It has to start someplace

No disrespect to those technicians who answer to "lab guy" or "my lab guy" or "lab man", by dentist and dental clients, but personally I have never really responded well to that moniker since my very first days working as a technician. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was an "in house" technician during laboratory school and after graduation, and got to see the body language associated to the term when it was used. I always felt it was used in a demeaning or minimizing fashion, especially when prefaced by the word "MY".

I am a dental laboratory technician and proud of the full title. Look, dentists dont call their hygenists "my gum gardener" or "tissue woman", and I never heard an assistant refered to as "my spit sucker" or "my instrument sterilizer", at least not to their face.

I have always believed that part of feeling good about what a person does for a living starts with how they refer to themselves. It also has a direct effect on what we feel we can charge for our talents. Dental technologist in any specialty branch are the "lifes blood" for most dental practices. Its us they call upon when they have a technical question regarding design, or in many cases, depend on our expertise with "minimal" direction to design and fabricate a case to completion. I think that kind of faith in our ability calls for at least a modicum of respect, starting with what we are called.

If none of this seems to bother you, thats fine.
As I have said before, this is my blog, and if you dont agree, change the channel.

Implant Scanoguide technique

Call me, if your tired of hand mixing barium and acrylic and getting spotty results.

Implant Scanoguide technique

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The versatility of Versacryl

Free sample by request.

The versatility of Versacryl

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Denture IDs

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Denture IDs

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Diamond D Kudos

Its amazing how many people run into me at different venues around the country and have to tell me how much they like Diamond D acrylic.
Acrylic of course,is the foundation for everything we do in removable prosthetics, so it shouldnt surprise me that technicians would notice the superior charcteristics over competitive products.

Seven (7) years ago when I began beta testing Diamond D I knew Keystone Industries was on to something special. I personally had noticed a host of differences between it and the other acrylics I had used over the years. I switched to Diamond D for everything, including injecting, and have never looked back.

Since the number of implant borne prosthetics has grown every year in my laboratory, I am really appreciative of the strength in those situations where implant bars limit space between tooth and bar, or the general overall thickness of a denture.

If you havent tried it yet, drop me a note on my Facebook page and I will arrange for you to get a sample to make about 5 dentures.

New Veneer redux

I had a couple of clinicians private mail me, some who agree with my assessment on the previous post, and a few that dont. I appreciate the input, but dont get yourselves worked up. This is a blog, its just words to provide dialogue or a rally point for those who are like minded or for that fact unlike minded. Its not personal, its just 1 persons view, and if it chaps you, change the channel.

There is a reason why removable prosthetic treatment is ignored by most clinical practitioners now days. It takes an understanding and patience(time) to treat the edentulous. Dental schools continue to remove the educational requirements for students learning denture fabrication and treatment in order to graduate.

Dentists must find and appreciate a qualified technical resource in the lab they use, and then of course theres the dynamic of allowing yourself to realize that nobody evaluates you based on your weakest skills, but rather on your strongest. Those should be, the clinical ones.

Douglas
Many dentists dont ignore providing removable treatment, they avoid providing it.

New Veneers?

For those who do not participate at DentalTown there is a thread that has gotten much steam by the dentists who post there. Its titled "Dentures are the New Veneers".

I did not like the title from day 1 for the following reasons:

1) Veneers are for the most part are an "elective" procedure. People who seek veneers are usually young and have a full compliment of teeth. It is a treatment primarily driven by cosmetics.

2) Removable prosthetics on the other hand is a nessecary treatment. Most patients are older, and because they have "No teeth" are classified as dentally crippled. Need is the primary reason for treatment. The need to eat, the need to smile, the need to feel whole and complete.

I am concerned by the cultivation of the mindset that these forms of treatment are similar in any way, other than both being performed in a dental operatory.
If one reads posts on most clinical dental forums they find that a common thread of mindset runs between clinical practitioners, that being, that by and large ALL patients seeking denture treatment are PIAs (pain in the asses).

My concern is that with the thread being labeled as it is, that it propagates the mindset that somehow denture/removable treatment can be treated as an "in and out" treatment. Anyone who has spent years treating the edentulous knows that the treatment takes much more clinical time to do comprehensively than any clinical procedure.

What I speak of is all about the clinical evaluation time, the addressing of patient concerns, the hand holding that goes along with true treatment of the patient. You would be cranky and crabby too if you couldnt taste your food, chew it well, or smile with confidence.

Lets propagate the mindset that removable prosthetic treatment is a more personalized treatment. Spend more time with the patient evaluating from the start,middle and end. Hold those hands,address the concerns, re-try if patient isnt happy, dont just convince the patient they look great, and shove their ass out the door once you have placed the case.

If you need perspective on what I am saying just google dentures, visit Drs website photo areas and look at the crap thats being placed. You cant convince me that denture patients for the most part arent being treated as a commodity in most practices.

Lets all rally and make a difference!!