glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution Simplifies Single-Visit Restorations

As an early adopter of digital dentistry, Christopher Petrush, DDS, has seen the difference that high-tech tools can make in his Concord, California, private practice.

"I have had CAD/CAM in the office for the past 14 years, and 95% of tooth-supported crowns have been delivered on the same day as the preparations," he says proudly. "Today's technology and materials have made it possible to deliver lab-quality restorations that are designed and milled in the dental office."

Petrush, who focuses on placing and restoring dental implants, acknowledges that in the past, the learning curve for scanning and designing crowns with some CAD/CAM systems was "steep."But in March 2020, he invested in the glidewell.io^™ In-Office Solution and has been thrilled with the results. In addition to the intraoral scanning being "very easy," the fastdesign.io^™ software has been "an exponential improvement" over previous systems from other manufacturers, he says. "The crowns have better fit, better anatomy, and are just prettier than what I was able to deliver in the past. I feel like I went from a VW Beetle to a Turbo 911 with the Glidewell system."

Noting that the Glidewell software is "incredibly easy to learn," Petrush says fastdesign.io offers a way to treat more patients in a shorter amount of time. "My patients love that the scanner replaces the physical impression and that they don't need to have ‘goop' in their mouth. They love not having to come back for a crown delivery. No one misses temporary crowns!"

Petrush says he designs all of his crowns in the office, frequently in front of the patient. "I feel there is value in the patient seeing firsthand that their doctor made the crown. Many times they comment during the design process and say things like, ‘Doctor, you are an artist!'"

The glidewell.io In-Office Solution, the company says, is created for clinicians to increase efficiency, income, and profit. The system includes everything needed to scan (fastscan.io^™ Scanning Solution), design (fastdesign.io^™ Software and Design Station), mill (fastmill.io^™ In-Office Mill), and deliver chairside single-visit restorations made from BruxZir^® zirconia and other materials. Petrush says in-depth training and personalized guidance for the digital technology suite is also readily available from Glidewell.

"There is support for technical and design questions. The people that answer the helpline can even log into the design system and help with your crown designs, if needed," Petrush says. "Glidewell also provides training sessions as part of the purchase, ranging from basic courses to advanced anterior esthetic courses."

Petrush's advice to fellow clinicians contemplating chairside CAD/CAM dentistry? "Don't hesitate to bring this technology into your practice. It is well worth it, and Glidewell's design software is almost too easy to use!"

Christopher Petrush, DDS
Private Practice, Concord, California; Diplomate, American Board of Oral Implantology; Honored Fellow, American Academy of Implant Dentistry

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