Taking the first step into digital as a dentist can be daunting. But Dr. August de Oliveira says it is absolutely worth it. August has been a general dentist for 27 years and a digital dentist for 20 of them. exoBlog caught up with August at his technology-forward practice in Encino, California. August explains why he can’t imagine dentistry without exocad software and how he got his team onboard.
Q: Why do you choose exocad’s DentalCAD for your designs and restorations?
A: It's the best software out there. I’ve tried different CAD/CAM software, and the others are very limited. With exocad software, I can do anything. When I have an issue or complicated case, DentalCAD always gives me options and workarounds. For instance, I had a patient with oral cancer who had her jaw resected. We ended up doing a hybrid on her. She had numerous difficulties because of the grafting and pain, but I was able to work through all that. I don’t think I would have been able to without DentalCAD.
Q: What exocad software solutions do you find particularly helpful?
A: Smile Creator is a big part of my practice. Many people think Smile Creator is best used on young people for no-prep veneers. But we use Smile Creator for dentures, hybrids, and all anterior work. Going from the waxup to the temporary to the final with the exact same STL file is really important. In the past, when we did waxups, there was room for artistic interpretation. Sometimes patients who got temporaries and loved them were then given finals that were different. That can cost you a lot of chair time. I like that I have total control, monitoring and communication with both the patient and the lab using Smile Creator.
See how August increases patient satisfaction using Smile Creator.
Q: Any favorite tools within Smile Creator?
A: I like that I have the Smile Creator window. That way when I'm in the tooth placement step or the free-forming step, I can see the changes going on in the picture while I'm doing it. Because without the picture, everything kind of looks good. So, looking at their smile, and how you're moving the teeth around is a big help.
Q: You were an early adopter of digital workflows. How did you train your team to assist you?
A: I would design the restorations, and they would print. We’ve had a Cerec for a while, so they're used to setting up the mill. I taught them how to 3D print. Now they take it from after design. They put on the supports, post-process, stain and glaze. My dental assistant is an incredible characterizer of restorations. She does all the staining.
Q: What advice do you have for colleagues who are wondering how to best onboard their staff?
A: Dentists can get excited and want to do everything. They want to design dentures; they want to design crowns; they want to do hybrids. I would tell them to chill and start small. If your team doesn't know how to 3D print, maybe start with models, surgical guides, and night guards—easy stuff. Then work your way up into the harder stuff. Because once you get into restorations and how you put them in a 3D printer, that means something that will fit versus something that won't fit.
Q: What current trends do you see in the Southern California market?
A: My patients are often under time pressure. Offering a lot of same-day treatment is very important. You need in-house digital design options to make that happen. My patients have gotten used to a same-day workflow, and they've grown to expect it.
Q: One word for exocad?
A: Versatile. I love it. I call it the Swiss Army knife of digital dentistry. exocad software helps me do everything.
Dr. August de Oliveira graduated in the top 10 percent of his class at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1997. After moving to Los Angeles from Seattle, Dr. de Oliveira did an optional additional year in a General Practice Residency at the VA Sepulveda where he learned advanced techniques in Endodontics (Root Canals), Dental Implants, and Restorative Dentistry. Dr. de Oliveira lectures weekly all over the world on four primary subjects: CAD/CAM (same-day crowns), CBCT (3D x-rays), dental implants, and 3D printing. On implants, he lectures on subjects ranging from the basics of single-tooth implants to advanced Edentulous (no teeth) treatment. He has been published in many peer-reviewed journals and is widely recognized as a pioneer in CBCT-guided surgery. Dr. de Oliveira has developed software for numerous dental companies and has authored three textbooks on dental implants and 3D printing. Follow August’s work on Facebook or Instagram.
by Caitlan Reeg
Writer at exocad
Caitlan Reeg spends her days telling the world about the innovations her colleagues create. She’s passionate about healthcare, technology, and the ways the two interact to improve our lives. A former journalist, Caitlan has worked on staff at Dow Jones Newswires in Frankfurt and at the national public radio program Marketplace in Los Angeles.
