3D printing in dentistry is HERE, and it is changing everything. Its auspicious beginning is reminiscent of cosmetic dentistry in the 1980s, veneers and bleaching in the 1990s, implants in the 2000s, and milled restorations in the 2010s. The needs are many, the technologies are numerous, the applications are almost unlimited, and the potential is … Read more
My car informs me when its oil needs changing and when to schedule yearly maintenance. An alert for low tire pressure has saved me from standing on the side of the road more than once. I am too busy to keep track of all that, and frankly, even if I knew something needed fixing, I … Read more
The first electric toothbrush was presented in Harper’s Weekly on February 13, 1886, but the true pioneer in home dental care is considered to be the Sonicare (Optiva Corporation) high-frequency sonic toothbrush introduced at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting in February 1993. While mechanical toothbrushes are the popular standard for home dental care, and electrical toothbrushes … Read more
AI powered toothbrushes, 3D printing, CAD/CAM, lasers, CBCT, and robotics are revolutionizing dentistry dramatically. Why has there been no appreciable decrease in dental disease over the last 20 years?1,2,4 Why do periodontal and dental diseases persist? Why are there so many recurrent interproximal caries and implant failures? Periodontal disease starts BETWEEN the teeth! Over 65 … Read more
Oral health is inextricably linked to overall health and wellness. That is why proper dental hygiene is critical to our ongoing welfare. This is particularly true for denture wearers, as they are at a higher risk for oral, respiratory, and digestive infections. Candida Albicans, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, E. coli, and Actinomyces can colonize and accumulate on … Read more
Mirror-image twin is a unique phenomenon wherein the features on one identical (i.e., monozygotic) twin’s left side are mirrored on the other twin’s right side. For example, one twin may have a birthmark on their left cheek, while the other twin has a birthmark in the exact location but on the right cheek. Mirror twins … Read more
The first medical device to bring the advantages of oral mucosal fluorescence visualization (FV) to dentistry was the VELscope system (LED Dental, Vancouver BC), launched in 2006. In 2023, fluorescence is being increasingly used as part of comprehensive oral soft tissue evaluations in dentistry as an adjunctive aid in patient assessment. VELscope’s use as an … Read more
Recent years have seen an exponential growth in the collection and storage of computational data. The digital revolution since SARS-CoV-21,2 is transforming an increasing number of sectors impacting all spheres of life. Unfortunately, dentistry tends to lag in adopting innovative technologies that improve patient care and practice management. Current case management and collaboration standards continue … Read more
Voice-activated periodontal charting systems have been available for some time. The big question is: how can they benefit the practice? When the pandemic struck, it was clear that a voice-activated charting system would reduce the need for an additional charting person in the operatory and limit the number of contaminated surfaces when the hygienist was … Read more
This viewpoint aims to start an open, scientific discussion in the dental community and the authors’ opinion on the use of masks. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Please feel free to contact the author or the editor if you have any questions or concerns. For at least three decades, masks … Read more
Dr. Frank Neves Bright Dental, St. Albert, AB What have you observed to be the biggest change to the dentistry profession since you began your career? The most significant transformation in dentistry since I started practising has been the advent of advanced technology. From chairside aesthetics and functional porcelain crowns like Zirconia or E.max to … Read more