H&H Impressions

H&H or Hydraulic and Hydrophobic impressions are avoided by some labs due to the difficulty the material causes during model work. Here at Two Ocean Dental Lab we appreciate these impressions for the accuracy that they afford. Accurate impressions mean fewer remakes, which is well worth a little extra time and care in the model room. Principles behind the H&H technique have to do with a very high durometer material forcing the low durometer material into the sulcus using hydraulic pressure. In other words materials like Blue Bite have very little flex, so in a two part impression the light body material is forced around the prep and slightly subgingival. This simple mechanical principle captures accurate impressions with little distortion when done correctly. There are a few things to keep in mind when using this impression technique: First make sure your materials are correct. Vinyl polysiloxane material for the primary impression must have a high durometer hardness of at least 85, and the secondary material must have a low durometer hardness below 50. Second you need to remove undercuts in the initial impression because this material will not flex enough to allow the tray to fully seat otherwise. This does not need to be fancy, just look into the impression and break off any spots that may cause an interference. Third the materials used must be hydrophobic and compatible. Everyone has a favorite impression technique, as well as a reason for using it. As a technician I only know what I like about these impressions from my work in the lab. If anyone would like to share a trick or tip that works for them please contact me. I will be happy to include it in the Blog, and of course I will give you full credit.

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Fishing With Dynamite, Sure It Works But...

After the boom and bust of the last few years many businesses have had to alter the way they operate. Being more efficient and streamlined is fantastic, and the lessons you learn now will make your enterprise that much stronger as the economy improves. One thing that Dentists and Labs need to be cautious about though is what I call "Fishing With Dynamite". Basically cutting corners that impact the level of care you provide may make you money now, but it will cost your business down the road. Sustainable business is like sustainable fishing,  if your a catch and release person your customers will come back, and even recommend new customers. On the other hand looking at the short term and using dynamite may not only cost you return visits from existing clients, but all those referrals that truly allow for healthy growth.
As a Dental Lab I can make crowns quick and cut corners on material, but that will only help my bottom line in the short term. All of my quality minded care providers will start looking for a new lab, and I will be spending additional time and money looking for new clients. Especially in tough times the long term relationships with customers need to be maintained because fishing with dynamite will quickly deplete the customer base you have worked so hard to build.
Here at Two Ocean Dental Lab we want to provide quality products for quality customers. Thank you to all of our care providers for putting the patient first.

Communication is the Cornerstone of Great Results

Dentists and Technicians work together to restore a patients smile, and maintain oral health. Since we must work together to create ideal results it is important that we communicate. Two Ocean Dental Lab has a variety of communication tools at our disposal, and you can have access to these as well with an internet connection.
Telephones are great, and discussing a case face to face is even better. Often these means of communication are not convenient during a busy day in your office. Thankfully today we have many alternatives that are very convenient, and often times allow for case planning to be much easier. I will list a few of my favorites, and I would love to hear what everyone else has found beneficial in the office.

Instant Messaging- Platforms for instant messaging vary, I use google talk, but the idea is the same across the board. If I am missing information on the prescription I send out an instant message, and at the convenience of the office they can reply. This system works out well because when I call on the phone it is sometimes inconvenient, and I am tying up office staff while they are assisting patients. With an instant message I know that a response will be made as soon as a staff member has time to address the question.

E-mail- E-mail is similar in convenience to instant messaging, with the added benefit of attaching photos. Sometimes I will receive photos from an office for patients, and it is very convenient. E-mail is also a great way for me to notify clients of special deals, and news. Sometimes people have time to sit down and read an e-mail, and they do it at their leisure. Once again when a phone rings someone answers it, and it is not always a good time to talk.

Skype- Combining instant messaging, texting to cell phones, calls to land lines, file sharing and video calls Skype is the swiss army knife of communication. Skype is a fantastic way to meet "face to face" without anyone having to leave their office. With Skype you can IM someone to call when they are available, then have a video conference to look things over. More offices and labs should have Skype.

Of course there are plenty of other tools for communication out there, and I want to know more about which ones you like. These are just a few of my favorites, and every day someone is revolutionizing the way we do our work. Please feel free to comment on your favorite.

Emax anteriors

This is a before picture of a patient wanting cosmetic improvement for his smile. After the initial consultation the patient and Dentist agreed to place E.max lithium disilicate crowns on teeth 6 through 11 in a shade of A-1. When the patient returned for his appointment the teeth were prepped and temporized and an impression, bite registration and photos were sent here to Two Ocean Dental Lab for the fabrication of lithium disilicate crowns.
After pouring up all the model work and reviewing the photos fabrication of the crowns began. First all the crowns were waxed to full contour, and then cutbacks were made and the units were pressed. Upon pressing all of the crowns several layers of porcelain were added to bring all the teeth back to full contour and add depth and vitality.
Below there is a photo of the completed case. As you can see the lithium disilicate provides a cosmetic and strong restoration. If you are planning a cosmetic case please feel free to contact us by e-mail or call (307)200-4136 and we will help answer your case planning questions.

Happy Holidays Everyone A First Year In Summary

Well one last blog for this year. Our lab will be closed next week for Christmas, so you may not hear from us until after January 1st, 2011. This Blog goes out to all of our clients who have helped us make our first year a great one. We look forward to serving you in the years to come. Next year around this time we will be announcing the winner of our Top Dentist competition. We realize you have a choice in labs, and the competition is just one more way to thank you for choosing Two Ocean Dental Lab.

As for those of you who have are not familiar with our labs services, thank you for reading our blog. I will enlighten you on our competition. We are hosting a competition among all of our Dentist for a Florida Keys fishing vacation. Our top producing Dentist will receive a three night two day fishing trip for two in the Key's. So starting January 1st start sending us your cases, and you will be eligible.
Blogging and Twitter are new for us here at Two Ocean Dental Lab, so we would love your input. Do you have questions related to fixed prosthodontics? Would you like to know more about new products? We would love to hear from you, as our readers you drive our content.
Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season, and we look forward to hearing from everyone in the years to come. Thank you again for your support.