April 2020
What Motivates You?
As I write this editorial I certainly feel how time has flown by. Sitting in front of my computer, I realized that my 30th anniversary of graduating from dental school is approaching in May. I thought to myself, “Wow that’s a lot of years!” I started wondering, what is it that motivates me to keep … Read more
Four Team Members, One Goal: A Transformation Story
ABSTRACT Quite often patients have the desire to improve their oral care and appearance but don’t know where to start. Compounding the problem is that when the patient is seeking solutions, they are often turned away or trivialized because their practitioner does not have the knowledge or skill to treatment plan the patient’s needs or … Read more
A Multidisciplinary Case for Smile Enhancement
A patient presented for orthodontic care with a chief complaint to straighten her front teeth, eliminate her overjet, and balance her lip eversion. Her dental history included annual dental cleanings and root canal therapy on #9. Due to the skeletal class 2 retrognathic profile, the severity of her mandibular asymmetry, the vertical discrepancies in the … Read more
Case Study: The Missing Canine – A Puzzle with Functional and Esthetic Pieces
Introduction Few restorative situations provide more stress for a functionally driven esthetic dentist than one involving a missing canine. A missing cuspid creates not only an esthetic issue, but a functional complication, as well. While group function may be viewed as a viable alternative in the absence of a canine, anterior and cuspid guidance is … Read more
When is “Good Enough” Good Enough?
“I always do the best for the patient”. That is noble, we’ve all said it and absolutely should practice that way. However, our ability to deliver on this is often limited by many factors including patient desires, ability to afford treatment, and practice limitations. It’s very rare that a patient comes into the office wanting … Read more
Selfie Culture Driving More Cosmetic Dentistry: A Case Report of Conservative, Responsible Veneers: Delivering the Smile
Social media has arguably become a global obsession. For teenagers and young adults, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat have become the most common form of communication. Teens are increasingly posting photos of themselves and friends. Beauty standards have changed significantly over the past several decades. As our social media and “selfie culture” continues to grow, … Read more
Principles of Smile Design Treatment Planning
Introduction When it comes to re-creating a patient’s smile, it is not as simple as placing veneers or crowns on teeth that are whiter and brighter than the patient’s existing dentition (Figs. 1 & 2). The smile is an important reflection of one’s self along with communicating a variety of emotions to those around us … Read more
The “Single Tooth” Dilemma
When it comes to aesthetic dentistry, many clinicians would agree that the “Single Central” cases are the ones that can be the most difficult. Trying to restore a single central brings up many discussion points: Direct or Indirect? Full coverage or Partial? What materials should we use? Often, we reach out for the help of … Read more
Resin Infiltration as Treatment for an Anterior Tooth Discoloration of Developmental Origin
Resin infiltration is a technique that has been available as a commercial product since 2010. The procedure consists of etching the tooth with a 15% hydrochloric acid, drying with an ethanol solution, and applying a TEGDMA-based resin infiltrant. The product (ICON, DMG) was initially developed as a treatment for incipient interproximal caries and anterior white … Read more
Inspiration, Innovation and Successful Implementation: Four Steps to Ensure New Technology Lives Up to its Potential
Inspiration can get a bad wrap. Whether in school or conferences, inspiration can get the short shrift, coded as soft skill that is nice to have, but not a leadership essential. My experience as a clinician, businessman and consultant proves that just isn’t the case. The word “inspire” comes from the Latin word spiro, which … Read more