Gary Vaughn, CDT, CTO
We have just returned from our annual PAC meeting in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was gratifying to see many of you and enjoy learning together while at the same time, taking advantage of the beautiful weather and relaxed environment of that beautiful setting. Without a doubt, the attendees from Chicago and Detroit probably experienced the biggest swing in temperatures, having come from sub-freezing winter digits to the winter warmth of tropical Baja California. For those who missed out, we hope you will join us next year. It is always a treat to spend time together with you all.
With my own personal experience spanning over forty years in the dental laboratory industry I have witnessed enormous changes! Fortunately, most have been good, positive advancements, both in scientific and production enhancing. Certainly the greatest of these in my estimation would have to be the birth and implementation of CAD/CAM technology in dentistry. It is no news that many dental offices have utilized this technology for a number of years. This has enabled these practices to fabricate viable, long term restorations within a day or two, if not on the same day appointed visit.
While we pride ourselves as an artisan based laboratory, Corr Dental Designs and the Pacific Aesthetic Laboratory Group have also taken advantage of this science by scanning and designing various restorations ranging from single zirconia coping sand bridge frameworks to full contour restorations and custom implant abutments.
As the wave of CAD/CAM technology has matured and garnered increasingly more attention and application in this generation, it has become ever more apparent at the PAC that with the increase in demand from our clients, that we position ourselves to thoroughly address this need. Over the past couple of years, the demand at the laboratory has more than tripled! This has caused us to seriously research all the available data on the subject. As a result of this exhaustive effort, it gives us great pleasure to announce the acquisition of equipment that will now give us the freedom to not only scan and design cases but also fabricate and finish milled restorations. Additionally, because of the nature of the software and licensing, we can seamlessly receive any file sent in STL form. As most of us know, the trend of digital dentistry is slowly but surely diminishing the use of traditional impression material and widening the popularity of intra-oral scanners. Our new system is also open to the importing and exporting of these files.
We will now be fully capable and anxious to assist any of our clients that have in-office milling machines, who are too busy to mill, but want to forward their files to us and have us mill their units. By obtaining this equipment, it also allows us to more easily oversee production and control our schedule, thereby saving precious time and resources. We are excited about our ability to better serve you and your patients. Your continued support has greatly helped hasten our decision to invest in this technology and train the appropriate technicians.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to discuss a case, please call me at (714) 944-4581.
