Our finished product reflects our work
Posted by Armi Cabero on Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Its been months since I last visited my blog and I felt compelled to do so because of the need to vent out what has been lacking in our practice. Just today, I was about to install a one unit Porcelain fused to Metal Crown and unfortunately, the bite on the patient was not perfect. I checked the occlusion and the patient had a deep bite. While fitting the crown, the patient's bite changes thereby increasing its vertical height on the side of the crown. Immediately, I realized this is not the perfect occlusion.
Slowly, I carefully trimmed the porcelain and metal away but as I was trimming, I noticed how I was losing the anatomy of the crown. Now, I have two choices. Either I ignore this problem and keep trimming away until we reach the correct occlusion OR I send it back to the lab for construction of a new crown. Lazy dentists would choose the former but as for me, I would like to see more of this patient while bragging her crown among her friends. To me, its such a wonderful feeling when your patients are appreciative of your work despite the long awaited process than to disappoint them for not delivering your work properly.
As I dismissed the patient, I knew she was happy that I was honest with her about the wrong occlusion made on her crown. Had I cemented it in its deformed anatomy, I would never have the peace of mind knowing that I did not do my best. Looking back, I am confident that the next appointment will be better and with the proper guidance to my ceramist, we will correct the mistake made on her crown. Working with a good lab counts because the finished product relies on their craftsmanship. If we accept a case that is not acceptable in anatomical terms, then what good are we here for?
Its true that time has changed me and molded me into a better health care professional. Not only have I raised my expectations, I have also learned to live by my ethics. Until next time.
Slowly, I carefully trimmed the porcelain and metal away but as I was trimming, I noticed how I was losing the anatomy of the crown. Now, I have two choices. Either I ignore this problem and keep trimming away until we reach the correct occlusion OR I send it back to the lab for construction of a new crown. Lazy dentists would choose the former but as for me, I would like to see more of this patient while bragging her crown among her friends. To me, its such a wonderful feeling when your patients are appreciative of your work despite the long awaited process than to disappoint them for not delivering your work properly.
As I dismissed the patient, I knew she was happy that I was honest with her about the wrong occlusion made on her crown. Had I cemented it in its deformed anatomy, I would never have the peace of mind knowing that I did not do my best. Looking back, I am confident that the next appointment will be better and with the proper guidance to my ceramist, we will correct the mistake made on her crown. Working with a good lab counts because the finished product relies on their craftsmanship. If we accept a case that is not acceptable in anatomical terms, then what good are we here for?
Its true that time has changed me and molded me into a better health care professional. Not only have I raised my expectations, I have also learned to live by my ethics. Until next time.
Dr Armi is past editor of Dental Asia magazine. After her numerous feats, she returns and handles a private practice in the country and is considered as one of the most respected dental professionals in the dental association.
Now she continues her editorial crusade as Editor in Chief of Dental News Philippines to help empower every Filipino dentist with updated knowledge and skills straight from the "libraries" of renowned authors in the world.
