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20 | CERECDOCTORS.COM | QUARTER 3 | 2014
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temporary dentures. The final restorations were fixed
Prettau hybrids. These cases have all been very chal-
lenging, but fortunately have turned out well.
The learningcurvehasbeencontinuousover the last
39 years and continues to this day. I sponsored a three-
day surgical cadaveric dissection course in Atlanta in
2012, and also an advanced and accelerated CBVT
imaging diagnosis course at my Kansas farm in 2013,
designed to raise the knowledge of all participants.
Bothwere great fun and inspirational experiences.
yourelyheavilyonagroupofspecialists
whentreatingpatientswithcomprehensive
care. tellusabouttheteam.
My team is composed of some very talented, collab-
orative specialists. They include the following:
• Office administrator/dedicated “Director of
Operations” Valerie, and administrator Doretha
who coordinates the diagnosis, treatment plan-
ning/financial arrangements which are essential
and foundational for any practice.
• Clinical assistants who coordinate the information
gathering, diagnostic and treatment process: Aja,
Adeline andMai.
• Hygienists Lisa andErica, who provide the preven-
tive and basic periodontal procedures and patient
compliance necessary to support long-termhealth.
• Georgia Dental Laboratory; this outstanding labo-
ratory provides the model work and outstanding
diagnostic wax-ups that are so critical and neces-
sary in the planning process.
• Maxillofacial Radiologist Dr. Thomas Deahl,
provides CBVT imaging interpretive support.
• Oral surgeons Drs. Andy Loetscher and Steven
Rosser are my go-to experts when the needs of
the patient warrant a greater level of surgical
expertise or orthognathic/surgical considerations
are present. Both are outstanding clinicians and
diagnosticians. I have been the beneficiary of
Andy’s one-on-one guidance when I observe the
more complex procedures he routinely performs.
• ENT Drs. Kingsley Chin and John Jarboe, when
sinus or throat disease/OSA or SDB is an issue.
• InternistDr.GrattanWoodson isusedwhenmedical
screening or metabolic bone disease is a question.
• Orthodontists Drs. Williams, Skafidas and Sebas-
tian all have been involved in coordinating diag-
nosis and treatment.
• Periodontists Drs. Bruce Edelstein and Mark
Brunner have both been involvedwhenwarranted.
• Head and neck physical therapist Steve Kraus;
his diagnostic experience as one of the best, if not
THE best, expert in the country on cervical spine/
TMJ dysfunction and disease is invaluable.
Together, this is an incredible team of very talented
yet humble clinicians. We work together with the goal
of a patient-centered approach to give them the best
that we have. Our practice has been the lucky benefi-
ciary of many people who trust us to coordinate their
care. Our goal is to so thoroughly plan and coordinate
their treatment that most often their experience is
comfortable, seamless and exceeds their expectations.
howlonghaveyoubeeninvolvedwiththecerec?
I purchased the CEREC about four years ago.
whatimprovementswouldyouliketosee
inthecerecsystem?
The anterior imaging and design need some work,
however the recent upgrades are quite good. I saw the
digital articulator integratedwith the Galileos demon-
stratedat the2014HinmanmeetingbyJohnSmithson,
and it looks very impressive. The implant integration
as we speak is the best that is available. The implant
milling and coordination also need some work.
whatisyourfavoritefeatureofthecerec
system?
My favorite integration is the ability to take a digital
design, change the file format and integrate into the
Galileos imaging for planning purposes. That, in my
opinion, is pure magic!
howvaluableistheintegrationofthecerec
andthegalileossystemforyourpractice?
As the ad says, “priceless.”
ifyoucouldwaveamagicwandwithregard
toyourpatients,whatwouldyouwishfor?
Wow, great question. I would hypnotize them all and
force themto send at least a dozenmore of their friends
andacquaintances.Seriously,Ihavesomeofthegreatest
and most appreciative people you could ever ask for.
More than patients, I think of them all as family, which
guides my journey that continues to be exciting and
challenging, but satisfying beyond any words I could
use to describemy experience as a dentist.
whatadvicedoyouhaveforthoseclinicians
whowanttodomorecomprehensivecare?
Seek training and education from the best clinicians