Roger P. Levin, DDS, MBA
Dentists throughout the United States work extremely hard to produce the best quality of care possible for every patient. I am continually impressed with the dedication and commitment of most dentists to high-quality care and continuing education.
Occasionally, we forget that we have a partner who helps us achieve our goal of quality care and esthetics: our dental laboratory. The impact of the dental laboratory can have a direct effect on:
- Stress
- Remakes
- Quality
- Chairside adjustment
- Patient esthetics
Patients can sense there is a problem when something does not seem to fit properly or if there is a prolonged adjustment period. They certainly analyze esthetic results. Our promise to the patient is to deliver high-quality dentistry as efficiently as possible - the more efficiently we deliver it, the better for everyone. If a single-unit crown has to be remade even once, the profit will be slim or nonexistent.
The silent partner
The dental laboratory is a critical partner in our practice success. The selection of and long-term relationship developed with a dental laboratory will directly affect the quality of life you enjoy in the practice. To assess the attributes of a good dental laboratory, I sought the opinion of an expert on laboratory relations. David Block is the founder and president of Aesthetic Porcelain Studios. This laboratory is one of the leading esthetic dental laboratories in the country, and the first dental laboratory in the United States to receive ISO certification.
ISO 9001 is a rigorous standardization program requiring incredible levels of documentation. It is a quality assurance method; most companies today will only buy from vendors and work with resources that have received ISO certification.
Block offered his views from the laboratory side in working with dental practices. He shared three key thoughts that should be standard for every good dental laboratory:
(1) A dental laboratory should make the dentist`s life easier by consistently producing high-quality work.
(2) Every case should be evaluated in advance for esthetics and, ultimately, case success.
(3) You should have one consistent contact person that you talk to every time you call the dental laboratory.
Block`s company recently introduced a new case-diagnosis service. A dentist can send models and information to the laboratory in advance and receive a case diagnosis, a tooth prep to show the best type of preparations, and wax-up models. This benefits both the dentist and the patient.
As a service provider to dentists, Block emphasizes that his role - and that of all good dental laboratories - is to aid both the dentist and the patient. He believes the job of the dental laboratory and the dentist is to help the patient go from a self-conscious to self-confident customer.
Block believes that dental laboratory personnel must make a commitment to continuing education and stay abreast of the new developments in dentistry. He himself regularly attends seminars with dentists to fully understand technology, esthetics, and the needs of the doctors.
Remember your often forgotten partner, the dental laboratory. Look for a laboratory that communicates with you and understands your needs. Establishing this kind of dialogue with your dental laboratory will ultimately help ensure the success of your practice.
Roger P. Levin, DDS, MBA, president and CEO of The Levin Group and the Levin Advanced Learning Institute, provides worldwide leadership in dental management for general dentists and specialists. Contact The Levin Group at (410) 654-1234.
