Features Archives - Page 139 of 222

Current Challenges and Definitive Solutions in Direct and Indirect Restorative Dentistry

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

Interdisciplinary Therapy In Aesthetic Dentistry

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

Two Techniques Deliver One Result: Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill Cuts Procedure Time in Half

Figure 45. One week postoperative photograph of the final restorations on teeth #4.6, 4.7, and 4.8.

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

Ten Basic Principles to Successful Anterior Aesthetic Dentistry

Figure 7A. After satisfied patient with completed veneers.

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

Erbium Laser Ovate Pontic Sites: Function and Esthetics

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

Replacement of a Congenitally Missing Upper Lateral

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

Pharmacology Made Easier

Janice Goodman is a fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and is presently pursuing her Masters of Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain at USC, LA. She devotes a large portion of her dental practice to TMJ and sleep dental medicine in downtown Toronto, and is the general dentistry member of the Oral Health Editorial Board.

Dentists prescribe a handful of familiar drugs. Maybe we shouldn’t be quite so comfortable with writing those prescriptions. Some of our patients are walking poly pharmacies and dentists are responsible to be familiar with drug interactions and adverse side effects — a daunting task. Enter, the new age of pharmacology software on your personal digital … Read more

An Introduction to Mastication Analysis in General Practice

Mastication is an essential function for survival of dentate organisms and has long been a subject of study in the dental literature.1-3 For dentists, understanding mastication is of utmost importance. The teeth we repair, restore, move or periodically extract and replace, masticate food for our patients. This mastication provides the initial step in the digestive … Read more

Gingival Retraction Using Paste Systems

Figure 15. The multiple preparations are ready for impression

An accurate traditional or digital impression is essential for the precision fit of the permanent indirect dental restoration. Although the use of intraoral digital scanners will inevitably replace using physical impression materials the majority of dental practitioners today are still taking polyvinyl or polyether impressions. These materials begin in a fluid state, are placed in … Read more

Efficacy of Alcohol-Free Chlorhexidine in Reducing the Levels of Streptococcus Mutans

ABSTRACTTitle: Efficacy of Alcohol-Free Chlorhexidine in Reducing the Levels of Streptococcus Mutans. Purpose: To compare the antimicrobial properties of Alcohol-Free Chlorhexidine with other antimicrobial mouth-rinses. Methods: Streptococcus mutans (GS5 strain), was grown on agars, and resuspended in a sterile culture medium trypticase soy broth (TSB) supplemented with yeast extract. Four unique experiments were conducted each … Read more

How to Use Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill to Place Direct Posterior Composite Restorations

For more than 30 years, posterior composite restorations have been an alternative to amalgam restorations. Although universal in nature, posterior composites statistically have had higher failure rates and more clinical challenges than their competition.1 While improvements have been made, dentists have still been faced with placing posterior restorations that are time and technique sensitive, necessitating … Read more

Nano-Ceramics: An Innovative Material for CAD/CAM Restorations

Figure 7. Immediate post-operative view of the nano-ceramic resin onlay for tooth #18.

Esthetic, adhesive restorations are increasingly becoming the restoration of choice for many clinical situations. And ceramic inlays, onlays, veneers, and crowns are a primary treatment option for chairside CAD/CAM systems. CEREC AC (Sirona Dental) and E4D (D4D Technology) systems predominantly utilize ceramic materials for their esthetic qualities, surface finish, and long-term durability.1 A number of … Read more

Pediatric Sleep Breathing Disorders

It seems like each day we find more links to our health problems and sleep breathing disorders. Earlier this year, two studies demonstrated a five fold risk of cancer when a person has sleep apnea (interrupted breathing).1 Everyone is aware of the link of sleep breathing disorders to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. So, pretty … Read more

Dental Management of Patients with a History of Substance Abuse with Special Consideration for Addicted Pregnant Women and Addicted Dental Care Providers

Figure 4. FDA Database IMS Health, IMS National Sales Perspectives report: Years 2007-2011.

The problem of substance abuse has emerged as a major issue in society and has become an area of major focus for healthcare professionals. According to the 2007 drug survey interview, the rate of current (past-month) illicit drug use among people aged 12 or older was 19.9 million, representing about 8.0% of the U.S. population.1. … Read more

King Pyrrhus and Dental Anaesthesia

Dr. Nkansah is a specialist in Dental Anaesthesia with a private practice in Toronto. He is a member of the editorial board of Oral Health and is an educator with the University of Toronto, Western University and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

In 280 BC and 279 BC, King Pyrrhus led his army to victories against the Romans in two separate battles during the Pyrrhic War. Although his armies were victorious, they were also decimated in number and were eventually overrun. Their experience has led to the term “Pyrrhic victory” when recounting battles that maybe never should … Read more

To Have or Not to Have: Dentures versus Prosthodontic Services

Prosthodontic services have been rapidly growing in dental offices. I have had a long history of gum disease which led to restorative dentistry, and after progressive deterioration, I had to confront the issue of whether I was going to have some kind of plate, partial, total, or prosthodontics. When I started on this journey as … Read more

Nitrous Oxide and Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality: A Concise Literature Review of the ENIGMA Trials and New Evidence

Nitrous oxide is a principal agent in the practice of conscious sedation and general anaesthesia. There has been a growing trend among anaesthesiologists to decrease the use of nitrous oxide because of concerns about cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. While the ENIGMA trials are quoted to further spur the movement for discontinuing nitrous oxide use, critical … Read more

Airway Assessment and Management in Conscious Sedation Cases

During conscious sedation, the primary goal of any anaesthesia provider is to protect the airway. In dentistry this is a double-edged sword, since we work in the mouth. It affords us the ability to constantly monitor the airway, but it also means we are often moving the head and neck into a position that might … Read more

A History of Patient Comfort (Part III): Comfortably Numb

One of the facets of dentistry that makes it unique in the field of healthcare is the ability to anaesthetize whatever tissues we are working on. This was not always reliably true, which in addition to the fact that our jobs take place in a highly personal, sensitive area of the body, has contributed to … Read more

Flumazenil: Be Careful How You Administer It

The need for sedation in dentistry is evident. According to Chanpong et al., in 2003 of Canadians, about 10% of the general population were somewhat afraid of dentistry, 5% had a high fear level, and many appointments were avoided or canceled in relation to these patients’ worries and fears of undergoing dental treatment. Furthermore, this … Read more