How To Avoid Occlusal Adjustments When Placing Final Restorations

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To ensure long-term success, a greater understanding of occlusal concepts needs to be incorporated into the restorations we provide our patients. We must ensure that the beautiful smiles we create today will hold up to the rigors of mastication and occlusal forces well into the future. Fixed restorations have come a long way since the … Read more

Developing a Cosmetic/Esthetic Practice

Cosmetic Esthetic

With the increase in awareness and popularity of cosmetic dental procedures, most general practices are offering some level of cosmetic and esthetic treatment to patients. There are many possibilities; from teeth whitening to cosmetic bonding and porcelain veneers; as well as minor orthodontic procedures, tissue re-contouring and more. Patient demand has fueled the attention to … Read more

Transitional Bonding for the Severely Eroded Dentition

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Dentists are often faced with conflicting demands between function and aesthetics. Patients demand from their dentists an improved smile at a reasonable fee. Dentists want to not only meet the patients wants but also want to do that in a durable and evidence-based way. Thanks to the well-known improvements of enamel and dentin bonding, it … Read more

Pre-Orthodontic Set-Up for a Patient with Teeth Too Small for his Dental Arches

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In order to establish a comprehensive treatment plan, it is essential for the entire dental team to be able to visualize the final result before commencing treatment. A compromised or wrong treatment choice can affect a patient’s dental and medical health as well as their appearance. Orthodontists often are first in a decision-making process that … Read more

Botulinum Toxin: Not Just a Pretty Face

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Mention “Botox” (the neuromodulator Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A or “BoNt-A”) sold in North America as Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin (Fig. 1), and the average person thinks immediately of wrinkles. However, the January 16, 2017 issue of Time Magazine’s cover page article (Fig. 2) identified 800 medical uses of BoNt-A including depression, heart trouble, migraines, erectile … Read more

A New Smile for a Beauty Queen

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Introduction Wendy Jordan, a professional model, presented to my office for general care. After radiographic and clinical examination, it was determined that she needed only a prophylaxis. Her overall dental health was good with no periodontal disease or active caries. In a subsequent re-care appointment, we discussed the possibility of orthodontic realignment of her maxillary … Read more

The Economics of Dental Aesthetics

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The Past When it became possible to bond tooth colored restorative materials to enamel in the early 1980’s, dental practice, as we know it was changed forever. The “Age of Aesthetic Dentistry” was born. No longer did the dentist deal with only dental disease (caries and periodontal), but now could offer solutions for aesthetic dental … Read more

Gearing Up for 41st Annual ASDA Conference

The 41st Annual ASDA International Aesthetic Dental Conference will be convened October 25-28, 2017 at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas.  The conference will bring together top leaders in aesthetic dentistry.  Speakers will include Dr. Larry Rosenthal, Dr. Alan Jurim, Dr. Barry Goldenberg, Dr. Frank Higginbottom, Dr. Joyce Bassett and Dr. Bob Margeas.  A hallmark … Read more

AACD Hosting 5th Annual Virtual Race for Smiles

Between October 13 – 15, participants around the country will help survivors of domestic and sexual violence receive life-changing smile restorations by participating in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s (AACDCF) Virtual Race for Smiles. Race for Smiles participants choose to participate in a physical activity like running, biking or yoga while wearing … Read more

Final Wrap-Up of AACD Scientific Session Shows Shining Success

The 33rd Annual American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Scientific Session concluded its educational program on April 21 at the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. More than 1,600 people attended the four days of educational programming which included 100 speakers, 60 lectures, 35 hands-on workshops, three entertaining and motivating general sessions, and … Read more

Newest AACD Credentialed Members Join Ranks of Elite Practitioners

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recently recognized and honored 21 dental professionals who have demonstrated their dedication to continuing education and responsible patient care by becoming credentialed by the AACD. This year, the AACD acknowledged 15 newly Accredited Members and six newly Accredited Fellows during the 33rd Annual AACD Scientific Session in Las … Read more

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Announces New President

Dwight G. Rickert, CDT, FAACD of Indianapolis, Indiana, was inaugurated as President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) on April 21st during the AACD’s annual scientific session in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rickert is an Accredited Fellow of the AACD, a 6,000-member organization comprised of dental professionals dedicated to advancing excellence in the art … Read more

In This Issue…

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Dr. Les Rykiss, D.M.D. discusses some of the content available to read in the newest Aesthetic Dentistry issue of Oral Health – click here to read the issue online. Feature articles mentioned in the video: Laser-Assisted Aesthetic Osseous Crown Lengthening No Prep Ceramic Laminates for a Beauty Queen

Editorial: Who Owns the Face?

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Boy time flies! A year ago I was given the privilege of becoming the editor of the April Aesthetic issue of Oral Health. Taking over for Dr. Elliot Mechanic is not an easy task and one that I have not taken lightly. Every April, Dr. Mechanic had successfully assembled articles from some of the best … Read more

Porcelain Laminate Veneers: Full Digital Work Flow

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The demand for aesthetic dentistry is increasing as more and more patients come to desire the perfect or natural looking smiles. The professional approach of restorative dentistry has changed significantly with the development of new techniques augmented with advanced dental materials, enabling clinicians to achieve aesthetic improvements and aesthetically pleasing results. In aesthetic cases, a … Read more

Creating Natural-Looking Composite Restorations Using Different Layering Techniques, Materials and the Erbium YAG Laser

Composite Restorations

Introduction Improved materials and instruments help us to produce restorations that are natural looking. Composite systems have been developed that have optical qualities similar to the tooth structure they are replacing. 1 Composite materials with dark opacity and fluorescence are useful to recreate dentin. 2 Enamel replacing materials with added translucency and opalescence give the … Read more

No Prep Ceramic Laminates for a Beauty Queen

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Introduction Each year I have the honor of performing a smile makeover for the winner of the Mrs. North Carolina America and Mrs. South Carolina America beauty pageants. Each of these women go on to participate in the Mrs. America Pageant and each would like for her smile to be the best it can be … Read more

Overcoming Deficiencies to Create an Aesthetic Smile: A Case Study

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Abstract Providing patients with a great aesthetic outcome along with the need for full mouth reconstruction can be very challenging. Full mouth reconstruction is one of the more demanding procedures in dentistry. It draws upon the knowledge and experience of the clinician and relies on the input from a talented laboratory ceramist. The challenges can … Read more

Planification numérique 3D du sourire: Quelles sont les avantages pour le patient et le dentiste?

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RÉSUMÉ La dentisterie numérique existe depuis plus de 30 ans, mais plusieurs dentistes hésitent encore à intégrer cette technologie dans leur pratique. Pour plusieurs collègues, le numérique n’est qu’un instrument de marketing servant à impressionner leur patient. Pourtant, le numérique est un instrument nous permettant d’améliorer et faciliter nos traitements dentaires. Les laboratoires dentaires, de … Read more