But among dentists offering Cerec restorations, 61% think it's a useful dental marketing tool. And only 15% of Cerec dentists report they are disappointed with it.

Don't know what CEREC is? The name stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Cerec dentists use computer-assisted technology to fabricate a customized porcelain restoration, often a dental crown. You can get a Cerec restoration in a single appointment, while traditional porcelain crowns are fabricated by dental labs and require two appointments.
Learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEREC

Here's what dentists have to say about CEREC:

• “The idea is great, but the restorations are not close to the quality of lab-fabricated restorations.” (Tennessee dentist)
• "It has been the best investment I have made in my practice." (General dentist)
• “It only means something to the average patient if you call it ‘same day crown.’” (Minnesota dentist)
• “Cerec is the greatest invention in the history of dentistry. Those who don't like it are either not willing to take the time to learn it or haven't bought it and need an excuse as to why.” (Illinois dentist)
• “I am glad I got the Cerec, but there were times along the way I would have gladly given it back if I could have got a full refund. It definitely is where the future is going, so we need to master this technology.” (California dentist)
• "I've replaced many fractured Cerec restorations that come into my practice." (General dentist)
• “The best economic investment we ever made in our practice. It has allowed our practice to experience an 8% growth in 2009 while the majority of the practices in our state experienced a 30 to 40% decline.” (Michigan dentist)
• “Puts you in the special list of dentists that are on top of the newest, the best and ahead of the crowd.” (Pennsylvania prosthodontist)
• “Powder all the teeth and then the patient swallows and all the powder is gone and then you re-powder and they swallow and all the powder is gone…repeat ad infinitum until you get tired of it and throw your ($100,000) machine away.” (California dentist)
• "The smartest thing I have EVER done in my career is to purchase (and master) a CEREC machine. The restorations are more precise, beautiful, and predictable than any lab… I get tons of referrals because I have one; it just continually blows my mind that more dentists have not clued into this. NO WAY would I practice without it." (General dentist)
• "We've had Cerec for 1 1/2 years are are now pretty satisfied. But the learning curve was LONG and I'm still learning.” (New Mexico dentist)
• "Initially I was disappointed with CEREC due to a steep learning curve, technical shortcomings and disruption to our normal scheduling routine. But now I must admit that with experience and the latest camera and software upgrades I love it, and I'm getting restorations that are often better than my lab. Patients really appreciate single visit dentistry and they are fascinated by the technology. It has reduced my lab bills significantly which more than offsets the cost of the machine." (General dentist)
• "I do not think Cerec has the name recognition of Invisalign or Lumineers or Zoom tooth whitening, and therefore I think the name means nothing to the public at large." (General dentist)
• "Few people know (or can remember) what a ‘CEREC’ is. Quite frankly, because it is a stupid acronym! Almost all people understand what a single visit crown is! If a company wishes to capture the market for this, then provide a moniker to do so.” (Nevada dentist)

Read more: Cerec Dentists Split over its Dental Marketing Value

However, most dentists agree that patients today tend to want tooth-colored restorations.

Read more: Gold: Too Expensive for Dental Work?

However, most dentists agree that patients today tend to want tooth-colored restorations.

The dentists reporting fewer patients requesting gold crowns all practice in urban areas.

"Never have had much of a demand for gold," said a Kentucky dentist. "We still do gold crowns on 2nd molars about 30% of the time. but it's usually me making the suggestion and not the patient asking for it."

"I have averaged about one gold restoration per year over the past twelve years, and that hasn’t changed," wrote a California dentist.

Said an Ohio dentist, "It hasn’t affected them because my gold and PFM fee is the same (and I use 75% Au alloy)."

Read more: Not Much Demand for Gold Dental Crowns Today

With recent news that some dental prostheses may be contaminated with lead, a lot of dentists are wondering if they’re legally liable for the quality of their dental lab work.

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to that question. However, one thing is clear: if you, the dentist, haven’t done your due diligence in selecting a reputable dental lab, you could be held responsible for the quality of their products.

“The liability situation is the same as it has always been, each party, the dentist and the dental laboratory must do their due diligence to comply with existing laws and regulations,” said Bennett Napier of the National Association of Dental Labs (NADL). “The liability exposure is different in each case specific scenario depending on a number of factors.”

But what exactly does “due diligence” mean? Well, it definitely means that you’re not choosing a dental lab on the internet because they have the cheapest crowns available. It does mean that you’ve researched your lab. Ideally, you’ve talked to the owner, visited the premises, and heard good reviews from other customers. If not… well, just be prepared for the possible consequences.

We at The Wealthy Dentist have been investigating what dentists may be able to do to protect themselves.

1. Make your dental lab tell you where the work is coming from and what it’s made of. Remarkably, most dental labs are NOT required to pass this information on to the prescribing dentist.

Florida and South Carolina have recently passed legislation that would require such disclosure, and other states are likely to follow suit soon. The NADL is working on a universal form for dental laboratories. Ohio has a similar form; the state’s dental board recommends but does not currently mandate use of these forms.

Highlights from the Ohio State Dental Board Laboratory Prescription & Point of Origin Form

Type of Restoration: _______

Materials:
- Porcelain to High Noble
- Porcelain to Noble
- Porcelain to Base Metal (NP)
- Full Metal High Noble
- Full Metal Noble
- Full Metal Base (NP)

This case will be:
- Fabricated by technicians at our own dental laboratory.
- Sent to another laboratory in the U.S. to be fabricated (Lab Name & Location)
- Sent to an overseas/foreign laboratory to be fabricated (Lab Name & Location)

See the full Ohio dental lab form…

2. Make sure you’re giving your dental lab a full prescription.

An alarming number of dentists don’t actually give their dental labs all the information a technician needs to formulate a dental prosthesis. When information is missing (for example, what specific metals should be used), the technician is left to make an educated guess.

A checklist form can help ensure that dentists are giving their labs all the necessary information.

The Ohio State Dental Board has also released prescription guidelines. This form outlines the minimal information that should be included in a dentist’s prescription.

1. Form must include basic information on patient, dentist and dental lab, as well as type of prosthesis.
2. Crowns and bridges: Shade prescription, shade mapping, and material prescription.
3. Partial and complete dentures: Shade prescription. tooth material prescription, tooth mold (shape) prescription, design of partial denture framework.
4. Orthodontics or occlusal splints: explicit definition of type of prosthesis and instructions.
5. Any additional explicit instructions from the dentist.
6. Point of origin information should be included.

See the full dental lab prescription guidelines…

3. Check your lab’s credentials.

The NADL’s Napier offers the following advice to dentists: “Dentists as part of minimizing their liability risk exposure can look at working with dental laboratories that are Certified Dental Laboratories or DAMAS accredited dental laboratories where third party validation occurs to ensure the lab’s quality system includes material traceability of lot and batch numbers of materials used for a specific dental restoration.”

The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC) has developed a form for use by Certified Dental Technicians (CDTs).

Dental Restoration Disclosure Form
This case was manufactured by:
CDT Name: ___________________
CDT Number: ___________________
at ___________________(Dental Laboratory),
in ___________________(City, State, Country)
using the following FDA registered materials in the final restoration:
____________________________
____________________________
[Place Identalloy/IdentCERAM Sticker Here]

See the complete CDT dental restoration form…

4. Stay current. It’s quite possible your state is considering new legislation for dentists and dental labs. You might consider setting up a Google News Alert to keep you informed of the latest news; just use “dental lab” and your state as keywords.

Can you suggest any additional resources? We’d love to see what forms you’re using with your dental lab. Just send us an email at DrWeeklyNewsUpdate@TheWealthyDentist.com!

When a 73-year-old Ohio woman fell ill, the news made national headlines. It wasn’t old age, or pneumonia, or cancer, or anything else you might expect. She had gotten lead poisoning from her new dental bridge.

Though she’d visited an American dentist, the bridge itself had been fabricated by a Chinese lab. Let me assure you that this is major news. I expect this health scandal will rock the world of dentistry.

The Ohio woman received this new dental bridge last year. However, the restoration site became inflamed, and chewing was unmanageably painful. The bridge was ultimately removed, and she’s had further surgeries since. She sent the bridge in question to a scientific testing laboratory, and its surface allegedly tested at 160 parts per million of lead. She has since retained a lawyer and is planning to sue her dentist. (Please note that she is planning to sue her dentist, not the dental lab!)

Chinese exports have received massive amounts of bad press after various health scandals. Do you remember the animals who died from eating tainted pet food? Then at least 21 Panamanians died after taking poison cough syrup. Danger made its way onto US shelves via toxic toothpaste. Most recently, children’s toys were pulled from the market after it was discovered that the paint contained high amounts of lead. All of these products were manufactured in China.

I know what many of you dentists are wondering: Is this for real? What evidence is there that Chinese labs are systematically producing lead-tainted dental restorations? Well, here’s the evidence that has so far come to light on this developing story:

1. The Ohio woman’s partial bridge apparently tested at 160 parts per million of lead.
2. Ohio TV station WBNS then conducted its own investigation, releasing the results on February 27. With the help of a local dentist, they ordered crowns from four different Chinese dental labs. One of the eight crowns tested positive for lead. The porcelain facing contained 210 parts per million.
3. The ADA announced that it had begun its own investigation, and had recommended that the FDA and CDC do the same. (Read the ADA’s response and their talking points for dentists.)

Though most press focuses on work manufactured in China, it’s worth noting that products are imported from many other countries, including India and Mexico. Imported restorations are dramatically less expensive than work produced domestically; in some cases, a crown from China may cost as much as 90% less. Cost-saving measures have led to more and more international manufacturing.

In the US, about 15-20% of dental lab work is produced in China (primarily bridges and crowns); that’s 7 million foreign crowns each year. Many of these products are distributed by American labs. Three years ago, less that 1% of UK dental restorations were produced in China; that number is now up to 5%.

Theoretically, the FDA monitors all dental products, whether produced domestically or abroad. The FDA has the authority to inspect any dental lab, foreign or domestic, that makes products sold in the US. Dental labs with overseas operations must register with the FDA. But within the US, only three states (Texas, Kentucky and South Carolina) require dental labs to register with state health departments.

The National Association of Dental Labs (NADL) officially recommended that the FDA close some of these legal loopholes. Needless to say, the organization that represents 1400 US dental labs has grave concerns about the allegations of tainted dental products.

The lead appears to be in the porcelain surface of some restorations. But many foreign labs use porcelain and other materials made in the US or Europe. So where does the lead come from? Many suspect the lead is in the glaze used to stain and seal the porcelain.

Many pottery glazes contain lead. The lead itself is not particularly a problem until it comes into contact with acid. The acid is what allows the lead to leach out of the glaze. For pottery, this isn’t much of a problem. But since the human mouth is an acidic environment, lead might be transferred to the patient’s bloodstream.

Let’s be clear on this point: The FDA says there should not be detectable levels of lead in the surface material of a dental prosthetic device. Lead poisoning generally causes non-specific symptoms such as aches, abnormal bowels, or high blood pressure. As a result, proper diagnosis can take years.

Though labs are supposed to label outsourced work they provide to dentists, anecdotal evidence suggests that dentists do not in fact always know where their restorations were manufactured. Dentists: Do you know where your restorations are manufactured? Estimates suggest that 25% of US dentists are sending lab work to China – and what’s more, many of these dentists don’t even know it. You can’t just assume your dental lab does its own manufacturing. As a dentist, it’s your job to make sure you can stand behind the safety of any restorations you do.

Anyhow, folks, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Check your inbox this Friday for a survey question on foreign dental labs. And you definitely won’t want to miss my next editorial. Do you know which of the major US dental labs import or manufacture foreign dental work? I do! And next week, I’ll start naming names.

Learn more – Plus, click here to post your comments on this story.

One of my pet peeves is our culture’s focus on instant gratification. People want everything, and they want it right now! Instant food, overnight delivery of just about any product, and – of course – dental appointments the same day they call.

Oh! I almost forgot one more thing: instant isn’t enough. Everything must also be absolutely top quality.

I’m currently remodeling a 100-year-old home. What began as a three-month project is now scheduled to take twelve months. When discussing quality cabinetry, restorative woodworking, advanced electrical and “White House” level painting, there is no such thing as instant gratification.

We are talking about craftsmen and craftswomen who have taken years to learn their trades. Each and every one of them talks about how difficult it is to find employees willing to learn the best way to sweep a floor before they pick up a hammer or begin painting.

When I find myself getting impatient, I remind myself of the ad for the Honda Accord that features an unbelievably complex “Rube Goldberg machine” made entirely from Accord parts. This film is a great example of what it takes to master a specific task. It has no computer graphics or digital tricks. Everything you see happened in real time exactly as you see it. The film took 606 takes.

In the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn’t work. The crew would then have to set the whole thing up again. They spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions. (Sounds a bit like dental school, no?)

The film cost six million dollars. It took three months to complete, including full engineering of the sequence. In addition, it’s two minutes long, so every time Honda airs it on British television, they’re shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime.

However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history, and is therefore worthy of our consideration. Honda executives figure the ad will soon pay for itself simply in free viewings alone. (Honda isn’t paying a dime to have people watch this commercial online!).

When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation, knowing full well how much it would cost.

There are six (and only six) hand-made Honda Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make the film. Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp, and complete Honda Accord) is parts from those two cars.

The voiceover is Garrison Keillor. When the ad was shown to Honda executives, they liked it and commented on how amazing computer graphics have gotten. They fell off their chairs when they found out it was for real.

Oh, and about those funky windshield wipers. On the new Accords, the windshield wipers have water sensors and are designed to start doing their thing automatically as soon as they become wet. It’s a bit alarming in the commercial.

What I really like about this commercial is that it supports my philosophy on Mastery. True mastery takes practice. It makes no difference what the task is: martial arts, filming a commercial, remodeling a house, or cutting a crown prep.

They all take practice. Often the smallest error can cause failure, and only after continued practice is mastery achieved.

Watch the film