W&H Impex
More power, more fun – less stress
An Interview with Sandra Schmee, Practice Manager
Sandra Schmee, a certified dental assistant and business economist, is increasingly working with zirconia crowns. In recent years, zirconia has established itself as the number one material for crowns and bridges and has become highly popular with patients. The material is extremely strong and durable, while its natural appearance offers clear aesthetic benefits. Stress during restorations? For Sandra Schmee and the entire practice team, this used to be part of everyday life – until the Synea Power Edition from W&H came along. In this interview, she shares how it has changed the way they work.
- Salzburg, Austria
Ms Schmee, you have been working in dentistry for around 20 years and, as a practice manager and dental assistant, you bring extensive experience in modern restorations. Could you describe the challenges you and your practice team faced before the introduction of the Synea Power Edition?
Sandra Schmee: Despite my many years of experience, I always found removing restorations quite nerve-wracking. In the past, we used to work with porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and bridges, which were unfortunately made from non-precious alloys. Today, however, we are mostly dealing with zirconia restorations, which are considerably more demanding to work with. As much as I love zirconia for its aesthetics, assisting during removal was always an unpleasant task for me. Anyone who has ever been present while a zirconia bridge is being cut through knows the noise involved and the concerns regarding heat buildup. This was a real challenge in our practice as well.
To counteract this, we always used an air/water syringe for additional cooling to ensure the tooth would not be damaged. To keep the workflow running smoothly, I always kept two to three red contra-angle handpieces on hand. This way, my boss could switch them after a while, giving us time to oil the used ones and let them “rest”. We never knew how long a removal would take, or whether the handpiece would be broken afterward. And as for the number of burs we went through – it was almost impossible to keep track of.
Do you often have to remove zirconia crowns in your practice, or are these rare cases?
Sandra Schmee: No, it happens quite often. Maybe not every day, but definitely five to six times a week – and the number is increasing.
What improvements have you noticed in your practice since introducing the Synea Power Edition?
Sandra Schmee: We now have real power! Synea Power Edition was developed precisely for these kinds of challenges. Our work is much more relaxed! When I’m assisting now, I no longer have to prepare multiple handpieces or provide additional cooling – the cooling system works brilliantly. Of course, you still occasionally need an additional bur, but changing it is so much easier these days, as the bur no longer gets “stuck” in the head.
We now have real power! Work is much more relaxed, and changing burs is hardly an issue any more. The bur cuts through zirconia much more easily, which feels noticeably more comfortable for our patients.
Practice Manager Sandra Schmee
What feedback have you received from your patients so far – have you noticed any change in their perception?
Sandra Schmee: Yes, absolutely. In the past, many patients found the noise and the grinding feeling quite unsettling. Even though they are anaesthetised during the procedure, they can still feel the bur struggling through the material. This has completely changed: patients now find the grinding more comfortable. The bur also works much more easily through zirconia, and the noise level has become noticeably pleasant – not only for the patients, but for our entire team as well.
Ms Schmee, in your role as practice manager, what changes have you noticed in your daily routine?
Sandra Schmee: As practice manager, I’m particularly pleased that we can now keep to our schedules more reliably and optimise costs. With the Synea Power Edition, we have handpieces specifically designed for processing high-strength materials. This means I no longer have to overstrain our other handpieces, which naturally has a positive impact on repairs and maintenance.
How would you rate the W&H Synea Power Edition range based on your personal experience?
Sandra Schmee: Overall, the Synea Power Edition is a must-have in every dental practice, and anyone who has used it once will want to continue doing so.
Thank you for the interview!
About Sandra Schmee:
Sandra Schmee has been working as a dental assistant, prophylaxis assistant, and GBT expert since 2008, caring for patients with great dedication. In her role as practice manager, she also handles important organizational tasks.
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