To say that 2020 threw the world a giant curve ball would be one of the understatements of the decade. For some, it felt as though the earth had stopped revolving on its axis and it has never quite begun turning the same way. Government mandates closing offices, PPE requirement that increased costs and created … Read more
Introduction Congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors present a challenge for both the orthodontic and restorative treating dentists. Often, only two scenarios are discussed: canine substitution or replacing the missing lateral.1 The former is often considered an orthodontic solution while the latter is more restoratively driven. However, there are complexities in these cases that are dependent … Read more
Introduction Predictability is a worthy goal for any practicing dentist. The study of evidence based models in dentistry has developed increasing predictability of the success of specific dental treatments and procedures in achieving optimum oral health.1 While dental treatments have continued to become more predictable, life, however, consistently presents unforseen situations. A traumatic dental injury … Read more
Imagine you are 18 years old and all your life you have dreamed of a career in acting or modelling. Everyone that you talk to in your chosen field tells you the same thing. You have what it takes to make it, except for one thing. Your teeth are simply too unattractive. So you do … Read more
According to a 2016 survey of the National Dental Practice Based Research Network, the top material choices for anterior crowns were lithium disilicate and layered zirconia whereas the top choice for posterior crowns was monolithic zirconia.1 Polishing high strength ceramics, such as zirconia and lithium disilicate, can be a clinical challenge due to the hardness … Read more
Introduction Achieving a successful outcome in aesthetic dentistry can be a formidable challenge for all dental practitioners, regardless of their experience level. The patient describes their expectations for the case to the dentist, who then diligently works with provisional restorations to satisfy those aesthetic desires, only to have to rely on the dental technician (ceramist) … Read more
The next 9 posts will deal with different esthetic principles. These can be used for smile design, esthetic soft tissue procedures, orthodontic evaluation, or even just restoring a single anterior tooth. One place to start with a smile design is the position of the maxillary central incisor. The amount of incisor that should be displayed … Read more
The 21st century has proven to be a very interesting time for dentistry. Gone are the days when patients would only pay a visit to their dentist when in considerable pain or if a tooth had fractured. The trend has changed. Patients are seeking elective dental work and shopping around for providers to achieve the … Read more
As I write this editorial I certainly feel how time has flown by. Sitting in front of my computer, I realized that my 30th anniversary of graduating from dental school is approaching in May. I thought to myself, “Wow that’s a lot of years!” I started wondering, what is it that motivates me to keep … Read more
ABSTRACT Quite often patients have the desire to improve their oral care and appearance but don’t know where to start. Compounding the problem is that when the patient is seeking solutions, they are often turned away or trivialized because their practitioner does not have the knowledge or skill to treatment plan the patient’s needs or … Read more
A patient presented for orthodontic care with a chief complaint to straighten her front teeth, eliminate her overjet, and balance her lip eversion. Her dental history included annual dental cleanings and root canal therapy on #9. Due to the skeletal class 2 retrognathic profile, the severity of her mandibular asymmetry, the vertical discrepancies in the … Read more
Introduction Few restorative situations provide more stress for a functionally driven esthetic dentist than one involving a missing canine. A missing cuspid creates not only an esthetic issue, but a functional complication, as well. While group function may be viewed as a viable alternative in the absence of a canine, anterior and cuspid guidance is … Read more
“I always do the best for the patient”. That is noble, we’ve all said it and absolutely should practice that way. However, our ability to deliver on this is often limited by many factors including patient desires, ability to afford treatment, and practice limitations. It’s very rare that a patient comes into the office wanting … Read more
Social media has arguably become a global obsession. For teenagers and young adults, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat have become the most common form of communication. Teens are increasingly posting photos of themselves and friends. Beauty standards have changed significantly over the past several decades. As our social media and “selfie culture” continues to grow, … Read more
Introduction When it comes to re-creating a patient’s smile, it is not as simple as placing veneers or crowns on teeth that are whiter and brighter than the patient’s existing dentition (Figs. 1 & 2). The smile is an important reflection of one’s self along with communicating a variety of emotions to those around us … Read more
When it comes to aesthetic dentistry, many clinicians would agree that the “Single Central” cases are the ones that can be the most difficult. Trying to restore a single central brings up many discussion points: Direct or Indirect? Full coverage or Partial? What materials should we use? Often, we reach out for the help of … Read more
Resin infiltration is a technique that has been available as a commercial product since 2010. The procedure consists of etching the tooth with a 15% hydrochloric acid, drying with an ethanol solution, and applying a TEGDMA-based resin infiltrant. The product (ICON, DMG) was initially developed as a treatment for incipient interproximal caries and anterior white … Read more
Inspiration can get a bad wrap. Whether in school or conferences, inspiration can get the short shrift, coded as soft skill that is nice to have, but not a leadership essential. My experience as a clinician, businessman and consultant proves that just isn’t the case. The word “inspire” comes from the Latin word spiro, which … Read more
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with any companies mentioned in this article, all products are used as illustrative examples. Sleek, pretty and efficient are not the typical terms that come to mind for the average person when thinking of dental products. In the past couple years, however, more and more dental products have been emphasizing … Read more
A gap toothed trend is well underway with celebrities from Georgia May Jagger to recent Love Island stars, Francesca Allen and Arabella Chi, leading the trend. The trend has been dubbed “the London look”, after it was made famous by Ms Jagger in an advert for Rimmel. Since then, there has been a rise in cosmetic procedures … Read more