Cerec Connect Article by Dr Carlos Boudet, DDS

This is an article that was accepted for publication in Chairside Magazine and came out in print and online this month.
The article relates to digital impressions transmitted electronically to the lab using the Cerec system by Sirona.
Here is the editor's comments:

" Digital impressions are slowly catching on with our customers at the lab. The majority of the digital impressions we receive are from Sirona CEREC® owners, who typically use this digital impression system to design and mill a crown, such as IPS e.max® CAD, in their own offices. However, we are seeing more CEREC dentists who want to take advantage of high strength monolithic restorations that cannot be milled in the office, such as BruxZir® Solid Zirconia.

In this article, Dr. Carlos Boudet outlines the steps transmitting a digital file to the lab via CEREC Connect. "

INTRODUCTION

A common fear among dentists who purchase the latest technology in the form of a new piece of equipment is the uncertainty of how soon it will be made obsolete. This fear is greater when it is unclear if the manufacturer will offer system upgrades that allow the dentist to continue using the equipment when improved features and new options become available.

For years, the ceramo-metal restoration has been the gold standard in crown & bridge procedures. Although durable and time-tested, this type of restoration may not be the most esthetic. For years, patients have asked for metal-free restorations, and the industry has accommodated this request with various resin composite and ceramic systems.



THE CEREC CAD/CAM SYSTEM

There are two chairside CAD/CAM systems available today: CEREC (Sirona Dental Systems; Charlotte, N.C.) and E4D Dentist™ (D4D Technologies; Richardson, Texas). Also available are three chairside digital impression systems: Lava C.O.S. from 3M ESPE, iTero from CADENT1 and IOS FastScan from IOS Technologies Inc. (The last was recently released to a select group of dentists in Southern California. A fourth chairside digital impression system developed in Israel, Densys, is not yet available to U.S. dentists but is expected to be released stateside in late 2011.) I own a CEREC 3D Redcam system, which now has been replaced by faster hardware and better software with Sirona's CEREC Bluecam.

Soon after I purchased the CEREC Redcam system, I had the opportunity to test out the CADENT iTero.2 I liked the system's ability to create a very precise model that allowed me to choose virtually any material for the fabrication of crowns & bridges from a digital impression. This got me thinking: Wouldn't it be nice if I could take digital impressions with my CEREC unit and send them to the lab for cases that, because of the choice of materials3 or other reasons, cannot be fabricated using the compact milling unit?


For the complete article, please visit my website link here:
http://www.boudetdds.com/articles.htm
Or visit chairside magazine's link here:
http://www.glidewelldental.com/downloads/dentist/chairside/issues/spring2011-v6-2.pdf

West Palm Beach Dentist
Carlos Boudet, DDS, DICOI
1840 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 204
West Palm Beach, Florida  33406
Phone: (561) 968 6022

 Website: http://www.boudetdds.com
Implant Blog: http://www.palm-beach-implants.com

Porcelain Veneer Course

The first part of a new course on Porcelain Veneers has been posted by West Palm Beach Dentist Carlos Boudet, DDS on youtube video form.  The course is one hour long and is divided into three parts.  The first part consists of a detailed description of the smile design principles used in creating beautiful smiles. Dentists interested in learning about porcelain veneers should find it useful.
The youtube video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDGR_jXo1Y
The embedded video is found below:



The next video, part two will be posted soon.
West Palm Beach Cosmetic Dentist
Carlos Boudet, DDS, DICOI
Website: http://www.boudetdds.com/
Implants Blog: http://www.palm-beach-implants.com/
Spanish Website: http://www.palmbeachdentist.net/

Is CVS Pharmacy Ripping You Off?

Is CVS Pharmacy Ripping You Off With Your Prescriptions?

I normally keep my mouth shut and will not write anything negative about anything or anybody, but I feel bad for those that have a problem paying for their medication, and rely on discount pharmacies and advertised low prices to stay within their budget on a fixed income like our elderly seniors. As a dentist in West Palm Beach, Florida I write many prescriptions and if my patients can benefit from this, then I think is worth my writing about it.

A month ago I went to a CVS pharmacy conveniently located near my house to fill a prescription. I gave it to the pharmacy staff and asked if he could tell me the cost of my medicine and if CVS would give me the lowest cost. I also gave him my insurance information. He checked in the computer and said that the prescription would cost $15. I then asked him to tell me what the medicine would cost without my insurance, he hesitated and said it would be the same $15. I thought it was strange, but went ahead and filled the prescription. When I received the medicine, I noticed that I was given only thirty capsules, even thought the doctor prescribed a quantity of ninety. When I asked the clerk, he said that my insurance would not pay for more than thirty capsules at a time. That was my second red flag.

I took all my medication like a good patient should and the following month I took the empty container to a different pharmacy (I had two additional refills) and asked the staff if she could tell me how much my medication would cost. She asked me for my insurance information and I gave it to her. She looked in her computer and quickly replied: “Ok, if you get the medicine through your insurance, I have to charge you a $15 copayment, but if you don’t use it the prescription will cost you $10.” Of course I did not use my insurance, but when I received the medication it was for the full ninety capsules and not thirty like CVS had given me.
This means that if I had gone to CVS to fill the prescription (a total of 270 capsules, 90 caps X 3 refills) I would have paid $15 X 9 (they only gave me 30 at a time) or $135, while at the other pharmacy I would only pay $30.
I called CVS and asked for an explanation, but they were unable to provide one for me.

This incident also helped me reinforce my conviction that insurance companies are ripping us off and they don’t care about the patient, they just care about making money. I was paying for expensive medical insurance which should have paid for prescription drugs and my copayment was higher than the cost of the medication without insurance. Go figure!

I have the prescription numbers and can verify everything I have written.
I can afford the cost of the medicine in CVS, but I think they need to be more honest and give you all the information with your best interest in mind.
The next time you need a prescription filled, you may want to think twice about taking it to CVS pharmacy.

Carlos Boudet, DDS
West Palm Beach Dentist
http://www.boudetdds.com