Gary M. DeWood, DDS, MS
“I will never have one of those machines in my office.” I turned to face the source of that comment and smiled at a participant in our Facially Generated Treatment Planning (FGTP) workshop. He was pointing at one of the many CEREC machines we have in residence at our Scottsdale Center facility. He clearly had a strong opinion about its usefulness that he wanted to talk about.
Now I am no stranger to unbridled contempt for CAD/CAM dentistry. In the early days of this technology, I had an experience with CEREC 1 that soured me on the idea for a long time. So hearing an unsolicited outburst like this made me wonder what experiences had created such emotion for this individual.
As it turned out, he had purchased a CEREC 2, a machine that in his words cut essential corners that made the restoration mediocre at best. He had returned it, angry and disgusted, refusing to even look at the technology since. Wow! It’s déjà-vu all over again.
Like my friend, after my venture into CAD/CAM, I also remained staunchly opposed to this technology. I refused to even listen to those who sang the praises of the newest versions. Obviously they were easily swayed by the sales hype. I, on the other hand, knew the truth. I might still be actively dismissing this part of dentistry if not for my experience in Seattle when Frank, Gregg, and I were introduced to the CEREC AC machine and the Bluecam.