Features Archive - Page 111 of 214

Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing

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A 42-year-old male client presented with generalized chronic moderate to severe marginal gingivitis and generalized chronic moderate to advanced periodontitis. He reported that non-surgical periodontal therapy, by means of scaling and root planing, had failed to prevent increased clinical attachment loss and he was referred to a periodontist for pocket reduction surgery. After consultation, the … Read more

Prescribing Hydrogen Peroxide in the Treatment of Periodontal Disease

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Antibiotics used for the treatment of periodontal disease have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. One concern lies in the rise of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, complicating treatment and posing general health risks. Some patients want to avoid antibiotics and their side effects altogether. Many dentists have raised concerns about antibiotic long-term efficacy. An … Read more

Oral Clinical Manifestations of Patients Infected with Zika Virus

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Few studies have described ZIKV manifestations in the mouth of infected patients. Recently, Brasil et al. reported local hyperemia and petechiae on the hard palate of an infected patient. 1 Some viruses are transmitted through saliva, including herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV1, HSV2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). 2 Notably, HSV and ZIKV display … Read more

Implant Screws: What Every Dentist Should Know

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It is important for the clinician who is restoring an implant, whether it be with a single crown, a fixed or removable prosthesis, to understand the mechanics of a threaded fastener or a screw and why screws may become loose. The prevalence of screw loosening has been reported to be between 5 and 8.8% after … Read more

Treatment Planning: The Full Mouth Reconstruction

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Every patient with extreme tooth wear has unique treatment needs, and all of these needs may not be addressed specifically in this article. The general guidelines for treatment of these patients include the following: 1. A comprehensive examination, including a thorough medical and dental history, orofacial and dental clinical examination, dental radiographs, TMD screening history … Read more

Predictable Immediate Implant Prosthetics: Part 2

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Introduction This article discusses a novel protocol to deliver a full-arch immediate fixed provisional prosthesis, which is clinically accurate and predictable. Detailed steps are outlined and documented that enables conversion of the provisional into a fixed screw-retained final prosthesis after healing and the osseointegration of the dental implants. Case Presentation A 58-year-old female patient was … Read more

Forward to the Past: Dentistry in the Information Age

A Crisis of Trust In a Gallup poll taken in November 2012, Americans were asked to rate service providers, including dentists, on ethical standards and honesty. Among health professionals, nurses came out on top with 85 percent of respondents rating them “high” or “very high”, followed by pharmacists at 75 percent, medical doctors at 70 … Read more

Grafting with Biomaterials – Did You Get Consent?

I remember my first days as a new dentist and my introduction to the great debate over amalgam restorations vs. composite restorations. Today, we no longer place an amalgam or resin restoration without having a discussion with our patients over the advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses of amalgam vs. resin. This also applies to … Read more

Synergy of Aesthetics and Biomechanics

The following article will illustrate a comprehensive full mouth reconstruction therapy with treatment objectives for Aesthetics and Biomechanics. Our patient (N.B.) presented to the office with the pre-existing dental treatment done from another country as illustrated in photos 1 and 2. After the initial consultation, our patient wished for fixed implants and prosthodontics to restore … Read more

Altering Vertical Dimension with Bonded Composite

Abstract This case report demonstrates the importance of careful diagnosis and treatment planning to effectively treat a worn dentition in a conservative manner while maximizing the long-term prognosis. The patient presented having completed orthodontic treatment with a significantly worn dentition seeking an aesthetic improvement. A comprehensive evaluation of the patient occurs to determine the etiology … Read more

Modern Biomaterials: What, Where, When and Why

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Lifelike aesthetics in prosthodontics has been a moving target since the dawn of modern dentistry. The definition of what meets the contemporary understanding of a clinically acceptable prosthesis has always been dependent upon what is considered possible and practical at the time. To date, the aesthetic restoration of a patient’s missing or damaged dentition has competed with … Read more

The Rule of 3 “P”s

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As a long time devout Christian, I have listened to many inspiring sermons by numerous Pastors over the years. One particular Pastor’s sermon style stands out in my mind with a transferrable concept that is very practical and relative to the practice of clinical dentistry. He titled his Sunday morning presentations as The 3 Point … Read more

PANDAS: A Story of Molecular Mimicry

Background PANDAS is an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections. This is a condition that affects a small group of children resulting in a sudden and abrupt onset of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms. In the late 1990’s, investigators at the US National Institutes of Mental Health, during a study of … Read more

Get Fit, Get Smarter!

Your three-pound brain is the CEO of your whole body’s operation. It’s the playmaker, manager and overseer. It keeps 2000 gallons of blood surging through your heart each day and throughout 63,000 miles of blood vessels. It has you place one foot in front of the other as you walk from patient to patient and … Read more

Compliance Begins When Patients Walk in the Door

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The first touch-point for patients is the reception area and it is critical to make a positive and lasting impression. Patients expect a dental office to maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety, which starts from the moment they enter the door. Is the room inviting, comfortable, organized and well maintained? Or does the room … Read more

Diagnosing Bulimia

In the September 2016 issue of this journal, I shared information about how the dental professional can help patients with their general and oral health through the diagnosis of acid reflux, a condition that affects up to 50% of the population. In this article, I discuss bulimia, an eating disorder which in the early stages … Read more

Managing Sleep Apnea for the Pediatric Patient

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Have you ever experienced listening to a grandparent, a parent or a spouse snoring so loud you couldn’t sleep? No matter how hard you tried to ignore it, that’s all you could focus on. Then suddenly, sweet silence! You breathe a sigh of relief because they stopped! However, the only thing that stopped was their … Read more

Crystal-Balling the Future of Oral Health

Sometimes it takes a village, sometimes a marriage of powerful forces to produce something meaningful and that is the case with the recently-released custom collaboration between Colgate and Scientific American Custom Media. “The Future of Oral Health, Global Challenges, Advances and New Technologies” is an important document introduced at the ADA’s annual meeting in Denver … Read more

The Beauty – And Logic – Of Minimal-Prep Veneers

If you’ve ever seen vintage photography, you’ll notice an absence of toothy grins. Somber, tight-lipped portraits ruled the day well into the early 20th century. This was probably for the best, since most smiles were not photogenic. Before the 1920s, dentists were hard to find. Cosmetic dentistry was nonexistent. Extraction – today’s treatment of last … Read more

Prep”Less” Veneers: Treating Tooth by Tooth Instead of Case by Case

Abstract The patient treated in this report was not pleased with the appearance of his smile and his confidence to smile was affected. He desired ‘bigger’ and ‘whiter’ teeth. As with any elective cosmetic restorative procedure, a minimally-invasive approach providing the patient with a predictable, long-term result was indicated. The author utilized a combination of … Read more