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A Case Study featuring: Glenn Fordham, Foradent Laboratories, Melbourne, Victoria
Glenn Fordham is a laboratory owner and senior technician. His business, Foradent Laboratories, is an orthodontic and prosthetics lab. It has operated for 35 years and is located on Collins Street in Melbourne CBD.
Despite running a very successful business, Glenn considers himself first and foremost a specialist orthodontic and prosthetics lab technician. It’s work he loves and never grows tired of.
“I enjoy the creativity and craftsmanship involved in being a lab technician”, says Glenn. “Every person’s mouth, and therefore, every appliance, is unique. Creativity is an essential element we apply to physical design and appearance. While the craft of appliance manufacture ensures the consistency, quality and patient comfort that our clients have come to expect from our appliances”.
“Our clients will specify certain design elements, including colours, of which Dentaurum have a fantastic range. But on the whole, they know they can rely on us for an excellent fit, quality, reliability, and an artistic flair."
Detailed in the images and written below are the steps Foradent Laboratories takes when it uses Dentaurm's 3D Separating Medium for printed models.
“Something I’m proud of is the feedback we receive about the consistency of our appliances. As the business has grown over time, we have, of course, employed more technicians. Our aim is always to deliver results consistent with what our clients expect from Foradent rather than a specific technician. We put a lot of effort into training and quality control to achieve that."
Foradent has become a highly respected specialist orthodontic and prosthetics lab
While most of their clients are in the Melbourne CBD and surrounding suburbs, the business has many clients all over Australia. Many of Foradent’s clients have been with them since the beginning. “All of our work comes from referrals and recommendations. We tend only to lose a client when they retire,” Glenn said with a smile.
A long association with Dentaurum
Glenn has been using Dentaurum since his days as an apprentice while studying at RMIT. “We’ve tried different brands over the years to ensure we’re on top of alternatives, but we’ve always returned to Dentaurum”.
“All of their products are the benchmark standard in terms of quality. Batch after batch, year after year, we experience exactly the same performance, colour accuracy and workability. The knowledge we’ve built around Dentaurum products helps keep things simple. It makes us efficient and contributes significantly to the consistent quality we want to deliver.
“We use a wide variety of Dentaurum products, from remanium wires, expansion screws, Hyrax screws, clasps and bands through to Orthocryl acrylics, model gloss and 3D separating medium. We’ve also used Dentaurum Laser Welders and supplies for over 15 years.
“We value the personalised service we receive from Dentaurum. We’re on a first-name basis with at least four or five people. Their customer service is always pleasant, knowledgeable and accurate. On the rare occasion we’ve needed support, it’s been an outstanding experience.
“Stock is almost always available when we need it, and the delivery service is consistently quick and painless. It adds to the reasons we use Dentaurum over and above their very, very good products”.
How Foradent Laboratories uses Dentaurm's 3D Separating Medium for printed models
- Add a small wax “step” on the posterior section of the model. This will allow a small lip to lever the plate off the model easily later on. (ref: Image 1)
- Paint the separator on the model (ref: Image 2)
- Bend the wire (ref: Image 3)
- Salt and pepper Orthocryl powder and liquid (ref: Image 4)
- Cure acrylic in pressure pot
- Boil wax off, exposing the “gap” created in step one and remove plate from model
- Boil off separator from the model. It comes off easily and cleanly, no need to scrub.
- Trim, polish, finish (ref: Image 5)
Dentaurum products referenced in this article:
Contact Glenn Fordham at Foradent Laboratories on 03 9650 3332 or foradent@bigpond.com
