As a practitioner of implant dentistry for the past 34 years, I am seeing an increasingly common problem: lack of understanding of ailing and failing implants. What are the clear indicators of failure, which cases can be treated, and when should you cut your losses and remove the implant(s)? Implant mobility or a radiographically definitive … Read more
When there is little or no bone in the posterior maxilla, the tendency for implant dentists is to use smaller implants to avoid the maxillary sinus. In all honesty, this contradicts the laws of nature, which illustrate that the posterior maxilla has the lowest bone density of both the maxilla and the mandible. Obviously the … Read more
Implant dentistry has drastically improved our ability to replace missing teeth and stabilize dentures. It has become the standard of care in many treatment cases and continues to grow, providing more ways we can help our patients. As implant dentistry grows, so does our knowledge of how and where we can use implants. While some … Read more
INTRODUCTIONReplacing the “hopeless prognosis” molar with an implant is one of the most predictable treatments in dentistry today. Nonetheless, there are some significant barriers to overcome in such a treatment plan. Some of these are the number of steps required, the duration of healing time, and the overall cost. Implant placement immediately post-extraction has the … Read more
It has been well documented that the use of nickel titanium rotary instrumentation has surpassed the use of stainless steel hand files both in the numbers of practitioners using this technique and the percentage of time they use rotary vs. hand files. In 2009 Bird et al (Journal of Endodontics Volume 35, Issue 9, pp. … Read more
Review:Prevalence and importance of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve in fully edentulous mandibles during dental implant placement. THE ANTERIOR LOOPThe purpose of this review was to demonstrate actual instances and challenges facing practitioners in the field of implantology. This article reviews the prevalence of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) anterior loops in … Read more
Canada has one of the highest standards of dentistry in the world. Ten excellent dental schools, internationally recognized teachers and authors, extensive clinical continuing education, and a highly trained and motivated dentist population offer some of the best care imaginable. Canadian practitioners are more aware of the latest proactive and restorative technologies and materials because … Read more
“Made in Canada” means more than just development and manufacturing. Research and analysis are significant contributors to the Canadian “face” of the dental profession. Dental students and recent graduates put a tremendous amount of effort into table clinics and posters. These presentations are often overlooked by practitioners. In this space, the editor has selected a … Read more
It is estimated that there are 640,000 people diagnosed with oral cancer annually on a worldwide basis. In North America, oral and pharyngeal cancers will claim one person every hour of every day. All too often, oral cancer is detected late, when the necessary interventions are profound and the prognosis pessimistic. It is essential to … Read more
Diode lasers have gained in popularity over the last few years in dental offices because of their low cost, portability, reliability and simplicity of use. Diode lasers range in wavelength from 810nm-1064nm, and they are well absorbed in hemoglobin, pigments, and melanin, making these lasers excellent soft tissue “handpieces” that can ablate tissues while maintaining … Read more
INTRODUCTIONManual and pedal handpieces of various types have existed for centuries. The 1940s development of low-speed electric belt-driven handpieces generated significantly increased dental treatment efficiency and accuracy.1 In the late 1950s, high-speed dental handpieces quickly replaced belt-driven handpieces, and revolutionized cavity preparation and dental procedures.1 The high–speed air turbine handpiece has been the primary instrument … Read more
The “waiting room” has always been the weak link in dental patient management. The patient is alone or with other patients. There is no representative of the dental team present. Waiting room time is inherently not a positive experience for patients who may be anxious about treatment, discomfort, and finances. These concerns may be negatively … Read more
There are many reasons for the replacement of restorations including esthetics, loss of anatomical form, fracture and loss. Secondary caries is, however, the major factor.1-3 The detection of secondary caries in its early stages is not easy,4 especially with current detection methods including radiography, explorer and visual examination. Discoloration next to the restoration or ditched … Read more
The author has informally surveyed 180 dental assistants about evacuation cleaning, gaining a profound sense of how challenging a job it is to manage vacuum traps and suctions systems. Every practitioner and member of the dental team knows that a healthy suction is essential for all patient procedures. Regular evacuation cleaning is part of most … Read more
The rapid development of dental technology and equipment has moved the profession rapidly forward over the past 60 years. These changes have made the practice of dentistry far more efficient and physically easier for the dentist, and far more comfortable and less threatening for the patient. When utilized as indicated, technology can be highly effective. … Read more
ERGONOMIC ROLE OF DECLINATION ANGLEThe first ergonomic loupes with an adjustable declination angle option were introduced in 1993 (SurgiTel, a Division of General Scientific Corporation). This feature was specifically designed to prevent posture-related pain or injuries for dentists. Within several years an question arose: Are surgical telescopes (loupes) a posture maker or posture breaker?1 The … Read more
Oral care providers must provide effective oral hygiene and prevention programs to their Medically Compromised Patients. These programs represent a rather varied and complex range of options, both in materials and regimens. The following is a general overview of a comprehensive range of tools, products and resources that support this group of patients, providing them … Read more
OraVerse (phentolamine mesylate) is a new agent in dentistry indicated for the reversal of soft tissue anesthesia and associated deficits resulting from intraoral anesthetic and vasoconstrictor application.1 OraVerse is currently sold in the United States and Germany with availability in Canada beginning Fall, 2014. PHENTOLAMINE MESYLATEPhentolamine mesylate (PM) is an alpha adrenergic blocker that competitively … Read more
Despite the virtues of being a health care professional, there is no doubt that we are faced with higher levels of stress than the average worker. The impact of job-related stress has detrimental effects on not only the professional and their relationship with their patients, but also serious effects on the personal family life and … Read more
I pushed myself to excel in all that I did, in and out of my office. After 50 years of this behavior, of which I include four years of dental school, I dropped dead of a heart attack at an Olympic pool facility. I was very lucky since they had a defibrillator, and the fire … Read more