One of the things I enjoy most about digital dentistry is seeing how quickly technology has simplified workflows that used to require multiple appointments, outside laboratories, and days—or even weeks—of waiting.
A great example is immediate implant cases.
When a patient walks into your practice needing an implant, the ability to deliver a screw-retained provisional on the same day can completely change their experience. Instead of leaving with a healing abutment or waiting for a laboratory provisional, they're walking out with a restoration that looks great, functions well, and gives them confidence while the implant heals.
In this video, I walk through my complete workflow for producing a same-day screw-retained provisional using the SprintRay Midas. From the initial scan to design, printing, post-processing, and final delivery, you'll see how today's digital workflows make this process far more approachable than many doctors realize.
Every successful digital workflow starts with accurate data.
Whether you're restoring a single implant or planning a more complex case, your intraoral scan becomes the foundation for everything that follows.
One of the biggest advantages of modern digital workflows is that you're immediately working with a highly accurate digital model instead of traditional impressions. That gives you the opportunity to review the case before moving into design, ensuring you're starting with reliable information.
One misconception I still hear is that doctors think they need to become CAD experts before they can bring restorative manufacturing in-house.
That simply isn't true anymore.
Modern design platforms—including AI-assisted workflows—have dramatically reduced the amount of manual design work required for straightforward restorative cases.
For screw-retained provisionals, the design process has become remarkably efficient. Rather than building every restoration from scratch, today's software helps generate a highly accurate starting point that can be reviewed, adjusted if necessary, and approved before manufacturing.
The doctor's expertise still drives every clinical decision. The software simply helps eliminate repetitive design work.
One of the reasons I've enjoyed working with the SprintRay Midas is how well it fits into a modern same-day workflow.
Immediate implant provisionals are often time-sensitive, and every step matters.
The Midas workflow was designed specifically to simplify chairside restorative printing by combining:
The result is a workflow that feels much more predictable and repeatable for the clinical team.
That consistency is important when you're introducing any new technology into a busy practice.
One thing I always emphasize is that successful chairside printing doesn't end when the restoration comes off the printer.
Proper post-processing is essential for achieving:
In the video, I walk through the complete post-processing protocol, including cleaning, curing, and finishing before delivery.
These steps are critical because they're what transform a freshly printed restoration into a clinically ready provisional.
Fortunately, modern workflows have made these protocols much more straightforward than they were only a few years ago.
The most rewarding part of any same-day workflow is the delivery.
Instead of scheduling another appointment or waiting for a laboratory restoration, you're able to complete treatment during the same visit.
For the patient, that means:
For the practice, it means greater workflow control, stronger patient satisfaction, and one more example of how digital dentistry continues to improve the overall treatment experience.
This is exactly why I believe same-day workflows are becoming such an important part of modern implant dentistry.
When people hear "same-day dentistry," they often think it's simply about doing things faster.
I see it a little differently.
To me, it's about creating a better experience for everyone involved.
Patients appreciate leaving with a restoration instead of waiting weeks for one.
Doctors gain more control over the restorative process.
Teams become more engaged as they take ownership of digital workflows.
That's the real value.
The printer is simply one piece of the workflow.
The bigger picture is creating a practice that's more efficient, more flexible, and better equipped to serve today's patients.
If you've read my previous articles on choosing between chairside milling and 3D printing or the common misconceptions surrounding same-day dentistry, you've probably noticed a common theme: I always encourage doctors to start with the workflow—not the technology.
This immediate implant case is a perfect example of why.
Once you experience how seamlessly today's digital workflows can move from scan to design to delivery, it becomes much easier to understand why more practices are bringing these capabilities in-house.