Cerec has made me a better dentist, even for my non-Cerec procedures!
I was uploading photos last night when my husband was looking over my shoulder and said "Oh I can't wait for you to do that case! What a difference it will make for her." He was certainly surprised when I told him that this was my final photo, not my before picture...
He thought I was kidding until I showed him the before picture. He asked my why I just didn't redo the centrals as well...
I am always intrigued to discover what a patient sees about themselves when he/she smiles. In this case, she saw the lines on her laterals that were staining, but did not have any concerns with the esthetics of her two front teeth. Of course, as a dentist and someone who loves front teeth, my concern was the centrals. We talked about them, what could be improved, but again it just wasn't her priority. Will they need to be replaced someday- absolutely, but first I need to gain her trust. So I did some simple bonding on #7 and #10 using the same techniques that I do when I stain and glaze my Cerec crowns. I love using Cosmedent's Creative Color Tints and opaquers to mask any lines and help blend composites in nicely. Just like I would bevel to hide the margin on an onlay, I also bevel my margin on the facial to hide that dreaded line that composites tend to show. I know how to contour much better now, because I do them over and over on my anterior crowns trying to make them appear natural and this translates to my composite work. I also take time to really make my margins smooth and I polish heavily to help prevent staining. These techniques are simple and fast but can make a huge impact on the result.
There has not been a single day that I have regretted my journey in the Cerec world and this is why. Everyday I feel like I can apply the skills that I learn here on this board or from this community. Everyday I feel like I am becoming a better dentist and my journey is far from over.
Nice work Kris! Can you just re-do those crowns on #8,9 anyway just so I don't have to stare at those ugly things! 
Can anyone say "doghouse" for Dan? Yikes!
Nice work Kris, and I too appreciate your taking time to photograph and show your work to the world. Your patients may love you, but they really don't have a clue as to how fantastic your cosmetic work is compared to any other dentist on this planet. Well done.
Hey Ernie...why would I be in the doghouse? Kris definitely didn't do those crowns. I just want her handiwork on the photo so I don't have to stare at them when we are working on KeyNote side by side and I peek over at her stuff :)
Dan, you have serious competition in that house. That's great work. I need to try the tints also.
Question: are you using their composite? What do you use and do you find some more durable or easier to handle?
At this time I use empress and filtek for much of my esthetic anteriors.
I just started using their composites when I help out at Kris's office. Kris has been using them more and can speak more about them than I can.
There is a bit of a learning curve after using Filtek Supreme for so many years. That being said, I love the Creative Color tints to enhance cases. I'm getting more comfortable with their composites and opaquers. Their microfills polish very nicely. I think they have a nice system overall.
There is no doubt that after doing Level 4 and doing more and more anterior cases that my composites today are so much better than in the past.
I love the way empress polishes but have heard cosmedent polishes very well.
What's the learning curve? Handling?
On 4/20/2017 at 5:57 pm, Daniel Wilson said... Hey Ernie...why would I be in the doghouse? Kris definitely didn't do those crowns. I just want her handiwork on the photo so I don't have to stare at them when we are working on KeyNote side by side and I peek over at her stuff :)
Just having fun...happy wife, happy life!
I do use Cosmedent composites. I use the Nanofill for replacing dentin and Microfill for replacing enamel. The Microfill polishes really well. In this particular case I only used Microfill.
I love that they are true to shade meaning if I want A1 as a final I will use A1 Nanofill for the core, A1 opaquer to block out anything I'm worried about and then an A1 Microfill.
The only thing I don't love is that the Microfill only comes in a syringe, not a compule, so you apply on an instrument. For anteriors the best advice I got was "spread it like peanut butter on toast" and you will avoid voids.
It's pretty firm texture wise.
On 4/21/2017 at 12:31 am, Kristine Aadland said... I do use Cosmedent composites. I use the Nanofill for replacing dentin and Microfill for replacing enamel. The Microfill polishes really well. In this particular case I only used Microfill. I love that they are true to shade meaning if I want A1 as a final I will use A1 Nanofill for the core, A1 opaquer to block out anything I'm worried about and then an A1 Microfill. The only thing I don't love is that the Microfill only comes in a syringe, not a compule, so you apply on an instrument. For anteriors the best advice I got was "spread it like peanut butter on toast" and you will avoid voids. It's pretty firm texture wise.
Agreed. I love renamel and have been using these products for over 20 years. I was even fortunate enough to have taken a workshop given by Buddy Mopper, the inventor. Some of the bonding I did so many years ago still look amazing and just need a bit of a polish every now and then to regain shine. I would agree with Kris that the bad side is the syringes and the material is a bit sticky. Still, after all these years, I have not found a comparable product.
Also agreed that cerec dentistry helps with all aspects of improvement as you know so much more about product, contour, colour.
