From Rocket Science to Chairside Dentistry

I am a chemical engineer and former systems engineer on solid rocket boosters for major launch systems, so you could call me a rocket scientist. Precision has always been part of my DNA, and in many ways, that mindset is what ultimately drew me to digital dentistry.

When I graduated from dental school in 2007, I was introduced to digital scanning through one of the original iTero^® systems. Even though it was clunky, I saw the promise. But in-office milling at that time didn’t impress me — especially after a personal experience with a poorly fitting crown while using one of the early systems.

Fast forward to today and I can confidently say that Glidewell’s chairside system has changed my perspective entirely. Beyond speed and material science, what sold me on the glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution was the control. With chairside scanning and design, I can ensure every margin is captured and every reduction is adequate. Unlike the days of sending VPS impressions to a lab and hoping the lab technician could work with what we sent, I now have 100% control over every step. I can zoom in, identify issues on the screen, and decide instantly if an area needs refining before the mill even starts. That level of precision suits the engineer in me.

Glidewell’s fastmill.io™ In-Office Mill allows me to do what I couldn’t before: accurately, reliably, and quickly produce zirconia crowns in office. There’s no oven time, no unpredictable shrinkage and no compromises.

My practice is in a rural area where convenience matters. Most of our cases are single-unit posterior zirconia crowns, and with the glidewell.io system, we can consistently deliver same-day restorations. Before my associate joined the practice, I had already milled over 1,000 units on a single mill. Now, my associate and I have two mills in the office that run daily.

Recently, I had a young patient with two retained primary incisors on the lower arch — small, gray and highly visible. She had been quoted over $10,000 for implants elsewhere, which wasn’t feasible for her. I offered a same-day solution using milled composite crowns. We prepped conservatively, milled two units with CAMouflage^® NOW Milling Blocks in under 15 minutes, and delivered them that hour. The transformation was stunning — and the experience was life-changing for her. She told me later that she originally didn’t believe me when I said we could fix it in one appointment. Seeing her smile without hesitation was a moment I won’t forget.

We talk so much about the end product, but it is the software that gets you there. I absolutely love the fastdesign.io™ Software and Design Station. The glidewell.io In-Office Solution gives me engineering-grade control, clinical predictability, and a patient experience that speaks for itself. For someone like me, that’s exactly what dentistry should be.