Introduction General dentists in private practice place numerous direct tooth colored resin restorations because of patient demand for more aesthetically pleasing restorations. In other instances, they utilize tooth colored adhesive dentistry because of its benefits of minimally invasive preparation design and adhesive retention to preserve tooth structure. The placement of these indirect and direct tooth … Read more
In years past, traditional restorative care relied on treating damaged and decayed teeth with aggressive preparation to place a strong, firm restoration. The emphasis was on the strength of the restoration, and less about the function and biomechanics of the final restored tooth. Unfortunately, this often led to weaker teeth and complications such as root … Read more
My dental world was rocked upon reading the article by Horst et al in the January 2016 California Dental Association Journal.1 It became the launching pad for my journey of using silver diamine fluoride as a vital part of my caries management tool kit. The article became my ‘bible’ for an all-out offensive on dental … Read more
Composite resin is a suitable restorative material to restore an existing failed restoration, however it is unsuitable to restore a carious lesion due to the large amount of remineralizable dentin required to achieve a reliable adhesive base. Glass ionomer cements (GIC) will adhere to caries affected dentin, minimizing the amount of tooth removal required to … Read more
Introduction The word “bioactivity” is one of the latest buzzwords in the dentistry. It is highlighted as a feature in many restorative products with different and conflicting claims. This has stirred up confusion and controversy surrounding the concept. This article will attempt to provide clarity for the practicing restorative dentist: What is bioactivity? What are … Read more
Introduction You may recall the media storm in 2016 that was precipitated by a report by Jeff Donn from the Associated Press. He wrote there is no solid evidence that flossing is effective. Based on various form of social media it seems that it did not sit well with the dental community. However, Donn was … Read more
Introduction The most common chronic inflammatory conditions worldwide and collectively the most common diseases known to mankind, are inflammatory periodontal diseases.1 Periodontal diseases include gingivitis, where the inflammation confined to the gingiva is reversible with good oral hygiene, and periodontitis, an extension of the inflammation that results in tissue destruction and alveolar bone resorption.1 Periodontitis … Read more
The world is changing rapidly and shows no sign of slowing down. It often feels like we are completely surrounded by gloom and doom – businesses closing, people being laid off, the nature of so many industries losing their focus and their way… But not so dentistry! In a world that has been turned upside … Read more