“Communication is the key to success in cosmetic
dentistry/laboratory relations” [3]. The importance of good
communication has been highlighted by a number of studies [3]. Effective
communication between the dentist and the dental laboratory is critical when
fabricating well-designed, high quality dental restorations to ultimately
provide patients with the best dental care. The effectiveness of the communication
methods used by the dental lab to collaborate with the dental office is also a
major factor that determines the success or failure of dental lab products.
As reported by Berry et al., “prosthodontics is a discipline
that requires a synergy between the dentist and dental technician in order to
fabricate intraoral prostheses with acceptable fit, function and aesthetics.”
Although restorative dentistry is first about restoring the teeth’s function
and oral health of the patient, and next the esthetic appearance; the patient’s
growing demand for realistic esthetics and long-lasting restorations is
challenging the industry to meet these high expectations by producing dental
products that exhibit both attributes. Recreating
esthetic details that mimic the patient’s natural teeth is crucial when
“subtle details in texture, anatomy, and contours keep the ceramic restoration
from looking contrived and can provide the element of ‘prefect imperfection’
that natural teeth exhibit” [4]. Precise design parameters, shade
matching, and available tooth structures should all be decided and effectively
communicated by the clinician to the dental lab in order to successfully
achieve a highly esthetic restoration that will match the patient’s natural
tooth contours and shades [4].
The lab technician’s ability to transfer exact shade
matching, along with the ability of the clinician to communicate accurate tooth
shades, is a challenging aspect of communication; especially, when an
increasing number of patients are demanding esthetically brilliant prostheses. Determining
a precise shade (e.g., color, surface texture, shade characteristics) is first
dependent on the clinician and must be effectively communicated to the lab
technician in order for the lab tech to achieve exact shade matching for the
final restoration. Exact shade
communication is important between the technician and dentist because
dental techs are remotely located and usually never see the patient [1].
In consonances with a study on color
matching, Seal et al. reported, “precise color communication is integral to the
development of esthetic harmony and overall restorative success.”
The methods used by the dental lab to communicate with the
dental practice are also major factors that influence the accuracy of dental lab products.
With the development of software programs and effective web applications,
dental labs can now use web content management systems (WCMS) to communicate to
the dental office and manage laboratory cases at a faster and more accurate
rate. As stated by Alshiddi, “Laboratory case management is a teamwork that
should involve good communications between not only the dentist and the dental
technician, but also other staff in the dental office (e.g., dental assistant
and receptionist) and dental laboratory (e.g., laboratory owner, receptionist
and delivery person)” [3]. When managing a large number of dental
lab cases, the lab must implement an
effective content management system that will manage all of the dental
cases coming from multiple forms of communication methods (e.g., hand-written
lab authorization forms, telephone, email, electronic STL files, etc.). Equally
important is the lab’s understanding of individual software requirements and
design of the software that will essentially, if implicated correctly, improve communication
and will ensure long term relationships between the dental office and dental
laboratory [3].
The dental laboratory must provide great customer service
for dentists and their dental office personnel so all parties can work together
proficiently. Providing excellent dental lab services will lead
to satisfied clinicians and comfortable professional relationships between the
clinician and dental technician/laboratory [3]. Collaborative technical advice on routine and complex dental cases
is a very important service that dental laboratories should exceed at every
time. The dental lab must have an effective logistic team to make sure dental
cases are fabricated in time for the patient’s scheduled appointment, also
ensuring patients are satisfied with their dental care services.
“By far my happiest [Dentists] with the happiest patients
are the ones that communicate with the laboratory and view it as part of a team effort to achieve the
right result for the patient,” stated one dental technician in a study on the
communication methods used between the lab and dentist [1].
Along with adequate skills of the dental laboratory and
clinician, good teamwork through effective communication between the dentist
and dental lab leads to high quality dental restorations with excellent fit,
function and esthetics. When problems arise from inaccurately fabricated
prostheses, the patient will usually blame the dentist/dental office for the
mishap. For this reason, its imperative dentists choose the best dental laboratory that can
effectively communicate with their dental office to ensure satisfied patients
every time and to ultimately provide better patient care.
About the Company:
Since 1991, Iverson Dental laboratory has provided dentists
with high quality dental lab products and excellent dental lab services to ensure their
dental patients are completely satisfied with the restoration outcome. Iverson
dental labs strives to be a great dental resource for dentists by offering
training on digital dentistry
and new dental implant techniques
at their high-tech operatory and training facility. Iverson dental labs strongly believes in using high
quality certified materials and authentic manufacturing components to fabricate
their dental restorations. Iverson also strongly believes in having a knowledgeable
team of certified dental technicians because clinical evidence has shown the
“skills of the clinician and technician are important for the long-term success
of a restoration” [1].
Reference:
1. Berry, J., Nesbit, M., Saberi, S., & Petridis, H.
(2014). Communication methods and production techniques in fixed prosthesis
fabrication: A UK based survey. Part 1: Communication methods. BDJ Br Dent J.
2. Afsharzand, Z., Rashedi, B., & Petropoulos, V.
(n.d.). Communication Between the Dental Laboratory Technician and Dentist:
Work Authorization for Fixed Partial Dentures. J Prosthodontics Journal of
Prosthodontics, 123-128.
3. Weston, J., & Haupt, E. (n.d.). Creating Aesthetic
Success Through Proper Clinician and Laboratory Technical Communication. Dental
Clinics of North America, 371-382.
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