A look into my music room will always find equipment from Roland – a trusted leader in the music industry – that manufactures keyboards, amplifiers, synthesizers and other precision music technology. I’m thrilled to report that Roland’s sister company, Roland DGA, has brought its manufacturing excellence directly to the practitioner’s office with DGSHAPE open architecture … Read more
The biggest issue facing our industry is hiring (ADA, 2021). If there has been one big takeaway from the pandemic, it has been that we are all looking for a better balance in our lives. We are all reflecting on our careers and homelife, and identifying what is important to us. In a recent survey, … Read more
Dentists are facing what many perceive to be unprecedented times. Raging inflation, 8.1%, as of June 2022, vs. 1.1% in February 2021 and 11.91% in May 1982, staffing shortages, corporate dentistry, rising interest rates, prime rate 4.7% as of August 5, 2022, vs. 2.45% in February 2022 and 21.25% in September 1981. Government funded dentistry … Read more
We’re ashamed to say it. We’ve had some bad conversations with our patients. We meant well; we were trying to get our patients to improve their oral health, but, instead, we ended up making our patients feel pretty bad about themselves. Instead of empowering them, we embarrassed them. Instead of trusting us, they disliked us. … Read more
Surveys have shown that around 16 percent of children have a fear of going to the dentist. When you work in the industry, that statistic probably doesn’t surprise you. You’ve likely had your fair share of fearful kids walking into your practice. Hopefully, by the time they leave, you’ve been able to calm their fears … Read more
You may have a niche market, but there is an equal chance that a half dozen other offices in the neighbourhood offer the same dental services. Either way, your practice is unique. That is because your services do not define your brand. It is comprised of many things, from the aesthetic design of your website … Read more
The concept of mise en place (everything in its place), a modus operandi conceived and perfected in gourmet restaurants, could significantly improve the quality and consistency of the treatment and patient experience provided in dental offices. Those who recognize mise en place as a process and method of preparing high-quality meals in restaurant kitchens might … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Dr. Luc Ducharme’s professional journey began at an early age. He vividly recalls being interested in becoming a dentist at the tender age of 7. On his path to professional excellence, he is proud to have had the exceptional guidance and experienced mentorship of Dr. Walker – a wonderful dentist, successful … Read more
Doesn’t it feel great when patients come in with pain and, like a magician, we use our trained hands to get them smiling again? How about when we cannot get the patient out of pain? What if the condition is outside of the scope of dentistry? Is it out of our hands? Sadly, this is … Read more
Proper procedure coding within your practice is important on many levels, from ensuring accurate payment for dentists to creating a valid record of patient care. Failing to use appropriate procedure codes can lead to all kinds of mischief for dentists as well as poor outcomes for patients. Indeed, accurate procedure coding is a legal requirement … Read more
Q: I just started using the term “nonsurgical periodontal therapy” (NSPT) when speaking to my patients, and they often ask how NSPT is different than a “cleaning.” What is the easiest way to describe the difference without getting too technical? A: Interestingly enough, when I consult and teach, most hygienists insist that NSPT is something … Read more
The opportunity to learn many lessons has been hurled upon us over the last two and a half years. We have seen storms come and go and temperatures rise to new limits. We have also witnessed almost every aspect of our lives be disrupted by an infectious agent so small it cannot be seen by … Read more
Dr. Neil Vora Vivo Dental, Calgary, Alberta What is one thing you know now that you wish you had known at the start of your career? Dental treatment is for the patient, not for me. There have been, and still are, many times that I want to insist or convince someone of an ideal treatment, … Read more
The transition of using more digital platforms to communicate has been happening for years and the pandemic only increased the need for it. Nearly half of surveyed dentists agreed that they have changed the way they’ve been communicating with patients in the last couple of years. Of those dentists, half of them are using text … Read more
The information flowing along a blockchain is like a river that knows no country borders, is as unregulated as nature, and forever carries upstream pollution. Everyone paddling on the water can agree on the river’s depth at any point along the journey, and the river does not run straight because there is no one in … Read more
Dental implants have been the recommended treatment of choice as a conservative approach in replacing missing teeth while preserving adjacent tooth structure when compared to fixed dental prostheses.1 The ability of the implant supported crown to replicate natural tooth like emergence profile provides the advantage of achieving higher aesthetic results in the anterior zone.2 Their … Read more
Implant therapy has become a predictable treatment option for tooth replacement with a 5-year survival rate of 97.1%.1 Despite this high survival rate, implant failure can still happen which would necessitate removal, or better said, explantation of the unsuccessful implant. Approximately 34% of failures occur within the first 5 years after placement and it could … Read more
To achieve a successful aesthetic result and good patient satisfaction, implant placement in the aesthetic zone demands a thorough understanding of anatomic, biologic, surgical and prosthetic principles. The ability to achieve harmonious, indistinguishable restoration from adjacent natural teeth in the aesthetic zone is very often challenging. Placement of dental implants in the aesthetic zone is … Read more
The transcrestal or transalveolar sinus lift procedure was described by Summers in 19941 as an alternative to the “traditional” approach, using the lateral window to reduce the morbidity of the technique. As initially described, the procedure consisted of an approach from the alveolar ridge using progressive caliber osteotomes that are activated using a hammer that … Read more
Amicrofibrillated cellulose platform derived from Norwegian spruce trees is the basis for a revolutionary approach to toothpaste that has the capability to offer superior plaque and biofilm removal. The result is more efficient brushing and better oral health. Founder, Chairman, and Head of R&D Mohamed E. Labib, PhD, and CEO Carmine J. Durham are the … Read more