-
Jose Walter · Owner
-
Jose Walter · Owner
-
Jose Walter · Owner
I know there are several single pour disposable articulators on the market that are very fast...and though many labs are using them...the Vertex articulator (the little black one with the stone bases) still seems to be the most common one in most labs. My question...is why? I am doing some research...responses will be appreciated.
-
Jose Walter · Owner
I have a question. With all the new technology...do you guys think articulators will become something of the past? If so, how soon, 5 yrs, 10 yrs?
-
Patrick Eschenfelder · Dental Lab Technician
. . .I don't Think that we will ever completely LOSE SIGHT of them . However, as you said we may with the New TECHNOLOGY becoming more advanced we may see alternatives (CHANGES in STRUCTURE) to what "WE KNOW AS ARTICULATORS" , but there will ALWAYS be someway for TECHNICIANS To REPRODUCE the WORKING MAXILLARY & MANDIBULAR QUADRANTS in the ART of DENTAL MASTICATION! Peace . . .Patrick!
-
Michael Cohn · Owner
We've been told that we have about 10 years left in the market. That might not be the case, but until then, we have THE most scanner friendly articulator on the market that clicks on and off the model without glue. It's a scanning accessory really, something every scanner needs to complete the "outfit" as the industry transitions to total digital.
-
-
Jose Walter · Owner
Hello people! Marta...Dan...Happy New Year! I Hope everybody is doing well. Just having a conversation with a lady friend. She owns a lab but is not a tech herself...her husband was, but he pasted away. Anyhow...she wants to know how many crown a single tech can produce in a day from start to finish
Patrick Eschenfelder likes this-
Marta Lizza · Owner, Ceramist
Happy New Year Jose! Nice to see you! I guess my answer would depend on the level of quality she is requesting, no? I would think a range of 3-5-15/day. But you know...things have changed so much. I may be a little out of touch. I'd be interested in hearing other contributions on this!
-
Dan O'Rourke · Owner, President
Hi gang! Ah yes the age old question "how many can you do in a day" For me to be able to produce 4 crowns per day would be a very busy week.
-
Flemming Behrend, MDT ·
Hi Jose. I can handle about 20 to 24 in a week. More than that is total stress and a danger zone. If you are alone like me, it is not only the crowns, it is also, billing out, packing, model work, cleaning up, prep work etc. etc.
-
-
Jose Walter posted about Marketing and Videos
The viral video can be used to explain how a simple message such as this blog can reach the masses using...(more)
-
Jose Walter · Owner
Here's a great read and a way for creating greater dental lab awareness of the dental lab industry and...(more)
-
Jose Walter posted about CAD/CAM
-
Jose Walter · Owner
OK...another question...I could be out of the loop...(sigh...) So, some would like to to see a CDT in order to start a dental lab...that's cool, I have no major hang-ups here. But what about all these dentists who have or will have cad/ cam systems in house...will they required and should they be...See more
-
Jose Walter · Owner
OK...how do we get more owners to cross-train their lab techs? There are great benefits!
-
Mark Jackson, RDT · Owner
Jose, I teach a program at the NADL University every year on Production Standards. Part of the program is about using a multitiered incentive system, whereby a technician is paid more per piece as they increase their skill levels. In order to become a lever three metal finisher for example, they must be a level two waxer and a level once ceramist. It is my belief that in order to give a department...See more
-
Mark Jackson, RDT · Owner
Technicians that are paid by the unit are motivated by the same thing that an hourly technician is motivated by, except he won't take all day to do it. He will look for faster, easier ways to do things. He will help contribute to the overall productivity of the lab. He will lower remakes, he will eliminate late cases, and he will take away 90% of the management headaches we lab owners deal with. They...See more
-
Gary Johnston · Owner
Everyone take this with a grain of salt......... "G" Fe2k ( OOOPS I was going so fast I nicked that margin on this 3 unit bridge....not to worry management gave me a red handle knife in my second level training......I've learned how to use it to lower remakes and eliminate late cases......) TELL ME ( "YOU" ) HAVE NOT DONE IT!!!!!!!!!!! Mark (that dog wont hunt).....
-
Mark Jackson, RDT · Owner
Unethical and crooked technicians can be paid hourly, or by the unit. It doesn't matter. Cheaters cheat, because they like to cheat, and can get away with it. One big difference is, most production pay technicians do not get paid for remakes. Hourly technicians do...often at time and a half. Ethics start with the owner, as you stated in your post Gary. They set the tone for your own bad behavior.
-
Gary Johnston · Owner
I'll state it again.....( Tell me...) You have not done that!!!!!!!!
-
Mark Jackson, RDT · Owner
I don't check QC. I pay my managers, and Dr Khatami to do that. I'd fire anybody I caught using the margin stretcher in this lab. As it is, every departments remake statistics are posted for everyone to see. Nobody wants to be the top name on that list I assure you.
-
Gary Johnston · Owner
Ethics started around my second year after I started to understand what the heck I was doing.......Not 40 years later as a lab owner.........again take marks statement with a grain of salt. "YOU SILVER TONGUE DEVIL"lol haha have you sold cars????? But I c your thoughts........ again thank you for the photos..
-
Mark Jackson, RDT · Owner
BTW, my lab is not a straight piecework operation. We have a blend of technicians, and those with production incentives are paid a production differential, where they earn the higher amount of salary versus production. It's a very refined system. This lab wouldn't be here, and we wouldn't have the kind of reputation we had if quality was not the number one priority. I keep good technicians because...See more
-
Mark Jackson, RDT · Owner
Gary, my system is no better than anybody else's. It happens to work for me, but it may not work in the hands of another lab owner. I was one of the guys who would have loved to finish my work and go home at 3, instead of sitting around milking the clock til 5. It would never have affected my quality. I would fit perfectly in a lab like this. Nobody is perfect. we make mistakes and we have our problems,...See more
-
Victor Nin · Crown and Bridge Manager/Technician
Milking the clock...man do I have stories for you....
-
My brother calls me,
I am a dental technician with over 28 years of dentistry experience. I am passionate about my work. I am amazed that after this many years in the business every day I continue to learn something new about teeth.
In the early 90's I invented the popular W.O.W. Articulator and was granted a patent. In 2000 I invented another popular disposable articulator and co-founded cbite, inc. to manufacture the product. While at cbite I went on to create a complete line of articulators, a line of stone enhancing liquids, and was the original inventor of the co-invented implant impression tray. I have been granted two more patents and other patents are pending. Throughout the years I have gained extensive experience in R&D, product design, engineering and manufacturing to provide on-going restorative dental products to the dental community.
Bam! Dental Products
Owner · Manufacturer/Supplier Sales Rep · Fairfax, VAThe Daily Bite
Are your clients considering chairside CAD/CAM? Some laboratory owners feel dentists aren't getting an accurate picture of the expenses involved with chairside systems. Educate them on their investment, including the cost of equipment, maintenance, porcelain blocks, milling burs and the most important thing: time.
LMT Original Research © 2010 - 2013








Marta Lizza · Owner, Ceramist
personally...it allows for more control, cleaner model work and is the most user friendly of the disposables.
January 13 at 4:48 pm · 2 peoplePatrick EschenfelderJose Walter
Jose Walter · Owner
Control? care to explain? Cleaner and most user friendly? Hmm...?
January 13 at 6:18 pmKaren Johnson, CDT · Owner
Check out articulator.weebly.com. It is a sturdier plastic articulator that is reusable. You can easily reset the bite if needed by the unique design. Very clever articulator. We have been using them for 3 years. Great for using with cases that have to be scanned.
January 14 at 9:22 amPatrick Eschenfelder · Dental Lab Technician
. . , Cleaner end product. . .a better looking model to use & even send out & ease of use!
January 15 at 5:01 amMarta Lizza cc: Karen Johnson, CDT
Hi Jose. What I like most about the vertex system is it's ability to produce a neatly trimmed model and base and then set the bite. After pouring the base and positioning the pinned model...it's simple to remove the pinned model after it is set, trim the base flat so that it's neat and still have a lip to lock the dies in place, trim the sides for easy access to the working die, set the bite and...See more
January 15 at 7:48 amKaren Johnson, CDT · Owner
It makes a clean model. You don't need to trim the bottom. If you take a big round bur and make an indentation where the pins are then you have an opening to push the pin up if needed.
January 15 at 11:05 amMarta Lizza · Owner, Ceramist
uh, no, I was referring to the top surface of the base. When you pour the stone into the base, with the pinned model in place, and let it rise about 1/4 " along the edges of the pinned model. When it's set, remove the pinned model and reduce the height of the lip on the base to about 1/8" with a model trimmer. That's the surface I was referring to about being able to trim Karen. Can you do that...See more
January 15 at 1:30 pmFlemming Behrend, MDT ·
I have used Vertex system for more than 20 years now. It's clean and easy. I have never understood why they can't make a mold where you don't have to glue in the little black sockets though. I have tried the articulators where you assume the bite is right and pour them into the articulator with pins already calculated in place. Hated it, and it actually took me longer to clean them up to look decent...See more
February 1 at 6:45 pmPatrick Eschenfelder · Dental Lab Technician
. . .as has been said by myself as well as by others before me , it is an "UNCOMPLICATED" system to use, and Gives you an Extremely GOOD LOOKING Product as an End Result. The results of that is it is a lot Easier to produce a Nice looking TOOTH ( not Crown. . .big difference) RESTORATION on a model that looks Good and Functions Good too , than to try and "PULL A RABBIT OUT OF YOUR HAT" on something...See more
February 2 at 3:11 amCJ Bigsby · Lab Owner/Ceramist
Jose, I've used Vertex as well as a dozen other disposable systems in the past 14 years. When I opened my lab I chose the Monotrac V2 articulators, It is the easiest to clean, user friendly, and the most accurate I've found. The one thing about pinned systems is the amount of kenetic distortion associated with them. You have a base stone with one expansion rate and a receiving sleeve. There's a die...See more
February 5 at 7:45 amJose Walter · Owner
Thanks everybody for your responses. Your feedback really helps.
February 5 at 5:20 pm · 1 personPatrick EschenfelderI think you can make a very good looking and accurate model system with most disposable systems on the market, with pins or without.
As CJ said..."I think every lab has a system that works for them"
Still the the vast majority are using the the vertex articulator...maybe I should put the...See more
Edgar Munoz, CDT · Ceramist/Owner
Try C-Bite Disposable articulators. I Use them here and there for certain cases.
http://www.cbite.com/articulators/spinneo/index.html
Dental Articulator: Spin NEO
http://www.cbite.com/articulators/spinneo/index.htmlCbite is proud to introduce the new Spin NEO. Versatile, accurate and great movements are the reasons so many are choosing the Spin NEO.
Darrick Hartman · Lab Manager
Monotrac v2 like CJ said....they are clean and very fast, you can cut down using huge amounts of stone using modeling clay to block out opposing bases.
February 7 at 5:45 pmJose Walter · Owner
Hi Edgar...glad to hear you are using the cbite articulator...I invented that product. I was one of the original founders at cbite...I am no longer with them...but I get happy when I hear from a happy customer.
February 7 at 5:50 pmJose Walter · Owner
I also invented the W.O.W. articulator and sold it to Accubite Dental Supply.
February 7 at 5:52 pmJose Walter · Owner
Actually...the reason I am asking these questions about articulators...is because I have another articulator lined up...in the finally prototype stage. I was hoping to get some feedback that might help in creating the ultimate disposable articulator. Maybe another way to to ask the question...If another disposable articulator is to come to market...what would you the end user like it to have?
February 7 at 5:59 pmEdgar Munoz, CDT · Ceramist/Owner
I would want great Stability, compatible to all glues, small, economical, and overall nice esthetic look .
February 7 at 6:03 pmMarta Lizza · Owner, Ceramist
Good for you Jose! Good luck with this.
February 7 at 6:27 pm