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AACD – Seattle 2013
Gold Dust Dental Lab is excited to see clients and friends at the 2013 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry this week in beautiful Seattle!! Please come, stop by and say hi at booth #708. We so look forward to another meeting and look forward to seeing all of docs!
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Cerec’s New OmniCam — one lab’s perspective
Gold Dust Dental Laboratory, is likely in the minority among dental labs, when we express our excitement at the latest in CAD/CAM technology with the OmniCam introduction, made at Cerec’s 27 and half trade show last week. We’ve had the opportunity to see the camera first hand — it’s precision, cool interface and powder-less abilities make this an awesome digital impression, from what could be seen in demonstration.
Clearly accurate digital impressions will create better dentistry in the long run. Those who embrace technology will no doubt be ahead of the curve. As a laboratory that loves high quality digital impressions, we have yet to see the same R&D advancements made with the in lab or chairside mill itself. So while we embrace and applaud digital impressioning, wax and pressed restorations still are the gold standard for marginal integrity, fit and aesthetics. That’s not from a lab’s perspective but from many Cerec owners that are also great clients of Gold Dust. They still send their conservative designs and aesthetically demanding cases to their lab.
CAD/CAM technology is cool but to claim that it can produce a better restoration than laboratory fabricated e.Max or Empress restoration — is factually wrong. Or you’re using the wrong lab, who may be milling rather than pressing.
Embrace digital impressions. Be very, very cautious of investing in milling technology. There is a reason so many quality laboratories utilize CAD/CAM for wax printing but not restoration milling. There is a reason many people who have bought into Cerec technology don’t use it. It’s simply not as good for the discerning dentist. From a business school perspective, it has fit a need in the marketplace for fast and cheap, but to claim high quality would be just great marketing. We look forward to the time that milling technology meets or exceeds the digital camera technology — that will be a major milestone in dentistry.
We applaud Sirona for setting the bar for high quality digital impressions! Gold Dust thanks you and all of our CEREC Connect doctors do too!
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Train Wreck Update….Phase one complete
Severe wear - 38 year old patient begins Full Mouth treatment
Notice the prep design does not break contacts on the lower arch. The upper arch had diastemas pre-existing. Very little preparation was done to achieve the ideal circumstances for insertion.
Provisional Upper/Lower 20 units
At only 38 years old, this patient had extreme wear on both his upper and lower teeth. As part of Clinical Mastery’s (www.clinicalmastery.com) Full Mouth Rehabilitation Course with Dr. John Nosti, this patient was selected as the demonstration patient. Thirteen clinicians, committed to learning complex techniques in treating these extreme cases, gathered in Chicago, Illinois last weekend, to learn about the latest procedures in predictable treatment of these complex, multi-faceted cases.
Treatment planning, diagnostic records, preparation and provisionalization were covered and completed in this first 2 days of the program. Participants will return June 8 and 9th to complete the program and unveil the restorative result of the upper and lower 10 anterior teeth. Stay tuned for the final reveal!
Doesn’t everyone love a train wreck?
Train wrecks. It is Gold Dust’s unofficial description of a full mouth rehabilitation case that has every element of complexity — pathology, parafunction, destruction and disease. And we LOVE them! There is nothing we do that is more rewarding than restoring function and a natural smile back to someone who lost it many years ago.
The photos above represents a patient who’s life is about the change with the advances in dentistry and the opportunity for an amazing continuing education event. (Click on thumbnails to enlarge photos)
See how Dr. John Nosti diagnoses, treatment plans, prepares, provisionalizes and cements 20 restorations in the first phase of this patients full mouth rehabilitation. Dr. Nosti, who also hold a dental license in Illinois, will present the latest in techniques, materials and processes to assist you in treating these difficult, multi-dimensional cases. Every participant with have “ring-side” seats to this incredible event as he shares his secrets to unraveling train wreck cases, into predictable long-lasting dentistry. Dr. Jason Olitsky joins Dr. Nosti with his expertise in the area of preparation design, aesthetic considerations and tips for a stress-free appointment!
Course will be May 18, 19 and June 8,9th right on Michigan Avenue in the heart of Chicago. Check back for progress photos, videos and highlights!
Marketing Genius or Misleading the Consumer? You decide…
I’m a sucker for a nifty marketing angle. I love usable swag and unique branding. So imagine my delight at Spring Training this year when from across the stadium and through the stands and outfield laws, I observe a sea of bright yellow fan/shade handheld items with a simple “Smile” printed on one side and www.smilegeneration.com on the reverse side. My existence as a geek of all things dental, I have to ask the promotional crew manning the Smile Fan/Shade popsicle stick delights, “What exactly is www.smilegeneration.com?” Well the answer I was given was interesting. ”This is a group that ‘selects’ only the best and most qualified dentists in your area and provides you a referral to an office in your geographic are. Only Smile Generation Approved dentists are listed on the website. There is a variety of criteria they base this decision on and there are more than 40 offices they have selected in the Phoenix area. And, none of the dentists listed pay to be on this list such as with 1-800-DENTIST.” Hmmmm… when asked how this group was funded, I was told by “sponsorship.” Indeed?
A quick search on my IPhone tells me, www.smilegeneration.com is a website owned and operated by Pacific Dental Services. That’s right, a dental services organization with more than 250 affiliate offices on the west side of the country. What “approved offices from a variety of criteria are selected” for the referral? Well naturally PDS offices! The same search functionality that exists on both websites www.smilegeneration.com and www.pacificdentalservices.com. Put in the same search fields and the offices listed are exactly the same.
But www.smilegeneration.com also includes user reviews!! It must be legit. Of the 100′s of reviews that are posted and more than 300 that I personally read… all offer only a 5 smile face rating. There was also no mechanism for me to post an unbiased review on www.smilegeneration.com or the practice’s individual website.
“Why do you care?” Paul Lindsey, CEO of Gold Dust asks me. “Is it because you didn’t think of first.” My honest gut reactions is …maybe. Except, I know the integrity of your marketing message is as important as the message itself. I care because I know there is a fine line between marketing genius and misleading the public, while in the process discrediting what I think is a terrific organization like 1-800-DENTIST. Why else do I care? Because hundreds of practices that I’ve personally worked with are being out-marketed. The demand for a practice to be social media savvy and market direct to the consumer has never been greater!
Over the next 3 months, Gold Dust’s initiative is to bring our clients the best in Social Media coaching with webinars focused on attracting the dental consumer. Check our blog on April 2nd for a schedule of world class speakers. We look forward to support your inner Marketing Genius!
If you’re teeth are straight but still ugly…
There is a terrific trend in dentistry for more conservative treatment options for patients. You’ll see many of these services marketed directly to the consumer with Invisalign clear aligner trays, 6 Month Smiles, in-office whitening like Zoom and at home whitening such as Crest Whitestrips.
There does exist the reality that many of the products and services, while really valuable are not the only answer to aesthetic dentistry dilemma that many of our patients find themselves in. Bottom line you can’t make an ugly shaped or permanently discolored tooth look pretty. Emprethins and no preparation veneer options, remain an ideal choice for mis-shapen, permanently discolored, short or pitted teeth.
For more information on dentists that are certified in Emprethins and for the best dental ceramics in the country, contact 800.513.6131 or see examples at www.golddustdental.com.
Dentistry by Dr. Josh Stelzer, Ceramic Artistry by Gold Dust Aesthetic Team
Posted in Smile Design, Veneers
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Protect yourself from failure with a Dental Warranty…
What happens when a patient who has had a beautiful smile design, or extensive dentistry has failure through no fault of the doctor? To keep the doctor/patient relationship intact for loyal patients, many clinicians choose to re-do or remake at no charge, or to simply pass along the lab fee. This results in loss of production for the practice, loss of confidence with your patient and countless man hours invested in negotiating the best route to ensuring happy patients.
While Gold Dust is proud to stand behind our work with a “guarantee” against material failure, a warranty actually protects the patient and the clinician against no fault circumstances of failure, most routinely up to 5 years. That’s right, a warranty would provide coverage up to the original fee the patient paid for the work, meaning no loss of production. If your patient is in a biking accident, the doctor is paid for the remake. If a composite fails or chips, the doctor is paid up to their original fee.
Protect your patients. Protect yourselves with Dental Warranty Corp. Call Parker at 800.691.7234 and ask about customized plan and preferred pricing as a Gold Dust Dental Lab customer.
www.dentalwarranty.net
Posted in Gold Dust In the News
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Full Mouth Rehabilitation LIVE Patient Demonstration Course with Dr. John Nosti
Clinician & Course Director: John Nosti DMD, FAGD - Mays Landing, NJ
You’ve no doubt heard the expression, those who can’t do… teach. It’s ironic when you are a dental school student and your prosth professor hasn’t practiced in 20 years but impractical to learn systems, protocols and efficiencies from There simply exist few clinicians who treat as many full mouth rehabilitations and complex cases as Dr. John Nosti and he practices in not one but two locations!
The Clinical Mastery Series presented by Gold Dust, is honored to host a LIVE PATIENT Full Mouth Rehab course in Chicago May 18, 19th and June 8, 9th 2012. This Over the Shoulder program allows you, not only to benefit from the lecture and instruction but see Dr. Nosti IN ACTION, from records to cementation. Witness every step live and by his side. This intimate learning environment will be limited to 15 clinicians. . . so don’t wait to register. For more information, go to www.clinicalmastery.com/img/pdf/Full%20Mouth.pdf!
Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition Participants Receive Smile Enhancements
Gold Dust’s co-owner and ceramist, Rob Maatta just seated two more smiles with Dr. John Badolato of Scottsdale, for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Participants receive life changing procedures as they meet goals in their weight loss over the course of 365 days. Gold Dust is privileged to be the dental lab of choice and excited to participate stay tuned for the dramatic transformations!
Posted in Gold Dust In the News, Smile Design
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