BIOMET 3i Graduate Synergy Training Program®
Please check out our up and coming “Biomet 3i Graduate Synergy Training Program” hosted by Castable Ceramics. Download the registration form (PDF) and information by clicking the link below:
BIOMET 3i Graduate Synergy Training Program® Registration and Informational PDF
Or click this image to get more information:
Graduate Synergy Training Program® A Mini Residency in Restorative Implant Dentistry
The Graduate STP® is a continuum of the Syn- ergy Training Program®. This is a four-session course which is most effectively held on a quar- terly basis. The STP will have a heavy emphasis on treatment planning of dental implants, practice growth and development. Participants will be en- couraged to bring cases to each session for treat- ment planning. The requirement for treatment planning at least one case is highly recommended. In order for everyone to learn as much as possible, a definite hands-on approach is needed.
Goals & objectives:
• To increase proficiency in identifying dental implant patients
• To increase proficiency in treatment planning dental implant patients
• To learn to transition patients from teeth to dental implants
• To keep up to date with new technologies and techniques
the Graduate stP® ProGram includes:
• Four (4) sessions • Twenty eight (28) hours of CE upon
completion (7 Participation, 21 Lecture) • Model
• Only 18 Participants
STP leaders
Curtis E. Jansen, DDS
Dr. Jansen completed his dental de- gree as well as his Prosthodontic edu- cation at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. Dr. Jansen is an Associate member of the American College of Pros-thodon- tics, a Fellow of the American Col- lege of Dentists and an active mem- ber of the Academy of Osseointegration. After practicing in Westwood, California he accepted a full time teaching position at the University of Southern, California School of Dentistry.
He was later appointed as Director of Implant Dentistry in the Department of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Jansen has presented lectures on various subjects emphasizing Restorative, Aesthetic, and Implant dentistry to groups of specialists, dental associations and study clubs. He has lectured throughout the United States as well as Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America.
Dr. Jansen has extensive experience involving research and design in implant dentistry. He has a number of pa- tients for implant restorative components, some of which are being used by major manufacturers.
Dr. Jansen has a full time prosthetic dentistry practice and a dental laboratory in Monterey, California
Artimax Articulators
We have been using the Artimax clear wall less quadrant articulators for over 3+ years. I can personally say as a model and die technician these things are amazing! They are fast, easy, and less messy than the pin and base method. From the standpoint of a lab owner looking to reduce waste, remakes, and increase labor efficiency these are an amazing tool.
We have not adopted the full arch version of the Artimax articulators. Our lab still uses the traditional pin and base method for our full arch cases… please note our experience is limited only to the quadrant version.
Quadrant Efficiency -
According to the March Dental Lab Products Magazine’s “Competative Edge” article by Chuck Yenkner labor costs account for 45-60% of Laboratory revenues. By utilizing the Artimax articulators on our quadrant impression cases we have greatly reduced the amount of labor expended in this department. The initial pouring of the quadrant impression becomes a critical time saver. Regardless of whether you are using the traditional pin and base approach or the Artimax articulators, pouring the model is required. By using Artimax our model and die technician can easily process a batch of 5 quadrant impressions in roughly the same amount as the traditional approach.
We found that working with batches of 5 quadrants at a time is the most efficient and practical. Pouring 5 impressions allows plenty of working time with our die stone. Further, time is saved by eliminating model grinding, pin and basing, and hand articulating models.
8/10 times the the bites are accurate and require no adjustments. The remaining 2/10 cases can easily be adjusted using a heat gun and manually setting the bites. I would consider this the only and main disadvantage of using Artimax. Another money saver achieved with Artimax is material and waste reduction. We have drastically reduced the amount of “base stone” we use by eliminating the need to base quadrant models. Our lab is located in Alaska, where shipping costs can be a killer. Smaller stone orders have translated into reduced shipping costs and more working capital.
Nothing is more irritating on a busy day in the model and die department than a rush case! However, this is no longer a major concern for our technicians working with a quadrant rush case. We can knock out a single rush case and get it through the “system” in a matter of minutes.
Overall, the Artimax quadrant articulators are a wonderful additon to our model and die department and I truly believe they have saved us money. We initially had to overcome a small learning curve, but once all the kinks were worked out, they proved to work… hands down.
For more information please visit the Artimax Website or contact Chris with B&D Dental:
Chris @ B&D Dental – 1-800-255-2839
Artimax USA
Measuring Up… Automatic Stone Dispeners
When I came back to work for Castable Ceramics as a model and die technician one of my goals was to help the lab become more efficient in our various departments. The previous model and die technician was accustomed to hand measuring and mixing all our stones. Further, the lab was using several different types of die stone for various types of restorations. For instance, we used scannable CAD/CAM stone for our Zirconia product line , GC Fujirock for our PFM restorations, Super Die for specific dentists, etc. We were using up to 5 different die stones throughout the day.
The reasoning behind using various stones didn’t make sense to me and I found out that most of our clients (with the exception of a few) didn’t care what type of die stones were being used as long as the restorations were consistent. Eventually we consolidated all of our model work by using a single die stone, GC Fujirock. By eliminating the use of “too many” die stones, our lab was able to increase efficiency and consistency.
The next step to becoming more efficient was to chose an automatic stone dispenser. After some research and a few phone calls to other labs we settled on the Amann Girrbach Smartbox. Since we were now using one die stone for all of our restorations we needed only to purchase one smartbox. The advantages of having an automatic stone dispenser seemed obvious.
We could eliminate the guesswork created from “eyeballing” and hand measuring by utilizing exact gram to mL ratios. I had also observed our previous model and die technician “wasting” material by over measuring and “eyeballing” the stone and liquid ratios. The original Smartbox has the ability to hold 20 different programs (The Smartbox X2 has 50 user programs). For instance, we have a program for 1 Quadrant Impression, 2 Quadrant Impression, and so on, up to 5 quadrant impressions. I found that pouring more than 5 quadrants at a time was impractical because we are using the Artimax articulators for our quadrant impressions.
In addition to reducing material waste, the lab was also able to become more labor efficient. I’m not claiming that measuring and mixing die stones is a labor intensive process. But by shaving a few minutes off the model and die process over the span of a few thousand models and several years adds up to a sure money saver. The third advantage we gained by switching to an automatic stone dispenser was consistency. This is probably the most important advantage to our technicians and more importantly our clients. By using the exact same mixing ratios for each model we ensured that the working models and contact models had no variation and that overall the model work had no deviation on a case to case basis.
Overall we are extremely happy with our purchase of the Amann Girrbach Smartbox. Its a definite time and money saver! For more information and technical specifications please visit the Amann Girrbach website:
The Amann Girrbach Smartbox X2
read moreBone Level Options For Esthetic Success by Dr. Robert Vogel (CE CREDITS)
Castable Ceramics is proud to present speaker and oral surgeon Dr. Robert Vogel on August 18th, 2011 for his presentation of “Bone Level Options For Esthetic Success”. See below for course excerpt and PDF flyer for the event. 3 CE credits available for this course.
PDF Link to flyer: Bone Level Options For Esthetic Success by Dr. Robert Vogel
“Restoring dental implants in the esthetic zone requires appropriate treatment planning, and an understanding of the restorative options available to the clinician and patient. The bone level cementable abutment is similar to a solid abutment and offers the clinician ease of use when restoring a straightforward implant case. Bone level restorative options also offer the flexibility to restore more esthetic cases. By taking an impression at the implant level, clinicians are able to design custom abutments or choose pre-fabricated alternatives, like angled abutments. In order to achieve the desired emergence profile in the esthetic zone, the shape and condition of the soft tissue need to be considered. This can be achieved through different temporary and healing abutment options.”
August 2011 – Continuing Education Event (CE Credits Available)
Castable Ceramics is proud to present a continuing education event featuring Mark Murphy entitled “Growth and Planning Strategies to Improve Your Practice” and “Simplifying The Complex Case”. The event will be hosted by our Dental Lab on August 5th, 2011. and 7 CE Credits can be earned by attendees. See the below excerpt for more information and download the PDF Flyer for this event by clicking here: Mark Murphy Continuing Education Flyer
To Register for this event please call Castable Ceramics at 907-258-0165 or click here to use our contact form!
Excerpt from flyer for this event-
“Understanding and applying sound business prin- ciples, strategies and metrics will help you and your team; Retain More Patients, Improve Case Accep- tance and Maximize New Patient Referrals. Mark’s practice management expertise as Lead Faculty for Mercer Advisors and 25 years of involvement with the Pankey Institute make this a unique learning opportunity. This workshop will utilize lecture, group and individual exercises for team and self devel- opment, easy spread sheets to evaluate gaps, a survey of behavioral choices to close those gaps and various take home training constructs to use with your staff.
Improving your practice means doing more of the dentistry you know your patients need, having less stress and being in absolute balance; clinically, finan- cially and behaviorally.
By clarifying our practice vision and implement- ing strategies that reflect team professional and personal goals, we can lead more stress free and fulfilling lives.”
3Shape D700 Scanner
Castable Ceramics recently took the “Open” architecture/source leap by investing in the 3Shape D700 Scanner. The scanner expands our CAD/CAM product offering by increasing accuracy, productivity, and turnaround time. Our Dental Laboratory is excited to share our expanded production options with our current and future clients! Stay tuned for demonstration videos on the Official Castable Ceramics YouTube Channel!
