As a restorative dentist, I see myself as part technician, part craftsman, and part healer. There is most certainly a technical challenge when integrating materials into the human body that support new permanent teeth. The craftsman part is more my personality and my own values as a professional. I want the new teeth to be a perfect match to the old teeth both in appearance and function, so it takes time, patience, and meticulous attention to detail. The healer part is my favorite – hands down. I love seeing patients in the months and years after we have implanted new permanent teeth. Their smiles return, their faces fill back in, and most importantly, they feel good about themselves.
There is one absolute, essential component that allows me to be all three – technician, craftsman, and healer – and that is the benefit of having a private in-house lab. Lots of facilities will tout their own labs, but simply that means they ship out to a company they maintain as a subsidiary or have a professional relationship with. I have my own lab in the same building where I practice, and just down the hall from my patient rooms. There are some very distinct advantages.
I do all the work myself in the lab. We don’t ship anything out. It is literally all done “in-house.” If you haven’t seen our office, you won’t get the joke. We are in a modified residence, converted to commercial, on the corner of Ganttown and Egg Harbor Roads. Seriously though, I personally craft your new permanent teeth because I am the one who knows the structure of your mouth best. We do not send anything out. Many companies send molds and configurations out to labs out of state, even out of the country, and the people making those teeth have never met the patient and have no understanding of the patient’s needs, concerns, and desired outcomes. That is not acceptable to the ethics code I subscribe to. My patients get my work from my lab. It’s that simple.
The machines that make new permanent teeth from Zirconia rely on 3-D imagery and configuring. While some parts of the restoration are simple, each person’s mouth is as unique as the individual, so frequently “tweaks” need to be made in the restoration process. To me, this is where the line gets crossed from fabricating to crafting because it is truly custom work. Frequently, I will be on the phone with the IT Department of our computer programs discussing concepts outside the realm of normal settings and algorithms. These types of collegiate discussions, which benefit the patient, don’t take place when molds and configurations are sent to outside labs where neither party knows, nor has ever met the patient. I must consider the unique needs of each individual, and the components necessary for a successful outcome. Thus, the ability to collaborate with
technicians is essential.
Another benefit of a private in-house lab is the time factor. We recognize that when patients make the decision to get new permanent teeth, it’s after a long period of contemplation and perhaps emotional turmoil…. or it’s an emergency tooth or teeth replacement. Either situation requires speed and efficiency. Having to ship molds and configurations out and then wait for them to return to see if suitable adds immensely to the time factor. In most cases, we can supply custom-crafted, new permanent teeth in the same day – granted it might be a long day – but a private in-house lab allows that to happen. No couriers, no shipping containers, no weather or flight delays, no waiting for packages.
I simply walk down the hall, turn on the lights, some computers, some highly technical machines from Germany, and get to work. It’s what we do and how we do it at Sewell Dental Arts, because as a restorative dentist, we are only as good as the smiles we create.