Advanced Applications in Same-Day Dentistry
With support from a company like Axsys and the various tools they offer, you can better serve your patients when you implement same-day dentistry in your practice
Many patients remain unaware that same-day dentistry exists, even though the concept has been around for about 2 decades. In fact, some patients are blown away when they learn that
their dentists can create and place crowns on the same day as the initial appointment.
Dr. Bryan Kariya’s start in same-day dentistry began with crowns and he has since made it a point to utilize the workflow as much as possible in his Oklahoma City, OK, practice. “Practicing same-day dentistry is a great marketing tool for your patient base because it cuts down on the amount of time that they need to take away from work or other responsibilities to have dental procedures completed,” he explained.
If you have the tools to practice same-day dentistry, consider each of them as a practice builder. “It is an amazing thing to be able to expand your world of dentistry, and having the tools to facilitate that is a necessary component,” said Dr. Kariya. “My experience has been with the Axsys Versamill, and with it, I’ve seen the flexibility and wide range of things I can make with just a single mill, which is great.”
3 Components of Same-Day Dentistry
According to Dr. Kariya, 3 components are critical to the ideal same-day dentistry workflow. The first is data acquisition, which usually is accomplished via intraoral scans. Second is digital design, which can be achieved using any number software options.
“I personally like to use exocad, but I’m starting to use Blue Sky Plan from Blue Sky Bio well,” said Dr. Kariya. The third component is fabricating the restoration, which can be done by dental assistants if they are trained properly.
In the ideal workflow, as Dr. Kariya describes it, you train your team to perform tasks that don’t require your expertise so that you’re free to do things that only you can do—seeing patients, performing exams, and cutting crowns. Dr. Kariya believes this provides a perfect opportunity to empower your team and to help them learn and grow.
Dr. Kariya recommends that every dentist get an intraoral scanner. Although he believes that traditional impressions work well, he’s seen the clear advantages of having an intraoral scanner. “I have the Medit scanner from Axsys and I can do a full arch scan in about 20 seconds, which is faster than an analog impression. If there’s anything that I missed, I can easily go back and capture it,” he explained. “It also reduces gagging for patients, so the their comfort level is increased significantly.”
Intraoral scanners also aid patient education and case acceptance. With the Medit scanner, Dr. Kariya can show his patients their teeth, as well as some of the tools that can be used to help restore their smiles. He has found that this component of his workflow has increased case acceptance.
“Axsys has solutions from start to finish in this process because they have the full suite of products and materials that you need to function well in sameday dentistry.”
- Bryan Kariya, DDS
Educational Tools to Improve Practices
Dr. Kariya is a partner in Transcend Dental Education, where he joined Drs. Cory Glenn and Ben Kellum to offer continuing education courses focused on implementing digital workflows—including guided surgery and full-mouth restorations.
“We have a mission to help dentists achieve greater integration of digital dentistry into their offices,” said Dr. Kariya. “We also help dentists see how this technology can be used to leverage access to care for patients.”
One of the most important factors to consider when taking advantage of an education program like Transcend is passing the knowledge along to your team and training them with you. “Frequently dentists will go to a CE course by themselves, and then when they get to the office on Monday, they don’t have the support from their whole staff to be able to move in and apply the workflows, which means they sputter and die,” explained Dr. Kariya. “Our goal is to help the entire team embrace these workflows so they can find success when applying them in the practice.”
It’s also helpful for the front desk to know about the clinical practice so that they can communicate information to patients. “The front desk is the gateway into the practice, so you want them to have a baseline idea of what these workflows look like so that they can converse with patients and explain what the practice has to offer,” Dr. Kariya said.
Finding Support for Your Objectives
Dr. Kariya’s biggest piece of advice for dentists looking to administer same-day dentistry in their practices: Don’t do it on your own. “Find mentors and others in the dental community who are willing to help and be a resource. There are so many people out there who are knowledgeable about these things,” he said. “The bigger your community is, the better it’s going to be for your practice, and the better you’re going to be able to serve your patients.”
For Dr. Kariya, Axsys has played a huge role in his same-day dentistry workflow. “Axsys has solutions from start to finish in this process because they have the full suite of products and materials that you need to function well in same-day dentistry,” he concluded. “Axsys is invested in your practice’s success. That’s been my experience.”
For more information, click here to check out Transcend Dental Education’s website.
