Blessings.

Over the course of the years since we have opened our doors, we have been blessed with excellent doctors, wonderful patients that stop in for custom shades and denture repair drop offs, and some memorable employees. While some have come and gone (all of the above included), we have learned a little more about ourselves during those times.

We thank all of our current customers for their business over these years, and look forward to continue to work with you in the years to come. Your continued business relationship with us is the drive to ensure our products are high quality, and meeting of you, and your patient’s expectations.

Trade School Better Than College?

Up to $100,000 in debt, four years of studying/partying, and looking for a job in the career field you studied for?  This is the prospect many students are facing upon crossing the stage and accepting their scroll of parchment.  Many newly graduated high school students are looking into trade schools to get a jump on getting their careers started, with the prospects of having their jobs pay for additional training afterwards. 

Getting a foothold into the workforce is the first step.  A dental tech starts to learn about mouth and tooth function right from the start.  Maybe this is the way to go towards a dental field job such as a dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, or even an hygienist.

Things to think about as the job market opens up.  A quicker path with better knowledge, an inside track on the ins and outs at all levels of the business/field.  Or, a job that taught you skills that you can take to another field that catches your eye. 

A win-win.  Without all of the debt, and in half the time.

Out Of Range?

If you think you are too far out for us to do a pick up or delivery, we offer the option of UPS Shipping to get your cases back and forth to you.  We provide the boxes so you don't have to scrounge around your office looking for one that will fit the case, and not take up too much packing materials.

We ship to offices in Vermont, and have shipped all the way down to Alabama.  We've even sent cases to Germany! 

Contact us for more information.  We'd be glad to talk to you about our services.

The Firmus Team

Who'd Have Thought?

Since we just kind of mentioned the fact we ship cases to dentists, we have been contacted several times about mailings.  We do provide boxes, and mailing costs back to your office.  The turnaround is slightly longer, but still falls within the average three week gap from appointment to appointment most offices plan on.  

The same level of communication is provided as our local customers receive; it is the hallmark of our business.  Contact us to find out more.  We look forward to working with you!

Timing

We've noticed over the years that cases from our customers come in waves.  March, August/September, and November/December.  They seem to be based on patient's deductibles; as in when they need to start to use them, versus end of the year "get it all used up." 

One of the exceptions is the August/September time frame, as people get home from vacations and need to get the loose fillings and chipped teeth fixed.  The other one is late November after the Thanksgiving holiday for pretty much the same reasons. 

Now I know people can't schedule when fillings come out, or when teeth fail; but take comfort in knowing that we'll be here to help make your "repairs" when your Doctor's office calls.  To help avoid these problems, oral hygiene should be a year long commitment to yourself. Bi-monthly checkups with your dental office for cleanings, and consultations to give you a heads up on the status of your teeth is key to help to avoid needing our services.  Yes, we said that.

Accidents will happen, and if they do, we'll be here to help your Doctor get you back up and running (chewing).

Looking For A Career Field That Will Grow?

Probably one of the best kept secrets in the world of employment is that of Dental Technicians.  Like many other lines of work, it is a varied, and changing workplace due to technology.  Starting out 30 years ago, the use of computers in the lab were only thought of being used for administrative functions like bookkeeping.  Today, they are used for precision milling, scanning of models, and designing.  The good thing is, you don't have to use any of it; the old fashioned, tried-and-true methods for crown and bridge manufacturing are still needed. 

If crown and bridge are not your cup of tea, there is always dentures.  Creating build ups in wax and knowing anatomy of the mouth, and how people move their mandibles to chew or even to talk is a science unto itself. 

As companies and dentists are beginning to realize that sending work overseas is becoming more of a hassle than what it's worth, the schools here in the States are beginning to see numbers in enrollment increase.  As per several articles in the magazine LMT have stated, many current technicians are getting closer to retirement, and are looking for others to pass on their businesses to.  While there are larger firms buying up the ones from those retiring, the little guys will always be needed for "personal" cases.  Such cases would include the taking of custom shades, special blending of shades (to match adjacent teeth), as well as upscale products.  Products that large corporations cannot devote time or resources to.  It would not be cost efficient to devote parts of the "crank out numbers machinery" for attention to one particular case. 

If you are in the New York area and want some more information, the website to go to is: 

http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/academics/deptsites/schoolofprofessionalstudies/degrees/dentalLab.shtml

There are other schools out there, so focus your search engine queries for your region.  We hope you consider this field, and look forward to interviewing you in the future!

Mail Order?

Normally we service dentists in our immediate geographical area, but we will take on a few cases for family and friends that live beyond our daily delivery radius.  We've received cases from Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and as far out as Germany (brothers -can't live with them, can't live without them). 

While we prefer to meet our customers (dentists) in person, to give a face to the voice, we will always give the same attention to detail, and maintain the communications as if you were here in town. 

Give us a call, or email us for more information on mailing services.

On a personal note: Time is Flying By!

In late 2003 a choice was made.  We had been continuously asked/told to open a dental lab, and as the good Lord would have it, the opportunity presented itself.  Starting a business from scratch -literally from nothing- we focused on the core principles of using quality materials, high European standards, and establishing personal communications with the customer. 

Since our beginning we have kept our eye on the future by adding dentures to our offerings, and integrated CAD/CAM into our repertoire.  Through this growth, we have been blessed with team members that have contributed to the effort of producing products for dentists and patients.   To recognize their efforts, we established a Gallery section here on the website.  I don't have pictures of everyone, but Jim Pelton gave us his input and time, Ron Loebel and Ed Shishmanian gave us their blood, and sweat in our original construction and equipment procurement.  It was all of their contributions that helped us along the way. 

We now look to thank Amanda Nolan for her dedication, her hard work over the past 7 years, and her great attitude.  She has been a member of the Firmus team -seeing our kids grow up, experiencing the losses of our family and pets, and enjoying the good times as well.  It is with some sadness we see her move on with her life as she leaves us for greener pastures (literally).

We welcome our new team on board, and look forward to many happy, productive years to come. 

Outsourced (Products & Jobs)

We were recently solicited from a lab in China to see if we'd be interested in sending some of our work to them.  Other labs have fallen into this trap of outsourcing work looking to save some money, only to have issues.  Several things can happen when labs make this business decision and something goes wrong:

1.     The doctor is inconvenienced, and must reschedule -eating up valuable "chair time."

2.     The patient is inconvenienced because they must come in again, and again, and...

3.     The lab must make the correction by either fixing it in lab, undoubtedly using different materials, or send it back to China (or other country) for the facility there to remake the product.

I want to make it clear that all of our work is done here in the lab.  The only part we do not manufacture is the metal framework for dentures (when called for); that, we send to a lab here on the East Coast.  We have seen their work, and can vouch for its quality -Small American businesses sticking together.

With sending work out of country, you begin to lose control over the product.  Aspects like:

  • What is the content of the metal?
  • What type of porcelain are they using?
  • What's in the water that they mix the porcelain with?
  • What temperatures do they fire the crown at (porcelain fused to metal)?  

These are all valid questions that need to be asked. 

The last concern with shipping work overseas is the possibility of it being lost in the shuffle from here to there, and back.  Weather delays can also be a factor in shipping.  Both large national package carriers have been impacted by storms at their major hubs; this delayed delivery dates for items in their systems.  Again, it could cost time, and inconvenience you.

All of our work is done here in the Lab.  We use top quality materials, and we make sure the job is done right.  Every case is checked before it leaves our lab.  That's the American way!

 

A Day In The Life of a Dental Lab

Production of cases is a multi-step process.  After we receive the case from the dentist's office, depending on the product, a timeline is established to create the quality product that will be with you for many, many years to come.  There are many videos out there on Youtube, as well as other sites that you can see what is involved.  While some of the processes may differ, the concept is still the same.

We encourage you to have a discussion with your dentist to find the best options for your case so you can be better informed.  After all, you have to live with it.