Collaboration is the key to success for the modern cosmetic dental team. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s 27th Annual Scientific Session, themed, “The Rise of Collaboration,” will provide an opportunity for dental teams to develop and refine their skills together so they can provide their patients with the best oral health care. The conference, … Read more
The attractive elderly woman on the glossy front cover of the brochure had an appearance that revealed the expected attributes of aging. Sagging jowls and wrinkles appear on a face framed by a shock of white hair. Her mouth formed a whimsical “o” hiding teeth, which is likely an intended feature of this ad for … Read more
First International Cosmetic Dental Conference a Success It was a first. When cosmetic dentistry’s premier organizations – the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental University of Paris Study Group, the European Society of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the German Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry – gathered to bring the … Read more
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Launches Conference Website; Reveals Key Educators for 27th Annual Scientific Session in Boston, May 18-21, 2011 Madison, WI –For the 27th consecutive year, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) will assemble the world’s premier program of cosmetic dental educators. The 27th Annual AACD Scientific Session – The Rise of … Read more
Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, creativity embraces the world”. Often, when we think and speak about esthetic dentistry we are mistaken to believe that its concepts are well-defined by rules and recipes. Surely, it is fundamental to understand the principles and parameters that are the foundation of … Read more
Bone grafting is often considered one of the most challenging procedures to undertake in a dental office. Numerous factors have to first be considered to ensure a predictable outcome, devoid of post-operative complications. Fortunately, the success rate of such procedures can be greatly improved with a good basic understanding of the different materials and techniques. … Read more
Are you a dentist? Oh no, I’m “just” a dental hygienist! I’ve often heard that disparaging remark, such a short sentence but so infinitely revealing of a person’s perception of his or her profession. Unfortunately, it conveys a negative image of a highly important and comprehensive profession that is far from being a mere accessory … Read more
Introduction Part one of Dental photography: A New Perspective (Oral Health, December 2009) described two types of photographs used in dentistry. The traditional dental photograph “record keeping”; with prescribed poses, magnification ratios, and lighting is a factual record of a dwental subject. The second type of photograph described is used to communicate a dental message, … Read more
A new decade and new challenges for the restorative dentist. We continue to pursue our quest for natural esthetics and minimally invasive dentistry to conserve tooth structure. This issue of Oral Health illustrates what is happening at the dawn of this new decade. The rules of the dental game are constantly changing and practitioners must … Read more
Abstract Many patients today seem to have an increased sense of awareness when it comes to smile cosmetics. Failure to plan correctly while understanding patient desires can lead to unhappy patients and subsequently a less than happy staff. When patients can see color and shape in the mock-up and temporaries, un-realistic expectations can be tempered. … Read more
All oral implant systems rely on the abutment part of the implant to provide stability for the dental prosthetic. The concial cone connection of the Ankylos implant offers precisely machined, tapered-cone abutment (Morse taper) connection. This tapered abutment connection provides high resistance to bending and rotational torque during clinical function, which significantly reduces the possibilities … Read more
In dentistry, the best asset to a dental operatory is a dental assistant who makes organization a priority. A dental assistant’s first approach to treatment planning is to predetermine and pre-prepare what has to be accomplished. I begin by verifying the chart, complete treatment plan, study models and establish an action plan that is going … Read more
Introduction Aesthetic results come from the practitioner’s combination of clinical smile design principles and artistic judgments. Each practitioner has their own vision of the final smile. The main goal is to provide a natural and pleasing appearance for the patient’s newly restored smile. For the last decade, most of the published articles in aesthetic dentistry … Read more
Introduction I recently received a gift from one of my patients with a note on the front that said not to open it until I got home. When I got home, I opened the card and in a box was a small angel. On the foot of the angel was the date 11/08/08. The card … Read more
I think that most practitioners agree that in this day and age, we are all trying to do ideal cosmetic dentistry. We attend the seminars by the talented cosmetic dentists that advocate minimal or no prep veneers such as Lumineers, (or whatever lab they are using), and we see beautiful veneers that are usually placed … Read more
Doing the least to the underlying natural tooth structure and the proper choice of material to get the desired result best attains the goal of longevity in restorative dentistry.1-5 Time has shown over and over again, that the most conservative preparations last the longest and usually serve patients best. Properly aligned teeth can be treated … Read more
In 1997, I joined the editorial board of Oral Health as the first cosmetic consultant. From my initial board meeting 13 years ago, my experience has been incredibly rewarding. I have had the pleasure of interacting with some remarkable individuals who bring a diversified perspective to the issues that a magazine as successful as Oral … Read more
Years ago, the restorative material options for the dental practitioner were limited. Direct placement materials available were either amalgam or silicate. Amalgam has long been recognized as a forgiving restorative material that works well in a variety of circumstances. Advantages of amalgam include cariostatic properties, the ability to work in varied moisture conditions, and quick … Read more
DenMat® Adds New Versatility for Esthetic and Diagnostic Treatment Options with Snap-On Smile Acquisition Available for immediate shipment SANTA MARIA, CALIF., March 11, 2009 – DenMat Holdings, LLC, has recently announced its acquisition of the Snap-On Smile® brand and all intellectual property surrounding it. Snap-On Smile will be produced exclusively by DenMat’s LUMINEERS® Smile Design … Read more
Today’s esthetic dentistry aims to replace damaged or malformed tooth structures with artificial materials that have been tested and proven to posses biological, functional and physical properties very similar to natural teeth. The newest generation of nanofilled composite resins offers excellent esthetic potential and great longevity without the need of unnecessary tooth structure removal. The … Read more