since 1995. There are many labs who either have already made the decision or are thinking seriously about developing a relationship with an international lab. As more and more dentists purchase technology and resources that reduce the need for dental lab services, the more and more labs will become desperate to replace their income. Competition is increasing and with that comes a reduction in dental lab prices. A reputable dental tech will tell you that the intrinsic value of a high noble crown is around $40-$60 dollars. That is just the hard cost of the alloy. Do the math for yourself- $1,100 for 1 oz of gold. Hi-Noble runs about $900 an oz. There are 20 pennyweight in an ounce. That is $45 per pennyweight. Hi-Noble is a heavier metal and the average crown will approach or exceed 1 pennyweight in weight 85% of the time. If you are working with noble alloy, the cost will come in around $20 per pennyweight. However, I am aware of some strange new noble alloys being peddled by the major metal suppliers. These new alloys contain Cobalt. The cost can get down around $10-$15 per pennyweight. Back to China- the offshoring trend will surely continue. There are quality labs in China to be sure. In fact, the work I have seen is better than most US labs whose work I have seen. In the past 15 years I have interviewed and attempted to hire nearly 40 "experienced" dental technicians. I have hired three. The rest just can't produce a quality, natural looking dental restoration. However, our test of China labs resulted in 9 unsatisfactory restorations, 3 satisfactory restorations and 4 very sellable crowns. In addition, I was recently at Lab Day Chicago and saw work from two different China labs (case work...not samples...so they say) and the work was not bad at all. Two of the labs claim they buy all their materials from the U.S. To my fellow dental lab brothers- you can put your head in the sand and cry and moan about the state of the industry or you can get in front of all of theses changes. My average dental restoration price is more than $140. From July of 2009 to January of 2010 our lab experienced double digit month-over-month growth (7 months). Sales slipped in February from January and we are flat in March...so far. And all this while working in arguably the most competitive dental lab market in the country. I share this with you not to boast but to encourage you. You can grow without the need to sacrifice quality of work or materials. Shrugging off China is a mistake. I have owned a cosmetic dental lab in Southern California since 1995. There are many labs who either have already made the decision or are thinking seriously about developing a relationship with an international lab. As more and more dentists purchase technology and resources that reduce the need for dental lab services, the more and more labs will become desperate to replace their income. Competition is increasing and with that comes a reduction in dental lab prices. A reputable dental tech will tell you that the intrinsic value of a high noble crown is around $40-$60 dollars. That is just the hard cost of the alloy. Do the math for yourself- $1,100 for 1 oz of gold. Hi-Noble runs about $900 an oz. There are 20 pennyweight in an ounce. That is $45 per pennyweight. Hi-Noble is a heavier metal and the average crown will approach or exceed 1 pennyweight in weight 85% of the time. If you are working with noble alloy, the cost will come in around $20 per pennyweight. However, I am aware of some strange new noble alloys being peddled by the major metal suppliers. These new alloys contain Cobalt. The cost can get down around $10-$15 per pennyweight.

Back to China- the offshoring trend will surely continue. There are quality labs in China to be sure. In fact, the work I have seen is better than most US labs whose work I have seen. In the past 15 years I have interviewed and attempted to hire nearly 40 “experienced” dental technicians. I have hired three. The rest just can’t produce a quality, natural looking dental restoration. However, our test of China labs resulted in 9 unsatisfactory restorations, 3 satisfactory restorations and 4 very sellable crowns. In addition, I was recently at Lab Day Chicago and saw work from two different China labs (case work…not samples…so they say) and the work was not bad at all. Two of the labs claim they buy all their materials from the U.S.

To my fellow dental lab brothers- you can put your head in the sand and cry and moan about the state of the industry or you can get in front of all of theses changes. My average dental restoration price is more than $140. From July of 2009 to January of 2010 our lab experienced double digit month-over-month growth (7 months). Sales slipped in February from January and we are flat in March…so far. And all this while working in arguably the most competitive dental lab market in the country. I share this with you not to boast but to encourage you. You can grow without the need to sacrifice quality of work or materials.

]]> By: Ray http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-4482 Ray Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:58:10 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-4482 I am a Lab owner in Cali. for the past 15 years , the sad truth is the person suffering the most is the patient. The prices that the doctor pays his or her lab is just a drop in the bucket less then 10% SO you do the math. I have seen myself the work from China, it is not something I would let even my enemy have! Another problem is not only outsourcing. All the lab's in Cali do not need to have any type of certification,so any one who thinks he is a technitian may open a lab with just a simple buss. licence. Now this is not the Lab owners fault but the State! Why you ask? You see the ADA is so powerful and lobby's to keep it that way ,so the more labs there are the better prices the Dentist get so who looses you! I am a Lab owner in Cali. for the past 15 years , the sad truth is the person suffering the most is the patient. The prices that the doctor pays his or her lab is just a drop in the bucket less then 10% SO you do the math.
I have seen myself the work from China, it is not something I would let even my enemy have! Another problem is not only outsourcing. All the lab’s in Cali do not need to have any type of certification,so any one who thinks he is a technitian may open a lab with just a simple buss. licence.
Now this is not the Lab owners fault but the State! Why you ask? You see the ADA is so powerful and lobby’s to keep it that way ,so the more labs there are the better prices the Dentist get so who looses you!

]]> By: Patti Depaola http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-3746 Patti Depaola Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:20:18 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-3746 To C. Mancini I just wanted to add while my dentist was trying to fix my failures he stated, "The lab said this wouldn't work." But "That's good enough for her." I was told by my dentist he was the best. But what I got was, "That's good enough for her." Looking thoothless left on life support to die of septic shock. My dentist also wrote letters & informed my medical doctor not to treat me as I was a hypochondriac. Since when does a dentist interfer with a doctor patient relationship? Also a patient of this dentist. My medical doctor's dead but I'm luck to be alive. To C. Mancini I just wanted to add while my dentist was trying to fix my failures he stated, “The lab said this wouldn’t work.” But “That’s good enough for her.” I was told by my dentist he was the best. But what I got was, “That’s good enough for her.” Looking thoothless left on life support to die of septic shock. My dentist also wrote letters & informed my medical doctor not to treat me as I was a hypochondriac. Since when does a dentist interfer with a doctor patient relationship? Also a patient of this dentist. My medical doctor’s dead but I’m luck to be alive.

]]> By: Patti Depaola http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-3745 Patti Depaola Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:23:38 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-3745 To C. Mancini No one can believe what I lived through. To think dentist's are saying they don't do "ESTHETIC" teeth is idiotic. It's the lab that creates esthetic teeth...beautiful teeth, beautiful smile. I don't think anyone realizes it's the lab not the dentist who creats a brand new beautiful smile. Without the dental lab where would I be? The lab is the sculpture of teeth. Everyone wants perfect teeth & everyone's whitening their teeth. Yet I found dentist's telling me to "stain" some of my teeth to make them look more natural. My teeth are so natural that my dentist's assistant had to inform my dentist otherwise. Your're absolutely right in looking for quality dentists. Here in Illinois quality dentists are also hard to find. Many are trying to earn a quick dollar sedating patients while they are unlicensed to have control substances. Hang in there because patients like me are looking for great sculptures of teeth. Hopefully someday every state will allow patients to see a dental lab in their state instead of paying high cost chair time with a dentist who doesn't do "esthetic teeth." To C. Mancini No one can believe what I lived through. To think dentist’s are saying they don’t do “ESTHETIC” teeth is idiotic. It’s the lab that creates esthetic teeth…beautiful teeth, beautiful smile. I don’t think anyone realizes it’s the lab not the dentist who creats a brand new beautiful smile.
Without the dental lab where would I be? The lab is the sculpture of teeth. Everyone wants perfect teeth & everyone’s whitening their teeth. Yet I found dentist’s telling me to “stain” some of my teeth to make them look more natural. My teeth are so natural that my dentist’s assistant had to inform my dentist otherwise.
Your’re absolutely right in looking for quality dentists. Here in Illinois quality dentists are also hard to find. Many are trying to earn a quick dollar sedating patients while they are unlicensed to have control substances.
Hang in there because patients like me are looking for great sculptures of teeth. Hopefully someday every state will allow patients to see a dental lab in their state instead of paying high cost chair time with a dentist who doesn’t do “esthetic teeth.”

]]> By: C. Mancini http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-3481 C. Mancini Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:51:11 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-3481 My husband and I owned and operated a crown and bridge dental lab here in Florida for many years, we are now running a full service lab. We do not outsource, all work done in-house. The biggest problem we have is not with the metal issue (we don't offer "semi-precious or precious", but Noble and high-nobel for PFG's), but the quality of the impressions we receive. Economy impression material, insufficient material used, quadrant trays (a lot of them more like pedo-trays), drags and voids in the impression, patient biting the trays, triple tray impressions, no study models, no pre-op models, several impressions for the same case. Always an excuse..."patient is a gagger", "you choose the best impression, these are the best I could get", poorly packed or non-existent cord, improper preps for the restoration requested, the list goes on. Try returning poor impressions...this does not go over well...dentists can go "down the street" to a substandard lab that will accept their work, and the quality lab suffers. We are looking for quality dentists..any takers? My husband and I owned and operated a crown and bridge dental lab here in Florida for many years, we are now running a full service lab. We do not outsource, all work done in-house. The biggest problem we have is not with the metal issue (we don’t offer “semi-precious or precious”, but Noble and high-nobel for PFG’s), but the quality of the impressions we receive. Economy impression material, insufficient material used, quadrant trays (a lot of them more like pedo-trays), drags and voids in the impression, patient biting the trays, triple tray impressions, no study models, no pre-op models, several impressions for the same case. Always an excuse…”patient is a gagger”, “you choose the best impression, these are the best I could get”, poorly packed or non-existent cord, improper preps for the restoration requested, the list goes on. Try returning poor impressions…this does not go over well…dentists can go “down the street” to a substandard lab that will accept their work, and the quality lab suffers. We are looking for quality dentists..any takers?

]]> By: Patti Depaola http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-3138 Patti Depaola Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:11:31 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-3138 Back in the day my porcelain crowns & bridgework were underlayed in gold. Later some more work was done I had silver underlaying because of cost. When I needed a "full" reconstruction I told my new dentist I wanted gold because I did not like the dark shadows that appeared around the gum. When my dentist was done part of my lower arch was still gold & the other dark. My dentist said he didn't have to reconstruct the other side. My dentist also replied that he used high noble which was "gold." When trying to ask more questions my dentist said, "Shut up!" I also ended up with TMD from that improperly positioned reconstruction. My dentist shrugged off an untreated abcessed molar for 2 years as bruxing. I'm not a bruxer. To save himself the cost of a cheap crown replacement he drilled completely thru the molar & filled it with metal amalgam. I ended up on life support with septic shock. My dentist also intentionaly filed down my teeth. He left me with a completely closed bite. I was left to look as tho I wore dentures but I did not have them in. My dentist laughed & called me "POOCH!", "YOU LOOK LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE A CORN COB PIPE GRAMMAW!" as he slapped the sides of my cheeks & jowls. Despicable! Why would a dentist want his patient to look grotesque? All my crowns were falling & my bridges were breaking off. All the so called high noble was black & my teeth were badly decayed. I had three abcesses. One molar was extracted with an abcess attached to its root. The oral surgeon stated he had never seen a reconstruction like this. He stated that either my teeth were improperly prepped or still decayed while the crowns & bridges were placed. I now have a dentist who works closely with the lab in the same building...NO THREE DAY TURNAROUND TIME. The lab is right there for you. I now have not only beautiful teeth but I have a beautiful smile. Today I am no longer suffering excruciating pain & ongoing fevers. That old dentist said he didnt do "ESTHETIC TEETH." But he took my $30 thousand dollars anyway & today I'm very lucky to be alive. A great dental lab is like a magnificent sculptor of teeth. Why pay high cost chair time when many dentists say "I DONT DO ESTHETIC TEETH Due to China's past reputation I wouldn't want my lab work or anything done in China. But I do think it would no great loss to ship my old dentist off to China! Back in the day my porcelain crowns & bridgework were underlayed in gold. Later some more work was done I had silver underlaying because of cost. When I needed a “full” reconstruction I told my new dentist I wanted gold because I did not like the dark shadows that appeared around the gum. When my dentist was done part of my lower arch was still gold & the other dark. My dentist said he didn’t have to reconstruct the other side. My dentist also replied that he used high noble which was “gold.” When trying to ask more questions my dentist said, “Shut up!” I also ended up with TMD from that improperly positioned reconstruction. My dentist shrugged off an untreated abcessed molar for 2 years as bruxing. I’m not a bruxer. To save himself the cost of a cheap crown replacement he drilled completely thru the molar & filled it with metal amalgam. I ended up on life support with septic shock. My dentist also intentionaly filed down my teeth. He left me with a completely closed bite. I was left to look as tho I wore dentures but I did not have them in. My dentist laughed & called me “POOCH!”, “YOU LOOK LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE A CORN COB PIPE GRAMMAW!” as he slapped the sides of my cheeks & jowls. Despicable! Why would a dentist want his patient to look grotesque? All my crowns were falling & my bridges were breaking off. All the so called high noble was black & my teeth were badly decayed. I had three abcesses. One molar was extracted with an abcess attached to its root. The oral surgeon stated he had never seen a reconstruction like this. He stated that either my teeth were improperly prepped or still decayed while the crowns & bridges were placed. I now have a dentist who works closely with the lab in the same building…NO THREE DAY TURNAROUND TIME. The lab is right there for you. I now have not only beautiful teeth but I have a beautiful smile. Today I am no longer suffering excruciating pain & ongoing fevers. That old dentist said he didnt do “ESTHETIC TEETH.” But he took my $30 thousand dollars anyway & today I’m very lucky to be alive. A great dental lab is like a magnificent sculptor of teeth. Why pay high cost chair time when many dentists say “I DONT DO ESTHETIC TEETH
Due to China’s past reputation I wouldn’t want my lab work or anything done in China.
But I do think it would no great loss to ship my old dentist off to China!

]]> By: Gary http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/283/dentists-do-you-trust-your-dental-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-2705 Gary Sat, 30 May 2009 19:29:57 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=283#comment-2705 I trust my lab... I know them very well. All done in the USA! I trust my lab… I know them very well. All done in the USA!

]]>