Navigate Challenges with CAD/CAM Technology

CAD/CAM technology can help you navigate dental industry challenges

The dental industry has had its share of ups and downs in the last few years. While dentists are finally seeing a return to normalcy and remain confident in both their practices’ and the larger dental sector’s ability to make a full recovery, challenges remain.
 
According to a February 2022 American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute (HPI) survey, patient volume, though steadily rising since the start of the pandemic, is still only at 84% of its current potential. The 3,000 U.S. providers polled by the HPI reportedly attribute this to a combination of several factors, namely, an overall high rate of patient cancellations, low patient demand and staffing shortages. Other underlying factors influencing practice capacity include economic inflation alongside supply-chain disruptions.

Given these realities (and the highly competitive nature of dentistry), practices looking to grow today must seek opportunities for change rather than simply resuming business as usual. One move that can drive patient acquisition and retention – the hallmarks of practice growth – is bringing new technology into the fold.

Related pages

Looking for CAD/CAM technology?

Explore our offerings

Increase single-visit value with CAD/CAM

Time has always been at a premium in dentistry, but now more than ever, it’s a precious commodity. Practices must not only maximize their use of time to meet production goals amid staffing and supply-chain issues, but also entice a patient base that, overall, has an unprecedented amount of choice regarding providers yet less financial security and personal time.

CAD/CAM technology allows dentists to expand their service offerings, streamline workflow and, ultimately, provide a single-visit experience conducive to practice building. When you can design, create and deliver various dental prostheses all within a single, convenient appointment, you provide more value to patients.
 
Compared to traditional impression taking, intraoral scanners are precise and hassle-free and eliminate mess and patient discomfort. Restorations made in-office require fewer team resources than treatments administered over multiple patient appointments. Collectively, the many benefits of CAD/CAM technology work to promote more convenient patient care experiences and can aid practice success.

More patients, more production

CAD/CAM technology offers practices and their patients well-fitting restorations in a fraction of the time. Plus, CAD/CAM solutions are a technology that the whole team can rally and get energized about. As the dentist, you can delegate areas of the digital workflow, which means seeing more patients, providing more care and, ultimately, increasing production. Your team benefits too by the time savings and a chance to expand their skills.

Patterson, your CAD/CAM partner

Patterson offers single-visit dentistry solutions from leading manufacturers, including 3Shape, Dentsply Sirona, Planmeca, vhf, DEXIS and SprintRay. Patterson’s CAD/CAM specialists can help you determine which solution is right for your practice and help you and your team get trained on the technology.

Peer perspectives on benefits of CAD/CAM technology

Tyler Markus, DMD

Tyler Markus, DMD

A general dentist and owner of Downtown Tinley Dental in Tinley Park, Illinois, Dr. Markus, a Planmeca user, is passionate about creating an exceptional patient experience and pursuing advanced education in restorative dentistry.

Darren Greenwell, DMD, FACD, FICD, MAGD

Darren Greenwell, DMD, FACD, FICD, MAGD

A Planmeca user and a Kentucky native, Dr. Greenwell maintains a private practice in Radcliff, 30 miles west of his hometown. A former hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy, he enjoys placing implants and exploring all aspects of restorative dentistry.

Single-visit workflow

Dr. Markus: In our office, one of my assistants takes the preop scan and does all the staining, glazing and designing, so my job is just to prep the tooth and take the final scans. I do a lot of quadrant dentistry now where, while the crown is milling, I'll prep the teeth and then go see another patient. My assistant can then try the crown in, get it in the oven, stain and glaze it, put fillings in and do any adjustments. All I need to do is come in, do a quick check and cement the crown in. If you have the staff to delegate the process, it really helps boost efficiency and streamline the day.
 
Dr. Greenwell: My team takes the initial scan for me, and then I come in to prep and do the final scan before it gets turned over to my assistant, who is dedicated to just my lab work. So, she’s doing many of the technical aspects of designing and milling. We’re only 6 months into our mill, but she’s picked it up very well. I was quite surprised at how easy it was for her to learn and navigate the software. I approve the design and we go ahead and manufacture the crown.

CAD/CAM time savings

Dr. Markus: For me, it’s all about convenience and efficiencies in my schedule and not having to do a ton of cement appointments with no production. The average single-visit crown appointment takes about two hours, but in that time, it’s a very productive appointment. Single-visit dentistry makes my life easier and I'm able to better serve my patients by doing everything they need in one appointment.

Biggest takeaway

Dr. Greenwell: The return on your investment is there. If you spend the money, you’re going to get your money back in the investment – and then some. Not only that, but your patients are going to be a lot happier because you’re able to provide them with an essential service much quicker. It makes my life a little easier and my patients go home happy. It’s a win-win all around.

Want to hear more?

In this video, Dr. Shivi Gupta speaks with Patterson Dental General Manager Jody Much about how CAD/CAM technology benefits her patients and her team and helps her reach her practice goals.

All text content originally published and excerpted from summer 2022 issue of Advantage by Patterson Dental.

Interested in CAD/CAM technology for your practice?

Get financing for your CAD/CAM technology

CAD CAM Advantage

Make equipment investments easier