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June 19, 2009

By Natasha V. Welsh, CDA, EFDA

One cannot make more. One cannot buy more. One cannot win more. One cannot earn more. Time is confining. Steven Covey said, "The key is not spending time, but investing it."

From the doctor's standpoint, the initial investment in CEREC is financial and the second investment is time. The proverbial learning curve takes patience and time. Research and education takes commitment and time. Efficient use of CEREC technology and equipment requires job responsibilities to be redefined. Time management through effective staff utilization by way of delegating duties translates to an increase in production.

The scope of practice for dental assistants has remained stagnant — until now. The CAD/CAM revolution has opened up new opportunities in fostering personal growth, increasing occupational development, and creating an opportunity for assistants to contribute directly to overall office production. An assistant acting as a CEREC clinician or designer can calculate contributions toward daily office production.

Production of $1,800 in 90 minutes with approximately 20 minutes of doctor time can be achieved through CEREC dentistry and a qualified, CEREC-trained expanded functions assistant.*

Doctor time:
3 minutes: Greeting and anesthetic
11 minutes: Drill, excavate, and refine preps
2 minutes: Evaluate CEREC designs
4 minutes: Insert and initial clean-up

The EFDA time:
5-10 minutes: Optical imaging
10-15 minutes: CEREC design
7-15 minutes: CEREC mill time
10 minutes: Try-In
5 minutes: Polish

5-8 minute occlusal adjustment**

*Above calculations based on utilizing an EFDA governed by Ohio laws set forth by the Ohio Dental Association.
**Add 5-8 minutes in appropriate column based on legal delegation of occlusal adjusting duty.

Know the law. Abide by ethics. Follow office policy.

Prepare for success through planning. Education through training and practical application constructs the foundation for attaining goals. Integrating CEREC successfully into the workplace creates an exciting transformation for each person and the team as a whole. Key points for the dental team are to slow down, work perfect, and wear magnifiers. CEREC success depends on education, solid mentorship, and perfect application of the three fundamental components of CEREC: prep, powder, and picture. Practical and effective use of assistants translates to loosening the binding constraints of ... time for the doctors.

Your greatest resource is time. Invest it!

Author bio
Natasha Welsh, CDA, EFDA, is a certified assistant trainer for CEREC.
She developed the course "Dental Assisting Redefined — The CEREC Assistant" in response to the need for increased CEREC design proficiency and enhancement for office productivity through the effective use of assistants. The course focus is how to translate ideal anatomy and morphology through CEREC design, achieving predictably functional and esthetic results through the implementation of systems and approaches. For more information contact CERECcoach@aol.com. In addition to training assistants, Natasha has instructed doctors in basic and intermediate CEREC mastery courses with her "CEREC — Coach On-Site Training" course. By concentrating on the unique needs of the office, Natasha aids in immediate success and accomplishment by working chairside on patients or off real models. Natasha has more than eight years of clinical chairside CEREC experience in an esthetic and technically advanced facility. She has worked and lectured internationally on CEREC with Dr. William R. Davidson, one of the country's most experienced CEREC clinicians and educators, for the past six years. Natasha has also worked with Dr. Doug Voiers, an acclaimed author, instructor, and expert in CEREC.

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