We are all restoring teeth today with a conscious effort to be minimally invasive. Our preparations are no longer extension for prevention. Everything is conservative. However, even with the decline in dental caries, and the decreased need for restorative treatment, we sometimes are still faced with complex treatment that becomes a bit of a restorative … Read more
INTRODUCTIONThere is no doubt that frenetic pace of advancement in contemporary adhesive technology and dental material sciences in recent years have drastically changed the face of dentistry. As dental clinicians, we are now afforded the tools and techniques to offer highly esthetic, durable direct and indirect restorations that can be delivered efficiently and predictably. However, … Read more
Many cosmetic cases are often performed with a solitary approach to care where the sole provider of care is the general practitioner. However with more complex cases the interdisciplinary approach becomes critical to the overall success and longevity of the case aesthetically and functionally. The general practitioner is instrumental in the outcome of a case … Read more
INTRODUCTIONPlacing composite restorations in the posterior region can be a time-consuming and technique sensitive procedure. Historically, clinicians have used traditional direct composites to complete these restorations, carefully layering, sculpting, and curing 2mm increments. This process, while still used today due to its prevalence, presents several difficulties to the clinician, primarily in the form of polymerization … Read more
As the dental field rapidly evolves with new materials and digital technology, there are some basic concepts that are consistently disregarded with anterior aesthetic dentistry. In this area of dentistry there are ten basic principles that, when overlooked, can compromise the long-term satisfaction of both the patient and the dentist. No one would consider building … Read more
Fixed partial dentures, whether using tooth as abutments or implants as abutments, are one of the most productive and widely completed procedures in dentistry. One of the challenges in this procedure is the design of the pontic sites. In dental school dental students are taught various designs for pontics. Ridge lap, hygienic, and ovate are … Read more
An upper lateral incisor is one of the most common teeth to be congenitally missing.1 Studies have estimated that between one and two per cent of the population are missing either one or both lateral incisors,2 and the agenesis of both laterals being more common than the agenesis of just one.3 When the permanent lateral … Read more
Drs. Joyce Bassett and Emil Hawary have earned Accredited Fellow status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Fellowship is the highest level of achievement available to AACD members. Its purpose is to provide an additional level of achievement for members in accordance with the AACD’s mission of education and excellence. To achieve this … Read more
On January 25th I lost my best friend of 40 years, Dr. Michael Weinberg. We were as close as Batman and Robin, Abbott and Costello, Kato and the Green Hornet, Maverick and Goose and yes, Lilo and Stitch. Michael was my wing man and I was his. We met in the summer of 1972 at … Read more
Oral Health proudly welcomes Trevor Laingchild to its editorial board. Trevor Laingchild’s sense of adventure has taken him down an international road in his profession. After formal dental education in London, England, he managed a dental laboratory in Germany and served as Chief Dental Technician for an American Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Further experiences included … Read more
ABSTRACTWith economic times as uncertain as many have seen in their lifetimes, it is becoming increasingly challenging to assist patients with ‘want’ dentistry. The obstacles can become magnified when balancing the ideal pathway with the realities of one’s discretionary funds. As such, treatment recommendations can become an acceptable compromise while still insuring an improved outcome. … Read more
Patient demand for esthetic dentistry with minimally invasive procedures has resulted in the extensive utilization of freehand bonding of composite resin to anterior teeth.1 The development of composite resins with natural fluorescence and polishability allows the clinician to mimic the natural dentition. Composite resins allow for conservative treatment and long lasting restorations. In order to … Read more
INTRODUCTIONAmidst the changes in the profession toward all ceramic crown and bridge materials for esthetic reconstructions, restorations with cores (ceramometalic or zirconia ) still account for a majority of the restorations fabricated by dental laboratories today. With the evolution of porcelain overlay materials, these restorations have become more and more esthetic while still offering the … Read more
INTRODUCTIONDirect posterior restorations play a significant role in daily dental practice. Predictable and successful outcomes from resin composite restorations remain a major concern for many practitioners primarily due to the technique sensitive steps required for proper placement. Over time it was established that alternately placing and curing resin composite in increments has been required to … Read more
Dentists are looking for more efficient ways of providing quality care for their patients. In today’s economic environment there is an increased demand for direct restorations. Composite restorations have traditionally been viewed as requiring extra time, attention to detail and expertise compared to amalgam restorations. New materials and armamentaria have been introduced to enable the … Read more
Our desire to satisfy a patient’s esthetic and restorative goals may pose a multitude of challenges for us as practitioners. Today’s dental consumer is well-educated based on a variety of sources, and their dental IQ has never been higher. Access to information via the media — print, television, and the Internet — has lead to … Read more
Gingival recession is defined as tissue breakdown that results in exposure of the root surface. Recession is considered a mucogingival condition because it can lead to numerous periodontal concerns. The main consequences of gingival recessions are: root sensitivity, increased risk of root decay, esthetic concerns, loss of periodontal support. The dental community has always tried … Read more
Dentistry is evolving constantly in terms of treatment options and with acid etch techniques we can restore teeth that a few years ago were considered hopeless. In April 2006, a 31-year-old female education student presented for another opinion on her teeth. She had been bulimic for a long time but said she was not any … Read more
