The BDS Bulletin

This is an exciting time at Baluke Dental Studios.  We are making improvements in efficiency, community involvement, technology and customer service.  The brief articles below are glimpses into the future of Dentistry at Baluke.  As new initiatives are begun and new technologies brought on board I will endeavor to update this section in a timely fashion so that you can know what's new at Baluke.

Sincerely,

David Dewsbury
Marketing Director

Product Spotlight:
Zirconium Abutments

August 2008

Continuing Education:

Placing Implants
with NobelGuide^TM

August 2008

Baluke Now Accepting
Digital Imprressions

June 2008

The CADENT iTero digital impression system is so predictable, accurate and cost effective that Duane Baluke gives it his personal seal of approval.

Gone are the days of impressions with voids, pulls, or tearing. Without a doubt, the precision offered by the iTero digital impression system is unmatched.

The digital scan is, quite literally, digitally perfect. This type of precision eliminates the need to reimpress patients and renders remakes all but a thing of the past. By removing the imprecision inherent with conventional impression materials, you are able to deliver consistently impressive work your patients trust you to provide.

The learning curve for dentists and clinicians adopting iTero is modest. A Cadent certified Clinical Trainer provides comprehensive training to get your office up and running in just a matter of days. iTero also fosters easier communication channels between the dentist and laboratory. What’s more, should questions arise, there is always a digital file for the laboratory and dentist to reference while consulting about a case on-line.

Baluke is so impressed with this proven technology that we are offering a presentation seminar right here in our lab’s education centre.  The details are as follows:

Date:    Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Time:    6:00 p.m.
Place:    Baluke Dental Studios
    8-85 West Wilmot St.
    Richmond Hill, ON
Instructor:  
    Simon Ghosh
    iTero Regional Director

To register, or to get more information, please call David Dewsbury at 905-764-6322.

Baluke Mississauga
Undergoes Revitalization

June 2008

With new equipment, a new manager and a complete renovation, Baluke’s Mississauga operation is now a full service dental laboratory.

Heading up the new team is R.D.T. Bill Kasco, who brings three decades of experience to Baluke.  He started in 1979 working in his father’s lab.  Learning quickly, he earned his R.D.T. and started his own lab within six years.  Now Bill is a well-seasoned and thoroughly disciplined technician who demands excellence from himself and his staff.

Bill Kasco has a level of professional integrity and personal dedication to a patient’s needs that is just right for Baluke’s Mississauga lab.  His dentists can feel confident that their cases will be done beautifully, on time, and with predictable consistency.

So, if you are thinking about using our Mississauga operation, please give Bill a call.

905-629-9130
1-866-363-0092

Baluke Dental Studios
58-5080 Timberlea Blvd.
Mississauga, ON  L4W 4M2

Denture Department

Specialized Training

March 2008

On the afternoon of Friday, March 14th, the Baluke Denture Department will begin a special training session put on by Ivoclar Vivadent. The two-day course will continue into the weekend, maximizing the material learned and minimizing any disruption to customer service. We have arranged for Kenneth J. Cathers, B.S., C.D.T., to teach new techniques to our denture department.  Mr. Cathers is the Manager of the Education and Technical Services Departments for Ivoclar Vivadent.

Product Spotlight:

The SilenceR^®

March 2008

Sleep apnea causes excessive daytime sleepiness, and people are often unaware that this causes an increased driving hazard.  A recent study done by the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the University of British Columbia found that sufferers of Sleep Apnea were at double the risk of being in a serious automobile collision. The study examined nearly 1600 people and their insurance records.  For more information click here. 

There are several treatments for sleep apnea available. Baluke produces an appliance designed by Dr. Wayne Halstrom called The SilenceR^®.  This dental device is designed to allow the advancement of the mandible through a controlled range of forward movement, while at the same time, allowing for a limited amount of vertical and lateral movement of the mandible. The SilenceR^® appliance has proven extremely effective in treating snoring and sleep apnea.

CE Availability

January 2008

As most are aware, the Toronto continuing education market for dentists is saturated with options.  But that doesn’t mean that the needs of all Dentists in Ontario are being met.  Many outside of the GTA must travel long distances to get their CE points because little is available in their area.  Baluke is looking to change that.

Our salespeople can present Protocols for Enhanced Aesthetic Dentistry as a lunch and learn in your own office for 2 CE points.  Also, we can present Make More – Keep More to any group, in any location, for 3 CE points. And, given sufficient demand, Baluke will put together a seminar with professional speakers on any subject.  Please contact David Dewsbury (ext. 19) with your ideas and requests.

New Seminar

January 2008

Make More – Keep More is a new course designed to teach the dental practitioner how to make more money, keep it, and invest it wisely. In partnership with Strategic Edge and Stratos Wealth Management, Baluke is working to assist dentists in optimizing their clinical and financial efficiency.

More specifically: this course is about how to spend time efficiently on money-generating activities, not how to pick cheap suppliers.  It’s about the logic behind a detailed financial plan, not how to pick stocks.  It’s a practical discussion of the simple actions that will increase your ability to generate income.

To sweeten the pot, we’re going to do it for your group for free, at a location of your choosing.  Simply contact David Dewsbury (ext. 19) and tell him that your study club, regional association or other professionally oriented coalition is interested in hosting a seminar.  David will help you make all the arrangements for this engaging seminar.

For additional information on the program please see the Continuing Education section.

The Marius Bridge

December 2007

The Marius Bridge is an exclusive new implant-supported overdenture system developed by Dr. Yvan Fortin. It is semi-fixed and therefore easy to clean and easy to repair.  There is no need for a bone graft.  The dentures look natural, fit precisely with no movement making them comfortable to wear and, because the palate is completely exposed, patients are able to speak naturally.

The system is constructed with a precision fitted, ultra thin, two-piece CAD/CAM milled titanium arc called the Mesobar. It is permanently secured to the patient with four or five implants.  A corresponding titanium attachment bar is embedded in an acrylic denture and secures the dentures precisely to the Mesobar. 

Please contact Duane Baluke for details.

www.mariusbridge.com

The Sirona InLab®

December 2007

The Sirona InLab® scanning, design and milling system has just been added to Baluke’s already formidable arsenal of CAD/CAM technology.  Its primary purpose will be to fabricate full contour all ceramic crowns and bridges.

IPS Empress® restorations can now be milled in addition to pressed.  Sirona has partnered with Empress® manufacturer Ivoclar/ Vivadent, plus two others, to provide specially engineered materials for their InLab® system.

CAD/CAM Department Manager Corey Lewis describes the new milling machine as, “Fast, accurate, and state of the art.

Affordable Dentures for

OWA and ODSP Patients

December 2007

Baluke is now offering affordable dentures to dentists and denturists who supply OWA ODSP patients.  Our low-cost dentures come complete with teeth and up to two clasps.  Bite blocks and trays are not included.

The special rate is for dentists and denturists who have contracted with the government to provide dentures to OWA and ODSP recipients (and covered dependents as verified by their plan administrator). Dentists and denturists can choose to contract with the government to provide dentures to OWA and ODSP recipients.  Once this service contract is accepted, it is not permitted to charge a patient any fees in addition to the rates fixed by their local OWA and ODSP provider.

As these rates are often set far below market value, and in some cases even below cost, many patients are declined service. To allow more patients in need access to economy dentures, Baluke offers to dentists and denturists the following special pricing.

Low-Cost Complete Dentures:

New Veneer Options 

December 2007

There are now three Veneer options available at Baluke Dental Studios, two of which are new:  Divine Veneers™, and ThinCeram Veneers™.  Our IPS Empress® Veneers have been popular for years. Each type is made from highly aesthetic porcelain and each is indicated differently.

Divine Veneers™ are crafted using a multi-layered build-up technique.  They are indicated for patients with severely discoloured and/or slightly misaligned dentition.

ThinCeram Veneers™ are a thin, pressed ceramic requiring little to no preparation. They are indicated for patients with mildly discoloured and/or slightly misaligned dentition.

IPS Empress® Esthetic Veneers are made of a shade-specific ceramic coping that is pressed, cut back and then built-up upon. They are indicated for patients with severely discoloured and misaligned dentition.  

Please contact Nancy Esposito for details.