Dr. Murtuza Shah-Khan sits down with Dr. Brian Specht and Kricket Doker from CAD/CAM Docs to break down the full digital dentistry workflow, from scanner selection to milling, 3D printing, materials, and finishing. Brian and Kricket share the philosophy behind CAD/CAM Docs: giving dentists an affordable, practical alternative to closed-ecosystem same-day setups, with real lab and equipment support behind it. Kricket dives deep into esthetic finishing, what makes a great shade photo, how to position your shade tab, and why Miyo Liquid Ceramic has changed her glazing workflow. Whether you're a seasoned CEREC user or exploring a puck mill for the first time, this episode delivers practical insight from practitioners who are in it every day.
Episode Navigation:
00:01:55 — How CAD/CAM Docs started: equipment repair to digital lab network
00:04:09 — The CAD/CAM Docs workflow: the Genie mill, BnD Beyond Multi zirconia, and Chemo oven
00:05:26 — Sintering times: milling and firing a single zirconia crown in under 30 minutes
00:07:46 — Kricket's role: esthetic casework, design support, and education for clinicians
00:12:10 — Zirconia material selection: matching material to furnace for same-day success
00:19:54 — Equipment recommendations for new and growing digital practices
00:23:35 — 3D printing vs. milling: night guards, dentures, inlays, and when each wins
00:36:37 — Miyo Liquid Ceramic: how Jensen's glazing system works and why it's different
00:41:20 — How CAD/CAM Docs simplifies digital dentistry for clinicians
What You'll Learn:
✅ How the CAD/CAM Docs lab network works as both a lab partner and an equipment showroom
✅ Why furnace compatibility — not brand loyalty — should drive your zirconia selection
✅ The Genie mill + Chemo oven workflow that delivers a milled and fired crown in under 30 minutes
✅ How to take shade photos that actually help your dental technician
✅ Where to position the shade tab when restoring tooth #8
✅ Why the Fixed Light softbox system transforms clinical photography
✅ 3D printing ROI: why night guards alone can justify the investment
✅ How Miyo Liquid Ceramic stains stay in place after firing when other systems shift
Key Takeaways:
- Furnace first, material second. For same-day zirconia, the fastest material is whatever sinters fastest in your furnace. Cricket's rule: if you have a CS6, use Ivoclar Zircad Prime; if you have a Speed Fire, try Katana Speed. Zirconia is zirconia — optimize for your equipment.
- 30 minutes, start to finish. The Genie mill cuts most single-unit zirconia in 7–15 minutes. The Chemo oven sinters in 9 minutes. That's a milled and fired crown in under 30 minutes — at a fraction of the cost of legacy same-day systems.
- Know your photography. Kricket prefers a DSLR with a 100mm macro lens and the Fixed Light softbox system. For tooth #8, place the shade tab inside tooth #9 — you'll capture the prep shade and the reference tooth in one shot.
- 3D print your night guards. Labs charge $150–200 for a night guard. A 3D printer produces one for around $4. If that's all you ever print, the machine pays for itself.
- Miyo stays put. Unlike traditional glazing systems where colors can shift or disappear after firing, Miyo Liquid Ceramic is self-leveling and color-stable. You can layer colors on top of each other without them bleeding or moving.
- CAD/CAM Docs is not just a lab. Brian and Kricket offer design support, staining guidance by phone, equipment troubleshooting, and virtual showroom tours. Dentists who buy the Genie system can call the labs directly for real-time help.
Connect with CAD/CAM Docs:
Learn more and reach out to Brian and Kricket through the CAD/CAM Docs labs — available for virtual tours, equipment demos, and case support.
Connect with Simplify Dentistry:
Topics: digital dentistry, CAD/CAM, same-day dentistry, zirconia, milling, 3D printing, SprintRay, dental photography, shade matching, Miyo Liquid Ceramic, Jensen Dental, glazing, staining, in-office lab, Genie mill, Chemo oven, CEREC, puck mill, dental lab, esthetic dentistry
