My Experience as a CEREC Dentist with a Soldier in Need
I started with CEREC in 1997, not knowing exactly where it would lead. My main focus was on “reviving” my interest in dentistry, after 25 years I had started to suffer from dental burnout. Little did I know it would become a passion for education.
Once I became proficient with the CEREC system, I was able to grow my practice from a single doctor to a four-doctor multi-million dollar practice in less then five years. While I did incorporate other technologies during this time period, none had such a dramatic effect as the CEREC; I guess I really did not understand how much single appointment dentistry actually meant to my patients.
Another aspect that emerged from using this particular type of technology was the passion shown by other users of this product. It seemed like one of the only areas in dentistry that we, as dentists, did not want to keep “secret” from other dentists. Because we are also running a small business it always appeared that if we discovered a way to make our practice better, we wanted to keep that information to ourselves. This notion was totally changed with the beginning CEREC users, we all wanted to be able to do anything we could to help other users and other no-users of this technology reach their full potential.
This lead to me being named as one of the original eight instructors for the CEREC system when the distributer, Patterson Companies, inc., took over the training aspect of CEREC from the International Society of Computerized Dentistry. Both Patterson and Sirona, beginning in 1999, have since certified me as a basic and advanced instructor.
Approximately six years ago Mr. Buddy Auten, Sales and Marketing Manager for Sirona’s CAD/CAM Institutional Accounts, asked me if I would be willing to help train a few of the Military bases and Dental Schools that were investing in this growing technology. This has turned into one of the best things that have happened in my life.
I must admit that the first couple of years working with the military, I viewed it as just another training. That all changed in December 23, 2006 at a Veterans Administration Hospital in Chicago.
Ms. Betsy Ashworth had hired me to do the training for the newest addition to the CEREC family, the Chicago VA. The training was very successful, but upon completion one of the doctors remarked they wished they would have known about the technology a bit earlier. He informed me they had just placed a temporary crown on a young soldier the week before, thereby making him a class three patient. Not knowing the meaning of the term I inquired about the classification. He informed us that a class three patient is no longer able to travel, in this case, because of the possible loss of the temporary crown that was on the soldiers tooth. Being just three days before Christmas Ms. Ashworth and myself told the director of the clinic that we would be willing to stay for one more day if we could help get him home in time for the holiday, not knowing this would be something that would change our lives forever.
The next morning Ms. Ashworth and I returned to the clinic to help complete the restoration that was started earlier. While setting up the operatory and the machine, the treating doctor informed me that the patient was a 22 year old that was injured in the Iraq war. He advised us that he was still a bit jumpy, and we would need to explain to him what we would be doing in a fair amount of detail.
Ms. Ashworth proceeded to the waiting room to talk with him and begin to explain what the procedures we would be doing. I then also went to the waiting room to introduce myself, and was deeply saddened by what by what I saw.
I did not realize that this particular hospital was the treatment center for those soldiers that were suffering from eye damage. After introducing myself, Ms. Ashworth proceeded to inform me of his conditions. During a roadside IED attack on his convoy he sustained multiple injuries to his face, hands, and legs. Thankfully, his torso armor was able to save his life. His injuries included 388 pieces of shrapnel in his face (so small they are un-removable), the loss of three fingers on his left hand, severe damage to his right hand, the loss of most of the calf muscles in his legs, but the most severe injury was the total loss of his sight.
After talking with him for several minutes, he expressed his gratitude that at the completion of this treatment he would be able to be given leave, making it possible for him go home to “see” his family for Christmas. A solder with a temporary restoration is classified as class 2, meaning he is not able to travel or be deployed. His family included his parents, his young wife of two years, and a daughter that was born just before he deployed to Iraq.
I then proceeded to walk him back to the operatories to begin his treatment. Remembering what the treating doctor told us about him being a bit “jumpy” I made every attempt to explain exactly what was going to happen before it occurred. He was not in the chair two minutes when I pulled the bracket table over him, causing the handpiece lines to drag across his legs. His reaction was immediate, causing him to try and spring up from the chair. Trying to imagine what it was like for this young solder to go from a fully functional individual to one that was totally blind in an instant was very difficult for me to comprehend. Even the slightest of movements, even those that we take for granted, would be totally unexpected for him.
The preparation was modified to an all-ceramic type, and the typical steps of acquiring the images, designing, and delivering the crown with the CEREC system was completed. He was informed his restoration was completed and would be able to return home in time for Christmas. I had the privilege of guiding him back to the reception area, as we walked through the clinic with his hand on my shoulder he stopped me, thanked me and whispered in my ear that “if I could cry, I would”.
As you can imagine this was truly a life altering experience for me, and from that day I have come to realize what these protectors of our freedoms are sacrificing. I truly feel that these young ladies and gentleman deserve the absolute very best that we can provide. In my small way, by training the dentists who treat them with the CEREC system, I am helping serve that purpose.
Thanks so much!
Coming to our VA to train the dentists last month was great, it has made a huge difference for the dentists, but more so for the veterans who now benefit from this technology every day.
Rick, "Hearing" this experience a second time in print may be more powerful that it was when you shared this with Parris Island class. I agree with Charles, additional distribution may be appreciated by more folks than any of us may realize. Merry Christmas "shipmate", travel safely!
