I have been talking to Sam for a while now about what I feel the missing link is with CEREC training. That missing link is training assistants. As speakers, we talk all the time about getting assistants involved in the process to design/mill and finish the restorations so we can be in another room being productive. I always love when doctors bring their assistants out to Scottsdale for advanced training and have them design all day. I know that they will go back to the office and be on their way to greater efficiency and productivity. The problem is that not everyone can get their assistants out to Scottsdale. I have been thinking about this for some time and have decided to come up with a solution.

After a great deal of planning, and waiting for the release of the 4.0 software, we are ready to launch an assistant training program around the country. Starting this year, we will be in select locations, to teach an assistants-only class on how to design restorations in multiple modes and finish them by both staining/glazing and polishing them.

The course will begin with a review of the important aspects of CEREC dentistry - understanding a proper prep, good powdering and good pictures. We will ensure that all attendees can distinguish between good and bad prepping, powdering and picturing. One of the important things that we teach in Scottsdale is that designing restorations is quick and easy when you give the machine the information that it wants. So after this course, assistants will be able to "think like a machine."

This full-day introductory class will be limited in the number of attendees so that they will get the proper attention. We will be in Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Baltimore this year and hope to be in many cities across the country in 2012. I look forward to seeing your staff out at the courses and teaching them the basic principles that many of you CEREC doctors have been taught at our classes in Scottsdale.

This is a very exciting time for me. We'll keep you posted as to when a course is coming to you and where you can sign up.