Somer is happy to offer you Bruxzir zirconia crowns and expect they will find their way into your treatment planning.

What do you need to know?

Bruxzir crowns are 100% Zirconia and are thus very, very strong. They require a minimum of .5 mm reduction and are suitable for individual units and bridges.

Bruxzir crowns are cementable and are kind to the opposing dentition. They offer excellent wear characteristics.

Somer’s Bruxzir crowns are milled in the USA and then finished to our standards by Somer technicians.

Use a traditional preparation.

What about costs?

Our fee is $109. per unit and will immunize you against fluctuating alloy prices.

What about esthetics?

Bruxzir brings you many of the esthetic benefits of metal free crowns and to most patients, is almost certainly preferable to a gold, full cast crown.

But like gold, we do not use Bruxzir in the esthetic zone.

How does Bruxzir work?

1. You send your impression or digital file to Somer.
2. Somer pours & scans the model, designs the crown and uploads the digital file to a Bruxzir milling facility.
3. They mill a full contour, zirconia crown in the prescribed shade and design and return it to Somer.
4. Somer refines the crown with ideal incisal anatomy and enhanced shading and characterization.
5. We send the completed crown to you. We ask for 6 lab days.

The joke: Bruxzir is the new gold!

There is a joke in dental labs that Bruxzir is the new gold.

It is very strong, kind to the opposing and has excellent wear characteristics.

Bruxzir is suitable for single units and bridges. It is fabricated in the USA and is immune from crazy alloy prices.

It requires only .5 mm reduction and is cementable.

Gold comes in 1 shade; Bruxzir comes in tooth shades. But like gold, we will keep Bruxzir out of the esthetic zone for the time being.

Ivoclar’s Joe Pickering, CDT, and Nathan Courtney presented a program on the e.max System at the Carmel Hampton Inn on Thursday, April 1.

Joe discussed:

-         indications and contra-indications

-         prep guidelines

-         thin veneers

-         the fabrication process

-         shade communication

-         natural die shades

-         CAD vs Press

-         implant applications

-         case selection

Joe’s message was that e.max offers a system dentists can turn to for almost any restorative need and hit new cosmetic and strength potentials.

Nathan Courtney, a Clinical Specialist for Ivoclar, discussed Variolink, Multilink and SpeedCem. Nathan’s comments really did an excellent job of organizing Ivoclar’s delivery systems.

Variolink II  Variolink is a dual cure luting composite used successfully for 15+ years. Think of Variolink for high end esthetic cases, most likely driven by cosmetic considerations and fabricated using Empress Esthetic. This is a bonding process giving the dentists extreme control of the final shade through 6 delivery shades and 3 degrees of translucencies.

Multilink  Multilink is universal self-etching, luting composite system for the fast and reliable luting of indirect restorations made from all types of materials. Turn to Multilink when you identify a need for chemical retention and would like some control of shade at delivery. Multilink comes in 3 shades: yellow, transparent and opaque.

SpeedCem  SpeedCem is the work horse of Ivoclar’s offerings. It is a self-adhesive, self-curing resin cement with a light curing option. It is suitable for everything from an e.maxCAD crown to a full cast crown. With SpeedCem, you are thinking in terms of mechanical retention and do not need shade control at delivery.

Sheila Clancy, CDA, MBA, from Clancy Consulting, spoke to Dental Assistants on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The presentation was titled “Straight Talk: The Mechanics of Communication and Conflict Resolution.”

Dinner was provided by IDDS and Somer Dental Lab. We met at  the Benco offices on West 74^th Street.

Ms. Clancy pointed out dental care is often stressful for patients and we may not be seeing them at their best. Also, small groups that work together everyday in close proximity can inadvertently generate stress and tension.

Ms. Clancy offered tips on communicating with patients and other staff members. Generally speaking, we covered 3 areas:

1. What skills do you need for effective communication with patients?
2. What approaches are successful when faced with confrontation?
3. How can you achieve “constructive confrontation?”

 Check out Images from the meeting!

Somer Dental Lab will team with Ivoclar Vivadent on Thursday April 1 from 6-8:30 PM at Carmel Hampton Inn for a program on e.max line of restorations. Our focus is primarily e.maxCAD and Press, the 2 materials that have proven themselves to find practical application every day.

You may have noticed the advertising war between 3M’s Lava Zirconia and Ivoclar’s Lithium Disilicate materials.  These were red hot topics at Lab Day in Chicago. This is a great opportunity to hear the Lithium Disilicate story, so please plan to attend.

This program is exclusively for Somer’s current accounts. Call Ted to reserve a place.

Click here for CE and additional info!

Everyday, our technicians set teeth, build porcelain, cast frames, wax copings, scan models, and mill crowns on schedule on time and get great report cards from our dentists. Learn More

Indications

* Full coverage crowns and bridges

* Radica® has expanded its indications in the mouth up to 2-years

Come join us for our 1st technical meeting of 2010! This free seminar will include tips, breakfast, and 2 hrs of CE.

Mark your calendars for the Somer Winter Technical Meeting Friday, January 22, 2010 at the Carmel Hampton Inn from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Heraeus Kulzer’s national trainer will join us for Dentures A to Z. We’ll be covering impressions, Over Dentures and Ultra Suction. CE will be awarded and breakfast isincluded. There is no fee; the program is offered by Somer and Heraeus Kulzer.

Conventional wisdom is that economic downturns generate denture cases. Certainly our denture department is busier than ever. Take advantage of the economy and pick-up some tips for better dentures. Call Ted to register today!

Somer is privileged to offer Lunch & Learns based on the development of the 3D Shade Guide and Dr. Christensen’s everyday experience with the guide. It is Dr. Christensen’s guide of choice.

Dr. Christensen and Somer can show you:

- how to make shade taking easier and more predictable.
- how to improve the shades you are delivering.
- how to schedule fewer custom shades and stains.

This program will give you and your staff a better understanding of value, hue and chroma and laboratory communication You will learn to use the 3D Guide easily and successfully.

Call Ted Coates at the lab to schedule your Lunch and Learn.

• a passion for technology
• a love of life long learning
• manufacturer sponsored training
• multiple skill sets you enjoy
• a commitment to playing well with others
• a solid customer service ethic

Somer Dental Lab has been in business since 1982 and is located in Zionsville, Indiana. We offer group health, life, disability and dental insurance. We have a great 401K with an employer matching contribution schedule.

Technicians work Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you would like to learn more, please contact John Feeney, Lab Manager, at john@somer.com.