Quit ‘CBD’ and Transform Your Surgical Consults

When you hear “CBD,” you might think of something that calms nerves and cures just about anything — at least, according to the internet. But there’s another kind of CBD that definitely doesn’t help patients relax: “cut, blood, and drill.”

The problem: Too much procedure, not enough vision

My old implant consults were 30-minute marathons. I’d dive into every gritty detail of how I was going to inflict CBD on patients. Shockingly, they weren’t exactly racing to schedule surgery.

Then I went fully digital, implementing a CDOCS/CBCT prosthetically guided implant workflow, and everything changed.

The shift: From explaining to showing

Now, before each consult, my team and I review cases during our morning huddle. The staff takes the lead on capturing CBCT scans, photos, and CEREC scans for prosthetically driven implant planning. Patients also watch relevant Spear Patient Education videos on topics such as:

• Single tooth loss
• Socket preservation
• Fixed hybrid dentures
• Locator-retained overdentures

These resources make complex clinical issues clear and relatable, setting the stage for productive, confident conversations.

The payoff: Higher confidence, higher acceptance

By the time I walk into the room, patients have already seen the “why” behind their treatment. Imaging is displayed, their questions are focused, and I can guide the discussion around visualization, not the surgery itself.

As I show them the merged virtual crown proposal and CBCT, they can see precision and predictability in action. Their anxiety drops, and confidence rises.

And here’s the kicker: As my talk time about CBD went down, case acceptance went up — from about 70% to 90%. The extra production easily covered the tech investment, and implant placements nearly tripled within four years.

The result: Less fear, more growth

Today, I spend less time lecturing and more time collaborating — discussing interdisciplinary cases with referring doctors, engaging with my three Spear Study Clubs, and focusing on advanced implant cases.

Quitting CBD wasn’t instant, but it was worth it. Are you ready to kick the old “CBD habit” and grow your implant practice? Start by changing what your patients see — and what you say.