CROWNS MAKING A SEAL VS. CROWNS HELD BY RESIN? The jury is still out. Only the test of time will tell. Will new technology outperform the old standard? Are the oldies still the goodies? Today’s revolution in dental materials is driven by public demand. People want natural looking white teeth containing no metal. “Metal is … Read more
ABSTRACT With the constant evolution in new materials and techniques, the dental clinician needs to evaluate the integration of these changes into everyday practice. In the area of dental sealants, new glass ionomers, polyacid modified resin composites, flowable composites, composite sealants, and the new self-etching adhesives have been introduced to increase the predictability and caries … Read more
Since the beginning of life, human beings are constantly sourcing how to improve and valorize their appearance. It has been shown that when people are confident on their look they are more prone to have a positive attitude towards life and others and this often flows to social success. This individual primordial necessity it’s a … Read more
With all the challenges of the clinician today, handing of dark teeth is one that can be a concern. Some clinicians avoid treatment on these types of patients or cover the tooth with porcelain fused to metal crown in an attempt to mask out the dark substructure of the tooth. This author will attempt to … Read more
CASE HISTORY A 60-year-old male patient was seen for routine hygiene and oral health screening. At the time of scheduling his hygiene appointment he had informed the staff that he “had some dark brown spots, on his upper right teeth, which were sensitive to tooth brushing and cold temperatures.” He had requested that these areas … Read more
Dental professionals are enjoying an era in which educated patients may be our best customers. Mainstream media have publicized the capabilities and benefits of today’s esthetic restorative treatment options for solving a variety of dental problems, and among these solutions is “instant orthodontics.” Unfortunately, despite patients’ heightened awareness of advanced dental techniques, many are ignorant … Read more
During the last twenty years porcelain laminate veneers have grown rapidly as a treatment modality in dental practices across the globe. Their use has expanded from simple coverings for anterior teeth to full laminates covering all of the coronal tooth structure. There are several ways to produce the ceramic restorations for use in these processes. … Read more
Over the past century, dentists have used a variety of cements for indirect procedures. A cement is defined as an agent that relates two or more materials such that they stay together in a specific relationship, incorporated as if they were a single entity. Dental cements are used to attach dental restorations onto or into … Read more
Patient demand for aesthetic 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
The prevalence of congenitally missing teeth in the general population has been estimated by many authors1,2 to be between 6 and 10 percent. The incidence of missing maxillary lateral incisors is between 1-2%.3,4 Absence of both maxillary lateral incisors occurs more often than the absence of a single lateral5 and when unilateral, the contralateral maxillary … Read more
Abstract With the recent surge in cosmetic dentistry more and more patients are walking into the office that have had their maxillary teeth restored with porcelain veneers and have a considerable shade difference between the mandibular and the maxillary teeth with the mandibular teeth being darker. After successive whitening appointments and the fabrication of whitening … Read more
In recent years, there have been many technological and procedural developments in “aesthetic” or “cosmetic” dentistry. Tooth whitening, various forms of marketing by dentists and manufacturers along with “reality” makeover TV shows, have produced an increased public awareness of restorative and cosmetic options. All this has created a consumer demand for what has time and … Read more
We are living in what is perhaps the golden age of dentistry. Teeth are in vogue and it is suddenly “cool” to be a dentist. Because dentistry is everywhere, the public at times seems to be dictating what kind of dental work they desire and how they want the profession to practice. There is a … Read more
About a year ago a new patient came to me for a second opinion. She had been to a “cosmetic” dentist and been given a treatment plan that left her confused and upset. Since her brother and his family have been my patients for years, I agreed to see her for a consultation. Melissa was … Read more
There are times when a patient presents in our practices with dental problems that may initially confuse us. How can a dentist restore a compromised dentition without disappointing the aesthetic aspirations of our patient? Creative treatment planning using dental technologies from different dental specialties often leads to results that we wouldn’t think possible just several … Read more
We work in such a great profession where we can have a positive effect on a patient’s overall health and well-being, boosting self-confidence and often creating a life changing experience. Very rewarding for the patient and dental team. My professional and personal growth as a clinician started in 1991 when I joined the American Academy … Read more
To successfully complete a rehabilitative aesthetic treatment, a team composed of the treating dentist, a dental ceramist, necessary specialists and the patient must be formed. The success or failure of the treatment depends on the knowledge and skills of the treating dentist, who must be the intraoral architect of the treatment and must fully understand … Read more
Collective Understand and Mutual Aid- “CUMA”, describes the interaction of a highly skilled and driven team, consisting of both dentist and ceramist, practicing symbiotically through understanding, trust and expertise. As we had previously discussed, so much more should be involved in inter-professional communication than a laboratory prescription with A3 written on it and the rest … Read more
Once upon a time there was a man who lived in a kingdom. In this man’s life he had three friends. The first friend was someone he adored and spent most of his time with. It was to this friend he paid the most attention. The second friend was someone he knew well and saw … Read more
We are living in the golden age of dentistry. New techniques and improved technology have brought more predictable, easier to use, and superior results to all facets of dentistry. Dentist’s are now thinking outside the box, working intensely, committed to pushing the barriers of esthetic dentistry to new heights. By assuming that we don’t know … Read more