The brand burden
Québec’s dental technicians are governed by a professional order and must abide by a set of rules. One such rule stipulates that our duties may only be carried out by prescription, the requirements of which we must observe. Our role also entails advising dentists on dental technology and related topics. Materials are obviously one of those topics, and some materials are also known by a trade name.
If a brand name is stated on a prescription, the technician has to follow a series of steps. If the laboratory already uses that particular brand’s products or equipment, all the technician will have to do is look at whether the request is the most suitable option for the situation at hand. If not, then this opens up a window to have a conversation with the client.
In either case, specifying the trade name on a prescription can be restrictive. If you mention Empress®, for instance, but the laboratory is equipped for and familiar with e.max®, you and the dental technician will necessarily have to have a discussion. All that, when perhaps you might just as easily have said “pressed ceramic.” It’s akin to saying Frigidaire®, when really you just want to keep something cold. Sometimes it is better to use the generic term, such as metal-ceramic or PFM, zirconia-ceramic, monolithic zirconia, lithium disilicate or acrylic.
The same principle applies to dental alloys. It is not uncommon to see the terms “gold ceramic crown” and “full-cast gold crown” used, but pure gold is not actually used in fixed prostheses. You may, however, specify the nobility of the alloy to be used. Writing something like high, medium or low gold content, or even no gold, can be informative. But try not to be overly specific about the percentage or brand for an alloy unless this is important to you. If the laboratory does not carry the 55.3% gold variety, they may not be thrilled to have to buy a whole ounce just to cast a crown on a 32. There are several factors to consider before choosing a particular dental alloy. It isn’t something to be taken lightly.
A time when it may be appropriate to clearly state a preference would be when the lab has to buy implant parts. Do you want the exact same brand as the implant itself, or would another compatible part suffice? If no clear direction is given to that effect, our dental technicians will generally use original parts matched with the implant brand, and if the brand name is not provided, we will base ourselves on the transfer cylinder found in the impression.
When all is said and done, this issue is really about communication between the dentist and the dental technician.
Summer 2016
It’s officially a habit! We will be open all summer. The schedules of key personnel have been strategically arranged to provide you with uninterrupted service for all your dental laboratory needs.
