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
Every day we come to the rescue of our patients by taking them out of pain, combating the results of an accident, reversing the ravages of time or simply getting them ready for a special day in their lives. We become heroes to our patients. We can do this simply and easily because of the … Read more
Evidence-Based Medicine Since the 1980s, when McMaster Medical School in Canada termed the process of integrating scientific information into medical practice, Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), it was formally adapted by the Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group, and a new paradigm for medical practice emerged. 1 Later, other health fields, like oral health care, began incorporating the same … Read more
The task of repairing restorations has historically been an unproductive procedure in the dental practice. Dental professionals have learned through extensive personal experience that repairs, whether intra- or extra-oral, have a very poor prognosis. In fact, no matter how carefully the fractured ceramic or composite surface was roughed, cleaned, dried, primed, and bonded, the repair … Read more
Pediatric dentistry has seen considerable improvements in materials and treatment options over the past few years. While other dental specialties have experienced tremendous developments in their materials and methods over the past forty years, pediatric dentistry has seemed to evolve much more slowly. Although we have enjoyed success with the treatments of the past, less invasive … Read more
Glass ionomers have enjoyed many firsts in dentistry. They were the first materials designed to resist recurrent decay. They were the first bioactive materials, which release fluoride in an acidic environment and recharge or replace lost fluoride ions when they are re-introduced back into the oral environment. They were the first easy to use bulk-fill … Read more
Introduction & Background Bisphosphonates are a class of medications that prevent the loss of bone mass. Not only are they used extensively in the treatment of metabolic bone disease such as osteoporosis, but they have been shown to decrease risk of fracture and bone pain in lung, breast, and other metastatic cancer. They are grouped … Read more
Dental implants have emerged as the standard of care for replacing a single tooth in healthy patients. In the US alone more than 35 million Americans are edentulous and 178 million are missing at least one tooth. 1 According to the Levin group it is estimated that the number of dental implants received by patients … Read more
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
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
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