Dental assistants aren’t just helping the workflow—they are the workflow. In this compelling interview, Dr. Paul Feuerstein, editor-in-chief of Dentistry Today, sits down with Kricket Doker, RDT, CDA, a dental assistant and lab technician from upstate South Carolina, to spotlight the indispensable role assistants play in today’s digital dentistry.
Recorded live at DS World, the discussion unpacks the full single-unit restoration process using the CEREC/DS Core system—from scanning and design to milling and finishing—through the lens of the person who often drives it: the assistant.
Highlights include:
- Kricket’s unique career journey from dental assistant to technician, and how her perspective bridges clinical efficiency with artistic precision
- How assistants like Kricket are not just contributors, but central figures in the CAD/CAM workflow, actively shaping outcomes and ensuring clinical success
- A chairside walkthrough of a broken anterior tooth case, showcasing the assistant-led workflow that delivers a color-matched crown in a single visit
- Hands-on insights into preparation, design, milling, and finishing—plus practical tips from an assistant who lives the process every day
- Reflections on how digital tools like DS Core enhance teamwork, and why empowering assistants in the workflow leads to better results, faster care, and a more collaborative practice culture
Whether you’re a dentist looking to optimize your team or an assistant ready to elevate your role, this interview proves that digital dentistry works best when assistants are fully involved at every step.
