Materials & Technology

Periodontal diseases are amongst the most common inflammatory disease in humans. It has been previously accepted that periodontitis is infectious in origin; newer data suggests that while infection with specific periodontal pathogenic bacteria is necessary for periodontitis to develop, infection alone is insufficient for the development of the disease. Significantly, the role played by the … Read more

Introduction The use of video in dentistry is increasing steadily in private and academic education, as well in regular practices. As the technology becomes more affordable and easier to use, video is becoming a common tool for communication, documentation and education. Video provides many advantages including live-stream demonstration, the creation of case studies for students, … Read more

The Need It is estimated that 30% or more of the adult population is partially or totally edentulous. For the edentulous patient, dentures offer many advantages when compared to other alternatives. They can be esthetically pleasing, easy to maintain and cost effective; however, these benefits are often hampered by patient discomfort, difficulties in chewing, problems … Read more

Introduction Fluorescence visualization (FV) as an adjunctive tool for general dental practitioners in routine soft tissue oral examinations was first introduced as the VELscope™ in 2006 by LED Dental. Since that time there has been a significant amount of clinical research evaluating its use in both routine oral examination and surgery. This clinical research has … Read more

ABSTRACT Gum disease starts between the teeth. The interdental space is the most vulnerable yet most neglected area of the mouth because of its anatomy and the fact that most people hate to floss. There are many floss alternatives that are currently available that are much easier to use than floss, which would not only … Read more

Patients often avoid dental care due to the fear of pain that they perceive they will feel either related to the local anesthetic injection or during drilling to remove caries. This can be especially traumatic for pediatric patients who can be uncooperative following the sensation of the injection.1 Frequently; the hard tissue laser allows treatment … Read more

Introduction One of the most common non-infectious complications resulting from dental care is jaw joint and muscle strain/sprain. Jaw joint and muscle strain/sprain are characterized by acute joint pain, limited range of motion, muscle tenderness, and muscle and joint dysfunction. If left untreated, these can progress into a chronic condition. This article presents a treatment … Read more

Introduction Both chairside and laboratory digital technologies in dentistry are rapidly changing the way crown and bridge restorations are being fabricated for our patients. Traditional indirect techniques have always presented an opportunity to introduce inaccuracies into the fabrication process. Some of these potential errors include: 1) incorrect water-powder ratios of the dental stone, 2) hygroscopic … Read more