Dr. Andrea’s First Month

Before Dr. Andrea started in our office, she wanted to go to the E4D training center in Dallas. She knew we had been using the Planscan CAD / CAM system since 2008 and she wanted to know as much about it as possible. Before she left for Dallas and the 2 days of intensive training, she spent several days in the office shadowing to see how the technology was being utilized here. Even though the technology is not “new,” it is changing every day and there are appropriate uses for it and there are definitely times you want to use something else. Like everything in life, there’s a time a place for everything. Dr. Andrea wanted to see what went into the decision making process for this piece of technology in our office.

While in Dallas, Dr. Andrea spent two days with the people that make the E4D and was able to pick their brains and get a behind the scenes look at how the technology works. Only with a solid understanding of how it works, can you begin to utilize it appropriately. Having this opportunity to learn from the creators of the technology has given Dr. Andrea an insight and experience that the great digital dentists share.

Sitting chair-side with Dr. Andrea during her first digital case in our office, I felt completely at ease with what I saw. Her prep design was just what the computer and the mill needed to make a precision crown. As I observed, Dr. Andrea and Lexi worked together to design, mill and place the ceramic tooth as a team that could have been working together for years, instead of days.

Even after working with CAD / CAM dentistry for quite a while, I still feel like I need to prove that digital dentistry can recreate missing tooth structure better than what you can get from a traditional lab (most of which are using digital systems now). And seeing the good, bad and ugly over the years, I can comfortably say that Dr. Andrea has what it takes to be a great digital dentist. From the way she looks at the case and prep design, to the way she is constantly learning new applications for the technology. Learning what worked in the past from those who were there before, and using that information to look for ways to make the technology work even better.

I’m glad Dr. Andrea has joined the practice and I’m excited to watch her grow with the team. The feedback I have gotten from not only the patients but the entire team in the office has made me eager to see what the future holds.

For those of you who have already met Dr. Andrea, I’m sure you share my feelings. And for those who haven’t yet, I’m excited for you to meet her and I’m sure you’ll feel the same as the rest of us.