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What if you could create dentures, clear aligners, and surgical guides right in your office—within hours instead of weeks? In this episode, Dr. Eric Block sits down with Dr. Chris Griffin, a dentist who transformed his practice by embracing 3D printing.
Dr. Griffin shares his journey—from starting a practice with little money to facing major setbacks like floods and fires. Instead of giving up, he found smarter ways to work and reignited his passion for dentistry with Technology. Now, he uses 3D printing to cut lab costs, speed up treatments, and provide better care for his patients.
You’ll learn how 3D printing can help dentists save money, increase case acceptance, and bring lab work in-house. Plus, Dr. Griffin shares insights on AI in dentistry and tips for dropping PPOs without losing patients. If you’re looking for inspiration and new ways to simplify your workflow, this episode is for you!
Key Takeaways:
- 3D Printing Saves Time and Money – Printing dentures, night guards, and surgical guides in-house helps cut costs and reduces patient wait times.
- Technology Can Bring Back Your Passion – Learning new skills like 3D printing helped Dr. Griffin stay excited about dentistry.
- Smartly Dropping PPOs – Instead of dropping insurance plans all at once, Dr. Griffin built an in-office membership plan to make the transition smoother.
- AI is Changing Dentistry – AI is improving diagnostics, X-ray analysis, and even automating clinical notes.
Episode Timestamps
- 00:01:23 – Meet Dr. Chris Griffin
- How he went from engineering to dentistry.
- His early struggles and how he built his practice from scratch.
- 00:04:42 – Overcoming Career Challenges
- How a failed associateship led him to start his own practice.
- Facing major setbacks like floods and fires.
- 00:10:46 – Transitioning to PPOs and Scaling His Practice
- Why fee-for-service dentistry didn’t work in his area.
- How he pivoted to PPOs and made his practice more efficient.
- 00:18:08 – Discovering 3D Printing
- How COVID downtime led to his first big investment in 3D printing.
- Learning the Technology and applying it to dentistry.
- 00:21:26 – What Can Be 3D Printed?
- Printing dentures, night guards, clear aligners, and surgical guides in-house.
- How 3D printing improves workflow and patient experience.
- 00:25:53 – The Role of AI in Dentistry
- AI-powered X-ray analysis and detecting cavities with better precision.
- AI-generated clinical notes and how they save time.
- 00:27:56 – Dr. Griffin’s Book and Resources
- Overview of 3D Printing and Dentistry and who it’s for.
- Free book offer for podcast listeners.
- Closing Thoughts
- 00:28:08 – Embracing Technology
- Dr. Griffin’s advice for dentists looking to embrace Technology.
- Where to find his book and how to contact him.
Resources